CRYSTAL RECORDS - SUSAN NIGRO, CONTRABASSOON
All of our CDs are available for
ordering on-line. Click on BUY NOW to
go to our secure shopping bag. If you wish, you may
still order via e-mail, info@crystalrecords.com, or
place your order by phone at 360-834-7022 or on our 24-hour fax line at
360-834-9680. See information on
our main page. Price on all CDs is $19.95. U.S. CD shipping (media mail) is FREE. Canada
shipping is US $10, other countries US $19, regardless of the size of the
order.
Our 4 for
3 offer is available on-line.
When you order 4 CDs, what you need to do is place the order for the first 3
CDs using the Buy Now buttons. Before checking out you will be given an
opportunity to write a comment to go with your order. In
the "leave a comment" space, write FREE CD with the catalog number of the one you want. In that way,
you will receive the 4 CDs and only be charged for 3.
Susan Nigro is a true contrabassoon crusader.
One of the world's very few soloists on this instrument, her numerous recitals
and solo appearances have occurred in such places as Salzburg, Montevideo,
Rome, and throughout the United States. Her solo performances are frequently
accompanied by master classes, lecture-demonstrations, or workshops designed by
her to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the contrabassoon's unique
sound and surprising versatility.
Nigro's quest for
contrabassoon solo literature has led her to commission and premiere over 50
new compositions. She has 8 solo CDs on Crystal. All have been received with
great acclaim.
A long-time regular
substitute with the Chicago Symphony, she was a full-time “permanent
substitute” with that orchestra for five seasons.
Nigro received bachelor's
and master's degrees from Northwestern University and an additional graduate
degree from Roosevelt University. Her teachers were Burl Lane, Ferdinand Del
Negro, Willard Elliot, Leonard Sharrow, Sherman
Walt, and Wilbur Simpson. In 2022 she was named an honorary member of the
International Double Reed Society.
“Nigro is a veritable
Paganini of the contrabassoon…she can make her instrument sing and articulate
like a nightingale.” (Fanfare)
“Susan Nigro is the
world’s best exponent of the contrabassoon and tames the beast, having it sing
and swoon.” (American Record Guide)
|
With Mark Lindeblad,
piano. "Nigro is a veritable Paganini of the contrabassoon. A
fun disc!" Fanfare.
(This will test the bass of your system.) “a fun disc” (Fanfare)
|
CD348: LITTLE TUNES FOR
THE BIG BASSOON. Susan Nigro, Contrabassoon and Mark Lindeblad,
Piano. Debussy: Jimbo's Lullaby;
Cherubini: Morceau pour le Basson; Desmond: Take
Five; Hagen: Harlem Nocturne; Mancini: Pink Panther; Tartini: Suite: Gemiani: Allegro; Bozza:
Burlesque; Gipps: Honey-Coloured Cow, The Ox and
the Ass, Leviathon; Phillips: Concert
Piece; Laudenslager: Little Suite; Organn: Romance; Davis: Variations on Robert Schumann; del
Negro: Down in the Deep Cellar; Fucik: Der
Alte Brummbar; Traditional: Clarinet Polka,
Tarantella Napoletano.
UPC 009414734822 BUY NOW
“the
instrument sings like a basso profundo.” (Fanfare)
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear approximately one minute of the movement
shown.
