‘We often look at the scores of contemporary music with some scepticism. Many people (including musicians) are already turned off by the word “contemporary”. They associate it with something purely “intellectual” regarding it as music to be “understood” because of the excessive sophistication and demands of the scores and sounds. Other people (snobs?) consider most of the tonal scores created in the 20th and 21st centuries to be a betrayal of New Music.’ So says Gidon Kremer, the brains and genius behind this recording, New Seasons. Which means, as musicians, we can’t win! So what Kremer did was choose music that had meaning to him, it didn’t matter what, it just had to evoke an emotional response in him and wow, did he choose some fabulous pieces.

Mostly minimalist in style, every single note has thought behind it. There’s not a dud to be heard. Kremer has aimed for music that will resonate with everyone, and I think he’s done a marvellous job. This recording will push, without insulting, the more traditional listeners and entrance those with an ear to the more modern sound: it’s there in the harmonies, the rhythm and even the orchestration itself, at times. Soulful without being soppy, this is a true celebration of the modern art of classical music.

Kate Rockstrom