Industry News
New CD from Blue Griffin Celebrates Chopin's Bicentennial
The Michigan-based Blue Griffin label releases a recording of Frédéric Chopin’s 24 études for piano opus 10 and opus 25, in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the composer’s birth. The CD features Ukrainian-born pianist Irena Portenko, who debuted as soloist with the Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra at age eight.
The recording follows Ms. Portenko’s debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, where the pianist presented Chopin’s entire études cycle, prompting Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times to describe the performance as “admirably honest and clear-textured,” stating “Portenko pulled of a feat that puts her in a select company.”
“For me as a performer,” Portenko writes, “the set of the études appears as a unique example of individuality within continuity, reminiscent of an invisible thread with gemstones - each with its own shining personality.”
Since its inception in 2000, Blue Griffin Recording has established itself as an internationally recognized label with almost 50 titles in its catalog, and an artist roster that spans the Americas, Europe and Asia. Hailed by Gramophone Magazine (UK) as a “high quality young label” and as “a consistent stream of exceptionally enjoyable recordings” by American Record Guide, Blue Griffin Recording partners with Ablany Music Distributers and The Orchard, which ensure its prominent availability world-wide.
The CD is available at www.BlueGriffin.com, as well as other online outlets and record stores, ranging in price from $15-$17.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
About Irena Portenko:
Ukranian-born pianist Irena Portenko first displayed love and talent for the piano at age of three, and by age eight debuted as soloist with the Ukrainian National Orchestra, performing Haydn's Concerto in D Major.
Praised for her "diligent, tender, and sparkling virtuosity…" (Ukrainian Weekly), Ms. Portenko’s distinguished array of concerto performances, recitals, festival appearances and recognitions at international competition has garnered impressive accolades from both audiences and critics throughout Europe and North America, granting her a career of international status.
Ms. Portenko’s critically acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, which featured Frédéric Chopin’s Twenty-Four Études was received with a standing ovation. Later, in a New York Times review, Anthony Tommasini wrote of the performance: “her playing was admirably honest and clear-textured... Ms. Portenko pulled off a feat that puts her in a select company.”
Irena Portenko frequently appears as a soloist with orchestras in the United States and in Europe. She has performed under the batons of Kenneth Kiesler, Rossen Milanov, Volodymyr Sirenko and Allin Vlasenko, to name a few. Her varied repertoire includes many of the most demanding concerti written for piano such as Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto, and Corigliano's Piano Concerto, among many others. As an avid chamber collaborator, Irena Portenko has appeared in recitals and enjoyed associations with distinguished artists in Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, and United States. Her passion and devotion for collaborating and performing the music by contemporary composers has led her to frequent interpretations of numerous works by American and Ukrainian composers. Irena Portenko premiered Israel Kremen’s Twenty Five Preludes and Fugues for Piano and Humankind (2009), and Triptych "Venetian Blinds" for solo piano by Michael Daugherty (2003), which was recognized by Mike Stryker of the Detroit Free Press as "...the most powerful work on the program...Pianist Irena Portenko's exciting reading unlocked the music's technical challenges." Among other awards and recognitions, Ms. Portenko has been awarded prizes at numerous international Solo, Concerto and Chamber Music competitions throughout the U.S. Ukraine and France including the National Prokofiev Competition (Ukraine) and the Pierre Lantier Competition (France), in addition to others.
Irena Portenko holds Doctorate and Master's degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, and a Post-Graduate degree in Collaborative Piano from the Ukrainian National Academy of Music. Her teachers include such renowned musicians and performers as Logan Skelton, Yong Hi Moon, Igor Ryabov, Liudmila Tsvirko, and Arthur Greene. Irena Portenko has been adjudicating the Solo Piano and Chamber Music Competition Art of the 21st Century (2004 and 2006); presenting lectures and performances at College Music Society (2006, 2007) MENC (2006) and World Piano Conferences (2009) and at the Interharmony Music Festival (2010). Currently Dr. Portenko resides in New York area where she shares her passion for music as a piano teacher and freelance musician.
About Blue Griffin Recordings:
Since its birth in 2000, Blue Griffin has risen from a small recording company into an internationally recognized label with almost 50 titles in its catalog, and an artist roster that spans the Americas, Europe and Asia. It’s very diverse catalog is distributed by Albany Music Distributors, one of the world’s top 5 distributors of classical music. The digital distribution is handled by The Orchard, the world’s leader in digital music services, which assures the availability of its recordings on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and virtually all other online outlets.
Blue Griffin has been hailed as a “high quality young label” by Gramophone Magazine (UK) and as “a consistent stream of exceptionally enjoyable recordings” by American Record Guide. Its recordings have received glowing reviews in Clavier, The Strad, Fanfare, International Record Review, BBC Music Magazine, Flute World, Clarinet Magazine, Strings, Classics Toda and Audiophile Audition, among other publications. Each year, Blue Griffin’s most prominent releases are included in the entry list to be considered for the GRAMMY nominations.
