Solos

Composer, guitarist and collaborator BRYCE DESSNER releases his Sony Classical debut album 'Solos'. Available everywhere now, the album is a collection of unaccompanied instrumental works written by Dessner over the past few years from both his classical and scoring catalogue. Solos showcases not only Dessner’s compositional flair but also the immense talent of his frequent collaborators and friends. Featured soloists include cellist Anastasia Kobekina; violinist Pekka Kuusisto; pianist Katia Labèque; harpist Lavinia Meijer; violist Nadia Sirota; percussionist Colin Currie and Dessner himself on acoustic guitar. Today’s album release also signifies the launch of an extensive partnership that will see Dessner’s classical compositions released on Sony Classical while sister label Milan Records will continue to be a home for some of his celebrated soundtracks. 

Of his Sony Classical debut release today, BRYCE DESSNER says, “Writing a solo piece for me is always a great challenge and joy, as you have all the personality and talent of the player plus the physicality and resonance of the solo instrument. These pieces of mine are often written like poems, where the musical language itself dictates the form and evolution of the piece and were often opportunities for me to explore more deeply my relationship to the instruments they were composed for. They also represent in each case close collaborative relationships and friendships I have been very lucky to develop with the incredible musicians who play them. Katia, Pekka, Anastasia, Nadia, Lavinia and Colin are all exceptional artists who brought so much of their amazing talent to these recordings.” 

Solos was recently introduced with singles “Lullaby for Jacques et Brune,” a lullaby for piano featuring Katia Labèque that was written by Bryce Dessner for his godchildren; “Song for Ainola” performed by cellist Anastasia Kobekina and inspired by both Bach’s cello music and the Sibelius’s homestead; “Walls” performed and recorded on acoustic guitar by Bryce Dessner himself and taken from his soundtrack for Fernando Meirelles’ Oscar-nominated film “The Two Popes;” “Ornament and Crime” was recorded by close friend and collaborator violinist Pekka Kuusisto for which Dessner took inspiration from architect Adolf Loos‘s book of the same title; and from his film scoring, the main theme from “A Good Person” performed by pianist Katia Labèque. The album’s release extensive new partnership with Dessner that will see his classical compositions released on Sony Classical and select scoring titles through sister label Milan Records, creating a homebase for the composer to pursue two essential strands of his creative output.