For the Record, Op. 24: Kenji Bunch's 'The Snow Queen' ballet; Rachel Barton Pine's Paganini; Dragon Quartet

June 22, 2017, 2:06 PM · Welcome to "For the Record," Violinist.com's weekly roundup of new releases of recordings by violinists, violists, cellists and other classical musicians. We hope it helps you keep track of your favorite artists, as well as find some new ones to add to your listening!

The Snow Queen
Orchestra Next
Kenji Bunch, composer

Disney took a lot of liberties in "Frozen," its retelling of the Hans Christian Anderson tale, "The Snow Queen," but the Eugene Ballet Company aimed to stay true to the story when it created its own ballet, which was premiered in April of this year. This is a recording of the original, 100-minute score by Portland composer and violist Kenji Bunch. In Anderson's story, childhood friends Gerda, a girl, and Kay, a boy, are separated when Kay is blinded to the good of the world by shards of a frozen mirror made by Satan. Kay is taken to the Ice Palace of the Snow Queen, and with help from various other characters, Gerda rescues him there. "Helping to tell this hauntingly beautiful but entirely wordless story for close to two hours was, simply put, the largest undertaking of my career to date, by a longshot," Bunch said.

Bel Canto Paganini
Rachel Barton Pine

Rachel Barton Pine's newest recording includes Nicolò Paganini's 24 Caprices as well as his "Duet for One," Op. 6; "Caprice d'adieu" Op. 68; and a work by Rachel Barton Pine called "Introduction, Theme and Variations on "God Defend New Zealand," inspired by Paganini. It also includes a booklet with program notes written by Pine. Read more in our Interview with Rachel Barton Pine and enter to win a CD (through June 25) on Violinist.com.

Schubert Quartet No.14; Dvorák Quartet No.12
Dragon Quartet
Ning Feng, violin
Wang Xiaomao, violin
Zheng Wenxiao, viola
Qin Liwei, cello

The Dragon Quartet, led by celebrated Chinese violinist Ning Feng, presents their début recording featuring Schubert's "Death and the Maiden" and Dvorák's "American" Quartet.

If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our Thursday "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.

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