Composer, pianist, and conductor Lowell Liebermann was born in New York City in 1961. Piano lessons, beginning at age eight, and composition lessons, at fourteen, led to his Carnegie Hall debut at the age of sixteen, at which he played a composition of his own, the Piano Sonata op. 1. Composed in the previous year, this work went on to win awards from the Music Teachers National Association and the Yamaha Music Foundation. He entered the Juilliard School of Music in 1979 and left only after completing a doctorate in 1987. While there, he studied composition with David Diamond and Vincent Persichetti, piano with Jacob Lateiner, and conducting with László Halász. In 1980, he became the youngest-ever recipient of a Charles Ives Scholarship from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. While still an undergraduate at Juilliard, he served as assistant director of the Nassau (Long Island) Lyric Opera Company.
Liebermann regularly appears as a conductor and performer of his own music. He has no need, however, to be the sole herald of his own works, for their popularity among musicians of his generation is great. His Piano Concerto no. 2 (1992), premiered by Stephen Hough and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mstislav Rostropovich, has been well received in concert halls across the country. Hough premiered Liebermann's Piano Concerto no. 1 (1983) as well, but for the recently composed Piano Concerto no. 3, scheduled for its first hearing in November 2005, Liebermann chose pianist Jeffrey Biegel as soloist.
Liebermann does not, of course, compose strictly for the piano. His extensive oeuvre includes many songs and choral works, a wide variety of chamber music, orchestral, and band music, and a work for organ. Flutist James Galway has been the inspiration behind several new additions to the flute repertoire. Galway commissioned Liebermann's Concerto for Flute and Orchestra (1992)--premiering it with the St. Louis Symphony under the direction of Leonard Slatkin, and performing it again at Carnegie Hall with conductor James Levine and the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra--and suggested the idea of the Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra (1995), which he premiered with harpist Kathy Kienzel and the Minnesota Orchestra, under the direction of Eiji Oue.
Liebermann includes one opera--with a second on the way--among his creations. The Picture of Dorian Gray, based on Oscar Wilde's book of the same title, premiered at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 1996. It has the distinction of being not only the Monte-Carlo opera company's first performance of an American work in its history, but its first commission of an American work, as well. The opera was nominated for the Prix Oscar Wilde by the Association Oscar Wilde.
The Juilliard School of Music, in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of its founding, has commissioned a new opera from Liebermann. Titled Miss Lonelyhearts, after the novel by Nathaniel West, and with a libretto by J. S. McClatchy, the opera will serve as the culminating event of the 2005/2006 anniversary celebration.
Liebermann's compositions can be heard on the Hyperion, Virgin Classics, and New World labels, among others. His Concerto for Flute, Harp, and Orchestra was recorded on compact disc by BMG. Stephen Hough's rendition of Liebermann's Piano Concerto no. 2, accompanied by the BBC Scottish Orchestra under Liebermann's direction, received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Classical Composition in 1998.
In addition to the awards and honors already noted previously, Liebermann has taken a Grand Prize in the Delius International Composition Competition; benefited, in 1990, from a Fellowship from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters; and won, in the same year, ASCAP's Young Composers Competition. He has also received an award from BMI, and took first prize, in 2001, in the Inaugural American Composers Invitational Competition at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.
Discography
Piano Sonata No. 1, Op. 1 [1977]
David Korevaar, piano.
Musical Heritage Society MHS 512647Y (1990)
Margaret Mills, piano.
Cambria Master Recordings CD-1094 (1994)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7552-2 (2004)
Sonata for Violoncello and Piano, Op. 3 [1978]
Rajan Krishnaswami, cello; Mark Salman, piano.
Ambassador ARC 1022 (1999)
Two Pieces for Violin and Viola, Op. 4 [1978]
William Terwilliger, violin; Erika Eckert, viola.
Albany Records TROY 684 (2004)
Piano Sonata No. 2 ("Sonata Notturna"), Op. 10 [1983]
David Korevaar, piano.
Musical Heritage Society MHS 512647Y (1990)
Margaret Mills, piano.
Cambria Master Recordings CD-1094 (1994)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7552-2 (2004)
Concerto No.1 for Piano and Orchestra, Op. 12 [1983]
Stephen Hough, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Lowell Liebermann, conductor.
Hyperion CDA 66966 (1997)
Sonata for Viola and Piano, Op. 13 [1984]
Cathy Basrak, viola; William Koehler, piano.
