Throughout her career Susan Palma-Nidel has enjoyed a variety of musical challenges and today is busier than ever taking on new projects. Her resume is one of a model citizen in the classical music world, too long to recite here, but some highlights are in order. Since 1980 Susan has been an esteemed flutist of the world renowned Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and is the principal flutist for the New York based American Composer’s Orchestra and the Naumburg award-winning group Speculum Musicae. She has performed on the most prestigious stages all over the world both as a soloist and with Orpheus. She is a founding member of the North Country Chamber Players who perform in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where she resides every summer. Susan has appeared on more than 70 CDs for Deutsche Grammophon, Nonesuch, Bridge, CRI and SONY including premieres of works by Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, Steve Mackey and many other contemporary composers. She has recorded most of the chamber orchestra repertoire with Orpheus, among her favorites, Copland’s Appalachian Spring (a Grammy nominee), Schoenberg’s Chamber Symphonies, the Grammy winning Shadow Dances (chamber music of Stravinsky) Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony and the music of Faure, Ravel and Resphigi. Her 1990 recording of the Mozart Flute Concertos was named “the best recording of these pieces to date” by Gramophone Magazine and in 2005 it was listed as one of the best 100 Deutsche Grammophon recordings of all time.
L**D
"Elegante" and MUCH MORE
Susan Palma Nidel's "Elegante" is just that...and a lot more! This wonderfully unique CD, that combines world music, classical, and jazz, is an incredibly unique offering. The journey begins with the sweet and haunting sounds of Susan's flute, soon joined by the heart-felt vocals of Ivan Lins and the incomparable soprano saxophone of Branford Marsalis. From there, the interplay of Edward Arron's cello, Jeewon Park's piano, and Susan Palma Nidel's flute on "Invitacion al Danzon" creates a stunning mosaic of sound...and this wonderful listening journey is well on its way. This CD evokes so many visual images and accompanying emotional responses, that I felt like I was an active participant in, and not simply a passive recipient of, this beautiful work. While listening, I had visions of ballet dancers doing spirited pirouettes and feelings of quiet joy. It seemed, at times, that I was listening to the soundtrack of a film whose subject matter centered around a wide range of human emotions and life experiences. This is a terrific CD, with an amazing group of musicians, that will bring many moments of great pleasure to those who are willing to listen.
H**N
Very "Elegante"
Upon listening to "elegante" one does not need to know anything about this music except to know that great music has an innate, timeless quality. This is great music performed by an ensemble of legendary musicians and composers including Ivan Lins, Branford Marsalis and Pablo Ziegler. If there is a Grammy for liner notes and CD package design "elegante" will be a nominee if not the Grammy winner. I wish all CD's came packaged like this. What an extraordinary cover and back cover (love Susan's artwork), table of contents, informative liner notes, lyric notes, bios and photos, packaged in an imaginative little booklet seated in the middle of a three panel CD presentation. The liner notes which are crisp and flowing tell a story that seems in sync with the sound of Susan's flute. I, who knows knows next to nothing of this music genre, was able to glean an understanding of the origin and history of this South American music. I only have two words for this CD... Grammy Winner!This soothing music playing in my living room is the perfect compliment to perfect weather and sunshine this Sunday afternoon in New York City. A very enjoyable experience for me, for anyone, anytime.
D**S
A Perfect World
What strikes me most about this album, is that this diverse group of musicians, each brilliant in their own right, is so inspired by each other that the virtuosic bar is raised to the heavens. This is truly a divine album. It transcends music genres; the classical, jazz, and world music elements mesh seamlessly. It is both intricate and accessible. Susan Palma Nidel has assembled a stellar ensemble. The production is impeccable, as is the sound quality.It is music that I would not want to be without.
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