Ellen Taaffe Zwilich: Symphony No. 5

Ellen Taaffe Zwilich may have found inspiration through introspection, but her music is anything but introverted. Concerto Elegia and Commedia dell'Arte unpack disparate themes—mourning a loss and the joy of theater—each within the framework of the concerto, exhibiting Zwilich's creativity and imagination in addition to her compositional prowess. While the concerti are naturally inviting, as if to allow you to partake in an intimate discussion, Symphony No. 5 grabs one's attention by introducing its own unmatched scale and grandeur. The listening experience pivots from a conversation to a Socratic debate, where a plurality of ideas shape a prevailing vision among its participants.