Cedille Records CDR 90000 053 (2000)
Four Apparitions, Op. 17 - piano [1987]
David Korevaar, piano.
Musical Heritage Society MHS 512647Y (1990)
Christina Petrowska, piano.
JLH Lasersound JLH 1002 (1992)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Variations on a Theme by Anton Bruckner, Op. 19 - piano [1986]
David Korevaar, piano.
Musical Heritage Society MHS 512647Y (1990)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7552-2 (2004)
Nocturne No. 1, Op. 20 [1986]
David Korevaar, piano.
Musical Heritage Society MHS 512647Y (1990)
Lara Downes, piano.
Azica ACD-71213 (2003)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Final Songs, Op. 21 [1987]
Robert White, tenor; Lowell Liebermann, piano.
Arabesque Z 6770 (2004)
Night Songs, Op. 22 [1987]
Robert White, tenor; Lowell Liebermann, piano.
Arabesque Z 6770 (2004)
Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 23 [1987]
Katherine Kemler, flute; Kathleen Rountree, piano.
Centaur CRC 2146 (1992)
Kirsten Spratt, flute; Elizabeth Mucha, piano.
Henry Productions KLT 002 (1993)
Claudia Anderson, flute; Barbara Michaelson, piano.
Centaur CRC 2203 (1994)
Goran Marcusson, flute; Joakim Kallhed, piano.
Intim Music IMCD 034 (1994)
Laurel Ann Maurer, flute; Mark Neiwirth, piano.
4 Tay CD-4006 (1999)
Susan Hoeppner, flute; Unknown, piano.
Marquis Classics (199?)
Teresa Beaman, flute; Andreas Werz, piano.
Laurel Records LR-857 CD (199?)
Ayako Takagi, flute; Unknown, piano.
Denon (Japan) COCQ-83421 (199?)
Jeannine Dennis, flute; Philip Amalong, piano.
Eroica Classical Recordings 3052 (2001)
Judith Miller, flute; Cordula Hacke, piano.
Arte Nova Classics 91015 (2002)
Jeffrey Khaner, flute; Hugh Sung, piano.
Avie Records 1504 (2002)
Alexa Still, flute; David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7549-2 (2003)
Jonathan Keeble, flute; Rose Shylam Grace, piano.
Albany Records TROY 673 (2004)
Dora Seres, flute; Emese Mali, piano
Hungariton ?? (2005)
Sonata for Flute and Guitar, Op. 25 [1988]
Elisabeth Riessbeck, flute; Klaus Jäckle, guitar.
New Classical Adventures 91912847-215 (19??)
Alexandra Hawley, flute; Jeffrey McFadden, guitar.
Naxos 8.559146 (2003)
Alexa Still, flute; Franco Platino, guitar.
Koch International Classics 3-7549 (2003)
Concerto for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, Op. 28 [1989]
William Terwilliger, violin; Andrew Cooperstock, piano. Ying Quartet.
Albany Records TROY 684 (2004)
Gargoyles, Op. 29 - piano [1989]
Michael Boriskin, piano.
New World Records 80426 (1992)
Stephen Hough, piano.
Virgin Classics VC 7 59304 (1998)
Brian Wallik, piano.
TNC Recordings TNC CD 1410 (199?)
Anthony Hewitt, piano.
Master Musicains ESCD 006 (2000?)
Roger Wright, piano.
ABC Classics 461-657 (2000)
David Troy Francis, piano.
Barbarian Records 003 (2001)
Alexander Djordjevic, piano.
private issue (200?)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7552-2 (2004)
Nocturne No. 2, Op. 31 - piano [1990]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Trio for Violin, Cello, and Piano No. 1, Op. 32 [1990]
William Terwilliger, violin; Andres Diaz, cello; Andrew Cooperstock, piano.
Albany Records TROY 684 (2004)
Nocturne No. 3, Op. 35 - piano [1991]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2, Op. 36 [1992]
Stephen Hough, piano; BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Lowell Liebermann, conductor.
Hyperion CDA 66966 (1997)
Nocturne No. 4, Op. 38 - piano [1992]
Lara Downes, piano.