Cherubini: Morceau Pour le Bassooon
Tartini Suite: Mvt 1 (Moderato) Mvt 2 (Andante) Mvt 3 (Allegro) Gemiani: Allegro (Concerti Grossi No
2) Debussy: Children's Corner Jimbo's Lullaby Bozza: Burlesque Gipps: Honey Coloured Cow Leviathan The Ox
and the Ass Introduction and Carol Phillips: Concert Piece Laudenslager: Little Suite Slow Dance Quick March Organn: Romance Desmond: Take Five Hagen: Harlem Nocturne Mancini: The Pink Panther Davis: Variations (on a Theme of Robert
Schumann) del Negro: Down in the Deep Cellar Fucik: The Bear With A Sore Head Trad: Clarinet Polka Trad: Tarantella napolitana
CD349: THE 2 CONTRAS. Burl Lane and Susan Nigro,
Contrabassoons; William Eddins, Piano. Mozart: Sonata for
Bassoon & Cello, performed on two contrabassoons; Vanhal:
Concerto in F Major for two contrabassoons; Arthur Weisberg: From the Deep for
two contrabassoons; Daniel Dorff: Sonatina d'Amore for two contrabassoons; Etienne Ozi: Sonata No. 1 for two contrabassoons; Michael Curtis:
The Impish Imp for two contrabassoons. UPC 009414734921 BUY NOW
“fascinating
mosaic of sound…most enjoyable.” (Fanfare)
This is the world's first
two-contrabassoon CD. Susan Nigro's other CDs on Crystal Records were the first
contrabassoon solo CDs and have been hugely successful. Burl Lane is the
contrabassoonist with the Chicago Symphony. William Eddins is
Resident Conductor of the Chicago Symphony. This is an extraordinary CD which
customers will be interested in for musical values as well as to test the
low-end fidelity of their speaker systems.
Sound
samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear approximately one
minute of the movement shown.
Dorff: Sonatina d'Amore Mvt 1 (Allegro
cantabile) Mvt 2 (Allegro) Mvt 3 (Molto
allegro) Ozi: Sonata No.
1 Mvt 1 (Allegro) Mvt 2 (Andantino) Mvt 3 (Polonaise) Weisberg: From the Deep Mozart: Sonata
for bassoon & cello Mvt 1 (Allegro) Mvt 2 (Andante) Mvt 3 (Rondo) Vanhal:
Concerto for 2 bassoons Mvt 1 (Allegro
moderato) Mvt 2 (Andante
grazioso) Mvt 3 (Allegro) Curtis: The Impish Imp
CD843: NEW TUNES FOR THE BIG
BASSOON. Susan Nigro, contrabassoon. Barton Cummings: Concertino
for Contrabassoon and Arioso; Timothy Grassel:
Reminiscences; P. Kellach Waddle: Broken
Icicle Twilight & Severe Thunderstorm Warning; Edward McKenna: Bagatelle;
Ann Marie Kurrasch: Ponderings from the Pond;
Graham Powning: Sonata. Sue Nigro with
Mark Lindeblad, piano. UPC
009414784322 BUY NOW
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Concertino: Mvt 1
(Caprice) Mvt 2 (Pavilion
Dreams) Mvt 3 (Variations) Reminiscences: Mvt 1
(Andantino) Mvt 2 (Piacevole) Waddle: Broken Icicle Twilight Cummings: Arioso McKenna: Bagatelle Kurrasch: Ponderings from the Pond Waddle: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Powning: Sonata Mvt 1 (The
Stranded Whale) Mvt 2 (The
Rescue by Humans) Mvt 3 (Free
Again in the Ocean)
CD845: BELLISSIMA. Susan
Nigro, Contrabassoon & Mark Lindeblad,
piano. Rossini:
Cavatina from La Gazza Ladra, Introduction,
Theme and Variations from Quartet #6, Allegro - Albinoni, Adagio in G Minor;
Vivaldi: Sonata No. 3 in A Minor; Besozzi: Sonata in Bb major; Nussio: Divertimento; Procaccini:
Moments. UPC 009414784520 BUY NOW
"Susan Nigro is the world's best exponent of the
contrabassoon and tames the beast, having it sing and swoon." American Record Guide. One
of the world's very few soloists on this instrument, her numerous recitals and
solo appearances have occurred in such places as Salzburg, Montevideo, Rome,
and throughout the United States. She has been called "a veritable
Paganini of the contrabassoon." Fanfare
Sound samples (uses
RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Besozzi: Sonata in B flat major Allegro Adagio Presto Rossini:
La Gazza Ladra: Cavatina Moderato Allegro grazioso Procaccini: Moments
Albinoni: Adagio in g minor
Rossini: Allegro Nussio: Divertimento Intrada Minuetto Pantomima Nenia Corteggio
Vivaldi: Sonata No. 3 in a minor Largo Allegro Largo Allegro
Rossini: Introduction, Theme & Variations Introduction Theme Variation I Variation II Variation III Variation IV Finale
CD847: ORIGINAL TUNES FOR THE
BIG BASSOON. Susan Nigro, Contrabassoon. Ann Marie Kurrasch:
A Day at the Park; Frank Proto: Little Suite for the Big Bassoon*; Elaine Fine:
More Greek Myths & Harlequin Sonata; Joel Bjorling:
Night Shadows* & Dreamscapes* UPC 009414784728 BUY NOW
David Stybr: ContraBassooNova;
Giorgio Koukl: Potato Polca.
