Archive for the ‘ News ’ Category

Another rave for Charms to Soothe

The September 2024 issue of Textura contained this review: “Distinguished by attention to detail, thoughtful consideration of pacing, and clear affection for the music…Leisner’s articulation is unfailingly precise and his interpretations illuminating. Executed with the kind of ease and authority that comes from decades of playing, the material impresses for its melodic richness, warmth, and clarity.” For the full review, please click here.

Great review for Charms to Soothe album

Göran Forsling of Music Web International wrote, “This is a disc for anyone, guitar lover or not, with a taste for beautiful and stimulating music in an intimate format, played with taste and devotion.” For the full review, please click here.

Latest solo album release

“Charms to Soothe” is David Leisner’s latest album for the Azica label, with 19th century solo guitar music by Sor, Giuliani, Mertz, Regondi and Schulz. Its release date is May 24, 2024, and it is a digital-only release. For more information and the liner notes, please click here.

New Il Fronimo review for Letter to the World album

Francesco Biraghi wrote a rave review in the Italian guitar magazine, Il Fronimo, of the “Letter to the World” album of Leisner vocal chamber music. Amongst other things, he wrote: “Leisner conquers us not only with the beauty of the music, but particularly with the coherence of musical expression in relation to the lyrics…A recording that deserves the highest praise. Some passages of great intensity will remain in our emotional…

Leisner just added to the lineup for the Long Island Guitar Festival this April

Due to a cancellation, David Leisner was just added to the performer lineup for the upcoming Long Island Guitar Festival, April 22-28. His solo program will include music by Bach, Duarte, Leisner, Schubert, Winslow and Mertz, and will take place on Friday, April 26 at the Setauket Presbyterian Church in Setauket, NY. Other featured performers include Ana Vidovic, Eden-Stell Guitar Duo, Nicoletta Todesco, Huy Thanh Nguyen, Harris Becker, Ana Maria…

Leisner compositions included on 2 new recordings

Two recordings, just released, include works by David Leisner. Guitarist Robert Nathanson commissioned two chamber works from Leisner in the last couple of years, and they are both included on his Duo Sureño album, called Continuum, on the Teal Music label. The pieces are: Singing to the Stars for soprano, violin, saxophone and two guitars, and Tsunami for soprano saxophone and guitar, with soprano Nancy King, saxophonist Laurent Estoppey, violinist…

Yet another rave review for Schubert recording, from Soundboard Magazine

“David Leisner’s performance of his own arrangements of the Schubert piano parts is extremely successful. Leisner very sensibly does not attempt a literal transcription of the piano parts but rather provides the essence of the original accompaniment as needed to support the voice…My ‘go to’ performance of this work is a version done by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau with Gerald Moore. Now at the risk of being accused of hyperbole, I will…

Another rave review for the Kelly/Leisner recording of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin

American Record Guide, in its March/April 2023 issue, found much to admire in Michael Kelly’s and David Leisner’s recorded interpretation of Schubert’s Die Schöne Müllerin on the Bright Shiny Things label. “Both artists perform commendably in this very intimate reading, which sets it apart strikingly from all the many recordings of it I’ve reviewed. Kelly uses his light lyric voice effectively with prudently applied rubato and lovely soft singing. His…

Pepe Romero to premiere Leisner guitar concerto, Wayfaring, September 3

Pepe Romero will premiere the guitar concerto, Wayfaring, by David Leisner on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 3:00 pm at the Hamptons Festival of Music, at the LTV Studio 3 in Wainscott, NY. Michael Palmer conducts the New American Sinfonietta in the World Premiere of this 22-minute, 3-movement work for guitar and full orchestra, commissioned for Pepe Romero by Brian Hays.

Textura’s rave review of Letter to the World

Textura.org posted a rave review of David Leisner’s new vocal chamber music album in their May issue. “Letter to the World emphasizes his formidable talents as a composer of vocal chamber music…The sixty-four-minute collection makes a compelling argument for Leisner as a composer of art songs and vocal suites…Having premiered works by David Del Tredici, Virgil Thomson, Philip Glass, Peter Sculthorpe, Osvaldo Golijov, and others, Leisner has been justly celebrated for…