More information available at www.BlueGriffin.com.
The recording follows Ms. Portenko’s debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, where the pianist presented Chopin’s entire études cycle, prompting Anthony Tommasini of The New York Times to describe the performance as “admirably honest and clear-textured,” stating “Portenko pulled of a feat that puts her in a select company.”
“For me as a performer,” Portenko writes, “the set of the études appears as a unique example of individuality within continuity, reminiscent of an invisible thread with gemstones - each with its own shining personality.”
Since its inception in 2000, Blue Griffin Recording has established itself as an internationally recognized label with almost 50 titles in its catalog, and an artist roster that spans the Americas, Europe and Asia. Hailed by Gramophone Magazine (UK) as a “high quality young label” and as “a consistent stream of exceptionally enjoyable recordings” by American Record Guide, Blue Griffin Recording partners with Ablany Music Distributers and The Orchard, which ensure its prominent availability world-wide.
The CD is available at www.BlueGriffin.com, as well as other online outlets and record stores, ranging in price from $15-$17.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
About Irena Portenko:
Ukranian-born pianist Irena Portenko first displayed love and talent for the piano at age of three, and by age eight debuted as soloist with the Ukrainian National Orchestra, performing Haydn's Concerto in D Major.
Praised for her "diligent, tender, and sparkling virtuosity…" (Ukrainian Weekly), Ms. Portenko’s distinguished array of concerto performances, recitals, festival appearances and recognitions at international competition has garnered impressive accolades from both audiences and critics throughout Europe and North America, granting her a career of international status.
Ms. Portenko’s critically acclaimed debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, which featured Frédéric Chopin’s Twenty-Four Études was received with a standing ovation. Later, in a New York Times review, Anthony Tommasini wrote of the performance: “her playing was admirably honest and clear-textured... Ms. Portenko pulled off a feat that puts her in a select company.”
Irena Portenko frequently appears as a soloist with orchestras in the United States and in Europe. She has performed under the batons of Kenneth Kiesler, Rossen Milanov, Volodymyr Sirenko and Allin Vlasenko, to name a few. Her varied repertoire includes many of the most demanding concerti written for piano such as Prokofiev's Second Piano Concerto, and Corigliano's Piano Concerto, among many others. As an avid chamber collaborator, Irena Portenko has appeared in recitals and enjoyed associations with distinguished artists in Ukraine, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, and United States. Her passion and devotion for collaborating and performing the music by contemporary composers has led her to frequent interpretations of numerous works by American and Ukrainian composers. Irena Portenko premiered Israel Kremen’s Twenty Five Preludes and Fugues for Piano and Humankind (2009), and Triptych "Venetian Blinds" for solo piano by Michael Daugherty (2003), which was recognized by Mike Stryker of the Detroit Free Press as "...the most powerful work on the program...Pianist Irena Portenko's exciting reading unlocked the music's technical challenges." Among other awards and recognitions, Ms. Portenko has been awarded prizes at numerous international Solo, Concerto and Chamber Music competitions throughout the U.S. Ukraine and France including the National Prokofiev Competition (Ukraine) and the Pierre Lantier Competition (France), in addition to others.
Irena Portenko holds Doctorate and Master's degrees in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, and a Post-Graduate degree in Collaborative Piano from the Ukrainian National Academy of Music. Her teachers include such renowned musicians and performers as Logan Skelton, Yong Hi Moon, Igor Ryabov, Liudmila Tsvirko, and Arthur Greene. Irena Portenko has been adjudicating the Solo Piano and Chamber Music Competition Art of the 21st Century (2004 and 2006); presenting lectures and performances at College Music Society (2006, 2007) MENC (2006) and World Piano Conferences (2009) and at the Interharmony Music Festival (2010). Currently Dr. Portenko resides in New York area where she shares her passion for music as a piano teacher and freelance musician.
About Blue Griffin Recordings:
Since its birth in 2000, Blue Griffin has risen from a small recording company into an internationally recognized label with almost 50 titles in its catalog, and an artist roster that spans the Americas, Europe and Asia. It’s very diverse catalog is distributed by Albany Music Distributors, one of the world’s top 5 distributors of classical music. The digital distribution is handled by The Orchard, the world’s leader in digital music services, which assures the availability of its recordings on iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster and virtually all other online outlets.
Blue Griffin has been hailed as a “high quality young label” by Gramophone Magazine (UK) and as “a consistent stream of exceptionally enjoyable recordings” by American Record Guide. Its recordings have received glowing reviews in Clavier, The Strad, Fanfare, International Record Review, BBC Music Magazine, Flute World, Clarinet Magazine, Strings, Classics Toda and Audiophile Audition, among other publications. Each year, Blue Griffin’s most prominent releases are included in the entry list to be considered for the GRAMMY nominations.
More information available at www.BlueGriffin.com.
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