*The works by Proto and Bjorling are for
Unaccompanied Contrabassoon. On the other works, Susan Nigro is joined by
Mark Lindeblad, piano.
Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of
the movement shown.
Kurrasch: A Day at the
Park I. Hooray! We're Here! II. Soliloquy on the Clouds III. Catching Butterflies Proto:
Little Suite for the Big Bassoon I. Adagio - Quasi Cadenza II. Allegro III. Slow, funky blues IV. Tempo di Mambo Fine:
More Greek Myths I. Apollo II. Artemis III. The Labors of Heracles IV. Aphrodite V. Dionysus Bjorling: Night Shadows I. Prelude II. Phantasm III. Mystery Caper Stybr: ContraBassooNova "Um Imaginao do Brasil" Fine:
Harlequin Sonata I. Moderato II. Tempo di Siciliano III. Allegro Bjorling: Dreamscapes I. Dreamtime II. Etude III. Jazz Walk Koukl: Potato polca
CD848:
SCOTT JOPLIN RAGS FOR THE BIG BASSOON. Susan Nigro, Contrabassoon, plays 18 of Scott
Joplin's most famous Rags. UPC 009414784827. BUY
NOW
An extraordinary recording of an extraordinary
American composer. Scott Joplin's Rags are well-known to listeners,
having been used in many movie scores (such as "The Sting") and
having been a mainstay in popular concerts for more than a century. This CD features
18 Rags, including his most-popular Maple Leaf Rag and The Entertainer. They
are played by Susan Nigro, probably the world's foremost solo contrabassoonist.
Pianist is Mark Lindeblad. The Rags are
amazingly effective in these renditions.
“a taste of humor…a barrel of enjoyment” (American Record Guide)
Included in this collection are Maple Leaf Rag,
Original Rag, The Easy Winners, Cleopha, The
Strenuous Life, Elite Syncopations, The Favorite, The Sycamore, The
Chrysanthemum, The Cascades, Bethena, Rag-Time Dance, Fig Leaf Rag,
Solace, Plesant Moments, New Rag, Magnetic
Rag, and The Entertainer.
CD848 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link
to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this
page after listening to samples, please use your browser back button)
Maple Leaf Rag Original Rags The Easy Winners, A Ragtime Two Step Cleopha, March and Two
Step The Strenuous Life, A Ragtime Two Step Elite Syncopations The Favorite, A Ragtime Two Step The Sycamore, A Concert Rag The Chrysanthemum, An Afro-American Intermezzo The Cascades, A Rag Bethena, A Concert Waltz Rag-Time Dance, A Stop-Time Two Step Fig Leaf Rag, A High Class Rag Solace, A Mexican Serenade Pleasant Moments, Ragtime Waltz New Rag Magnetic Rag The Entertainer, A Rag Time Two Step
CD980: COOL TUNES FOR THE BIG BASSOON. Susan
Nigro, Contrabassoon. Mark Lindeblad, Piano. UPC009414798022 BUY NOW
Jared Isaac Aragón, Little Suite for the Big Bassoon and
Nebulae (Sonata for Contrabassoon and Piano); Jay Vosk, The Giant Stirred and Contra Blue; Alan Palider, L’Italiano Molto
Breve; Joel Bjorling, Suite in
A Mnor; Ann Marie Kurrasch, Chicago Cakewalk.
