How She Danced: String Quartets of Elena Ruehr
“…unspeakably gorgeous… Ruehr’s engaging quartets are performed with conviction…” (Gramophone/May 2010 Vittes)
"Immediately likeable but clothed in rhythmic and harmonic complexity that engages the emotions and stimulates the musical mind...." Audiophile Audition. Full review here.
"I was enchanted with this, my first acquaintance with the music of American composer Elena Ruehr..." Sequenza21. Full review here.
"This CD is a revelation....which just might be the model for 21st century music-making." Classical Voice of New England. Full review here.
Jane Wang considers the dragonfly
With a light touch, Elena Ruehr’s music grabs your attention in a “what’s that over there in the distance?” sort of way. Upon a closer look the music is a careful balance of gorgeous sonorities, descriptive themes, and vibrant rhythm. (Endless Possibilities, WRSU, Doug).
Toussaint Before the Spirits
This impressive chamber opera is an illuminating historical musical fantasy… (Joshua Rosenblum, Opera News, August 2007)
… had the audience on its feet, cheering, whistling, and applauding…combines a lyrical outpouring energized by motor rhythms that never become mechanical…compelling, emotional, theatrical….takes us back to the beginnings of the art, and to one of the first great operas, Gluck's ''Orfeo''--- Richard Dyer, Boston Globe, June 2003
Ruehr writes for the voice with a naturalness and beauty that's both purposeful and immediately appealing. More operas from her, please.--- T.J. Medrek, Boston Herald, June, 2003
… atmosphere and tension charged with African rhythms and earthy melody.---George Loomis , London Financial Times, June, 2003
… premiered to a packed, on-its-feet crowd …not in recent memory has an opera premiere stirred such overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from a Boston audience.---Bay Windows, June, 2003
Fourth String Quartet
“Music with heart and ...a forceful sense of character and expression” (The Washington Post November, 2007).
Ladder to the Moon
Underneath the music's surface serenity was a primal energy that built to a powerful climax both thrilling and disturbing --T. J. Medrek, Boston Herald, March 2003
Third String Quartet
An astounding success, conveying an emotional directness the audience could easily grasp, yet still holding musical complexities that should make it a performance staple in the quartet repertory---Keith Powers, Boston Sunday Herald, June 2001
Gospel Cha Cha
A tightly linked chain of musical episodes, each more riveting than the last.---Gwendolyn Freed, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Feb 2001
Cymbal and Spice
A score of vivid aural colors....jeweled with surprising syncopations---Debra Cash, Boston Globe, May, 2000
Law of Floating Objects
Stunning...a landscape beautifully lighted by Ruehr’s canny instinct for knowing when and how to vary key, timbre, and harmony---Richard Buell, The Boston Globe, May, 2000
Masterfully crafted and magically beautiful to hear---David Cleary, 21st Century Music, December 2000
Shimmer
Canonic imitation and bright Orchestration bring joy to the listener---American Record Guide
Lullabies and Spring Songs
Ruehr's concepts are complex, full-blown and florid...the bittersweet “Stars” is a song to treasure--JaneShaw, Hilton Head S.C Island Packet, March 2000
First String Quartet
There’s no mistaking the profusion of ideas, the adroitness of technique and the restlessness of spirit that permeate this music---Josiah Fisk, Boston Herald, November 1993