Album Notes

In the Romantic Symphony, Kersten has provided no obvious program. Still it moves where the spirit moves him as though following the action of a drama, not where strict attention to musical form once demanded, but to where heart's desires and instincts demand. Kersten knows what many of his contemporary composers don't evidently know, or at least don't care to express: that contemporary music can reflect its time and still be accessible to listeners who want to be thrilled by modern sounds adorned with lovely melodies, without being pummeled by extraordinarily gritty dissonance. The symphony has power and drama. It also has rapture and radiance. Bright hued with touches of foreboding throughout, every theme singing smoothly, every development integrated and effortless, the work defies neat classification other than to say that at its most profound (the first movement) it's theatrical and exciting, at its most lyric (the second movement) it's poignant and richly textured, at its most exotic (the third movement) it's exhilarating and enticing, and at its most noble (the fourth movement) it's powerful and spirited and engulfs the listener with an unabashed adrenalin rush as it forges ahead to its triumphant conclusion. - Jack Neal