Alison Nowak, Composer, Violinist, and BSM Piano Student Alison spends "more time at concerts than I do listening to CDs, but I really enjoy the recordings I do find." She tends to listen to classical or contemporary "classical" music. The four recordings below will give anyone looking to expand their CD collection a wide variety of styles to explore. What's on Alison's iPod/cd player? Artist: George Philipp Telemann Album: Serenata Don Quixote auf des Hochzeit des Comache (Comic Opera in One Act Don Quixote at Comacho's Wedding). CPE Label (999 210-2) with La Stagione (a Frankfurt orchestra) conducted by Michael Schneider. Why Alison likes this particular artist/album: A couple years ago I read the great early 17th century novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes in an extraordinary translation by Edith Grossman and just a few weeks ago discovered this CD. The Serenata was written in 1761 when Telemann was 80 years old. The libretto was written by a young German poet, but revised by Telemann himself. The text is hilarious and the music is a delight. Favorite track(s) on the album: Track 3, "Methinks I can see even now the terrifying carpet in which I flew now low, now high" and Track 15, "No sleep comes to eyelids that do not close." Artist: Charles Wuorinen Album: The Haroun Songbook, Albany Records (Troy 664). Why Alison likes this particular artist/album: I saw the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen's opera Haroun and the Sea of Stories at the New York City Opera in October 2004. The libretto by James Fenton is based on a story by Salman Rushdie. I am a big fan of Wuorinen's music and I loved the opera. It has not been recorded but this CD is a collection of the songs from the opera with a special piano accompaniment. It is not as grand as the orchestra score, but the music is brilliant. Favorite track(s) on the album: Track 14, "The Moody Land, the Moody Land" and Track 28, "Spies. What a Melodrama." Artist: The Finckel Cello Quartet Album: The Finckel Cello Quartet Plays Bach (available for purchase at finckel4cellos.com along with online listening selections). Why Alison likes this particular artist/album: This group has finally begun to publish (and record) its large collection of over 50 transcriptions, arrangements and original works for four cellos. The members of the quartet, Michael Finckel, Chris Finckel, David Finckel, and Adam Grabois, each a virtuoso, have played together for many years. I have heard them perform some of the works on this recording in concert. It is powerful, glorious music-making, as is the music of J.S. Bach. Favorite track(s) on the album: I would recommend any track on this CD! Artist: Peter Lieberson Album: Rilke Songs, The Six Realms, and Horn Concerto Why Alison likes this particular artist/album: I heard the New York premiere of Rilke Songs written for, dedicated to, and performed by the composer's wife, the magnificent mezzo-soprano Lorraine Hunt Lieberson, accompanied by the wonderful pianist and interpreter of new music, Peter Serkin. I also heard the world premiere of the Horn Concerto with William Purvis as the soloist. These same performers are on this new CD. It is always exciting, even essential, when a new piece is recorded so that you can really get to know it. In this case it is especially important because Lorraine Hunt Lieberson died last summer at a young age, to the great sorrow of the classical music world. Favorite track(s) on the album: Each of the five songs are very beautiful and Track 4, "Blummenmuskel" is a favorite of mine. I would also recommend the second movement of the Horn Concerto, Track 13, exciting and carefree with a great solo part, very difficult, gorgeously played.