Susan Nigro is one of the world’s very few contrabassoonists to have made a
career of playing recitals, doing solo appearances, and making recordings. She
has performed in places such as Salzburg, Montevideo, Rome, and throughout the
United States, and also frequently presents master
classes. She performs frequently with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Her quest
for solo literature has inspired her to commission and premier more than fifty
pieces for the contrabassoon – with more compositions still in the works. All of the works on this CD were commissioned by, written
for, and premiered by Susan Nigro. This CD was recorded n 2021.
“Susan Nigro is more than a terrific contrabassoonist. She is a
superb musician who happens to play the contrabassoon. Because of her serious
musicianship married to a virtually flawless technique, Nigro has made a bigger
solo career with that instrument than anyone might have thought possible…The
music displays a sense of fun, but also a beautiful lyricism that might
surprise you.” Fanfare, May/June
2022 (Henry Fogel)
“The works showcase Nigro’s beautiful singing
tone, impressive breath control, facility in bravura passages, and her
celebration…of the instrument’s sepulchral low register. A most enriching and
uplifting musical experience. Five Stars:Susan Nigro’s tour de force of music for
contrabassoon.” Fanfare, May/June 2022 (Ken Meltzer)
“Five Stars: a real eyeopener…Nigro is a real ambassador for the
contrabassoon. Give it a try; you won’t regret it.” Fanfare, May/June 2022 (Colin Clarke)
“Susan Nigro has been
a shining light in bringing the 'big bassoon' to the attention of the music
world for many years, having commissioned and premiered more than 50 pieces of
music for the instrument. She has carved out an extraordinary career as a
contrabassoonist - playing recitals, making solo appearances, undertaking
recording projects, presenting master classes, publishing books and orchestral
work with ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra…I particularly
enjoyed the melodic shapes and colour of Joel Bjorling's Suite in A Minor and found the two Hydesville movements quite evocative with their rhythmic
free form…The final piece, Ann Marie Kurrasch's
Chicago Cakewalk was a delightful lightening of mood without cheapening the
contra and I thorougly enjoyed the variation in style
and the charming character with which it was infused.” Australian Double
Reed Society “Reeding Matter Journal”, July 2022, Josie Hawkes
CD980 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click
on the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this page after listening to samples, please
use your browser back button)
Aragon Little Suite for Big Bassoon: Mvt.1 Scherzo Mvt. 2 Berceuse Mvt. 3 Folk Dance Mvt. 4 Aria Mvt. 5 Finale Vosk: The Giant Stirred Palider: L’Italiano Molto
Breve Bjorling Suite
in A Minor: Mvt. 1 Hydesville 1848/Mr. Splitfoot Mvt. 2 Hydesville 1848/Sisters Margaretta & Catherine Mvt. 3 Classical Funk Vosk: Contra Blue Aragon Nebulae
(Sonata for Contrabassoon): Mvt. 1 Fantasia:
Butterfly Nebula Mvt. 2 Chaconne: Red Square Nebula Mvt. 3 Toccata: Flame
Nebula Kurrasch: Chicago Cakewalk
CDs 19.95 each.
U.S. CD shipping (media mail) is FREE. Canada
shipping is US $10, other countries US $19. Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, U.S. check accepted. Order by email,
phone, fax, or mail, or click BUY NOW for the CD you want.
Crystal Records, 28818 NE Hancock Rd, Camas, WA
98607
phone 360-834-7022, fax
360-834-9680
email: order@crystalrecords.com
Return to main
Crystal Records page.