Azica ACD-71213 (2003)
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, Op. 39 [1992]
James Galway, flute; London Mozart Players, Lowell Liebermann, conductor
RCA Victor Red Seal 63235 (1998)
RCA Victor Red Seal 63432 (1999)
Eugenia Zuckerman, flute; Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conductor
Delos DE 3256 (2000)
A Poet to His Beloved, Op. 40 - tenor, flute, piano and string quartet [1993]
Alexa Still, flute; Curt Peterson, tenor; David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7549-2 (2003)
Robert White, tenor; Lowell Liebermann, piano.
Arabesque Z 6770 (2004)
"Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," Op. 41 - mezzo-soprano and string quartet [1993]
Robert White, tenor; Lowell Liebermann, piano.
Arabesque Z 6770 (2004)
Album for the Young, Op. 43 - piano [1993]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7552-2 (2004)
Stephen Hough, piano. [6 pieces]
Hyperion CDA 66966 (1997)
Soliloquy, Op. 44 - flute [1993]
Katherine Kemler, flute.
Opus One 169 (1995)
Elisabeth Riessbeck, flute.
New Classical Adventures 91912847-215 (199?)
Katherine Kemler, flute.
Centaur 2399 (1999)
Yvonne Chavez Hansbrough, flute.
Fanfare Publications 00022-1 (199?)
Laurel Zucker, flute.
Cantilena Records 66019 (2000)
Jeannine Dennis, flute.
Eroica Classical Recordings 3052 (2001)
Alexa Still, flute.
Koch International Classics 3-7549 (2003)
Sonata for Violin and Piano, Op. 46 [1994]
Damien Pardoen, violin; Stephane De May, piano.
Fibonacci Productions FIBO-002 (199?)
William Terwilliger, violin; Andrew Cooperstock, piano.
Albany Records TROY 684 (2004)
Concerto for Flute, Harp and Orchestra, Op. 48 [1995]
James Galway, flute; Hyun-Sun Na, harp; London Mozart Players, Lowell Liebermann, conductor.
RCA Victor Red Seal 63235 (1998)
Paean for Wind Band, Op. 49 [1995]
West Texas A&M Symphonic Band, Gary Garner, conductor
Mark Recordings TMEA96MCD3 (1996)
Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra, Op. 50 [1996]
James Galway, piccolo; London Mozart Players, Lowell Liebermann, conductor.
RCA Victor Red Seal 63235 (1998)
Three Dream Songs, Op. 53 - baritone and piano [1996]
Robert White, tenor; Lowell Liebermann, piano.
Arabesque Z 6770 (2004)
Nocturne No. 5, Op. 55 - piano [1996]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Sonata for Flue and Harp, Op. 56 [1996]
Joan Sparks, flute; Anne Sullivan, harp.
Firestar Music 979806 (2000?)
Alexa Still, flute; Victoria Drake, harp.
Koch International Classics 3-7549 (2003)
Six Songs on Poems of Henry W. Longfellow, Op. 57 [1997]
Robert White, tenor; Lowell Liebermann, piano.
Arabesque Z 6770 (2004)
Eight Pieces, Op. 59 - bass flute, alto flute, C-flute or piccolo [1998]
Laurel Zucker, flutes.
Cantilena Records 66093 (2003)
Alexa Still, flute, alto flute, bass flute.
Koch International Classics 3-7549 (2003)
Nocturne No. 6, Op. 62 - piano [1998]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Nocturne No. 7, Op. 65 - piano [1999]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Symphony No. 2, Op. 67 [1999]
Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Andrew Litton, conductor.
Delos DE 3256 (2000)
Three Impromptus, Op. 68 - piano [2000]
David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7548-2 (2003)
Trio No. 2 for Violin, Cello, and Piano, Op. 77 [2001]
Beaux Arts Trio.
Library of Congress Concert 2003-04-08 and 2003-04-09
RGB 2105, RGB 2113
William Terwilliger, violin; Andres Diaz, cello; Andrew Cooperstock, piano.
Albany Records TROY 684 (2004)
Five Pieces from "Album for the Young," Op. 79 - violin or flute, and piano [2002]
Alexa Still, flute; David Korevaar, piano.
Koch International Classics 3-7549 (2003)
DISCLAIMER:
This discography was assembled using available catalog records, internet resources, discographies, and other works. Especially included are the performers' Library of Congress concert appearances, the recordings of which reside in the Library of Congress's Recorded Sound collections. Excluded are the numerous promotional and special market reissues of excerpts of complete recordings.
Although every attempt has been made to be comprehensive, some recordings may have inadvertently been missed. Please send any additions and corrections to https://www.loc.gov/rr/askalib/ask-perform.html.
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