It is impossible to describe in words just how magical and profound the experience of recording an all Shostakovich CD at Tippet Rise proved to be. The beauty and solitude of the environment inspired a deeper connection with this powerful repertoire. Having the opportunity to record in such an acoustically optimal concert hall with a piano from heaven and a magnificent viola from the 1600’s, in combination with such a remarkable audio engineer/producer artist, was such a gift. Our own musical and personal connection goes back decades- we are in-laws and have been making music together since our early years. When we considered what repertoire we would want to explore for this particular recording in this truly unique environment, Shostakovich immediately came to mind. The profundity and depth of these musical statements resonated so strongly with the transcendent aesthetic of Tippet Rise- the environment inspired the music. This music demands deep exploration and thought and there is no better place for that pursuit than Tippet Rise. It was a true privilege to have the opportunity to spend several days together to delve into Shostakovich’s musical universe. A sense of timelessness seemed to permeate our intense recording days and the overwhelming natural beauty of this land was humbling. Our vision for this repertoire was more fully realized because of our surroundings. We hope that you will all relish joining us on this journey with one of the greatest composers of the twentieth century, Dimitri Shostakovich.

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to Peter and Cathy Halstead for such an out-of-this-world experience! The whole team at Tippet Rise was remarkable and we would like to express our profound gratitude to Monte Nickles for his invaluable collaboration and musical integrity. - Anne-Marie McDermott and Paul Neubauer