Violinist RACHEL LEE PRIDAY (PRY-day) is a passionate and inquisitive explorer in all her musical ventures, in search of contemporary relevance when performing the standard violin repertoire, and in discovering and commissioning new works. Her wide-ranging repertoire and eclectic programming reflect a deep fascination with literary and cultural narratives.
By Thomas May
Special to The Seattle Times
No matter how many other leisure-time options compete for our attention, there really is nothing to replace the connection that happens at a live performance. Fortunately for classical music lovers, local organizations are busting out a new season of enticing variety, from early music innovators to contemporary composers inspired by the findings of science.
Violinist Rachel Lee Priday performs Waterworks by cellist and composer Paul Wiancko.
The work will feature on Priday’s upcoming album with pianist David Kaplan Fluid Dynamics, out on Orchid Classics on 23 August. The album is inspired by oceanographer Georgy Manucharyan’s study of fluid dynamics and ocean currents, and combines music with stunning visuals.
Partnering with oceanographer Georgy Manucharyan and six visionary composers, violinist Rachel Lee Priday will embark on a musically rich project that blends classical music with the visual poetry of fluid dynamics experiments, including a new album, Fluid Dynamics, with pianist David Kaplan out Friday, August 23, 2024 on Orchid Classics. The album features world premiere recordings of works commissioned specifically for this project by Gabriella Smith, Paul Wiancko, Cristina Spinei, Timo Andres, Leilehua Lanzilotti and Christopher Cerrone. Liner notes have been contributed by Katy Hamilton.
"A rich audio-visual presentation such as Priday's sets a very high bar for other performers to match... In its completed form, Manucharyan deemed the project "an exceptionally fulfilling experience,” and one expects anyone would reach the same conclusion after being exposed to this totally gripping recording. On both conceptual and performance grounds, Fluid Dynamics qualifies as a triumph."
"Priday, who plays with an enormous and strong sound from her violin, soared with bravura through her virtuosic part; as the orchestra took up the theme in the finale, she urged them to play it faster."
Violinist Rachel Lee Priday has been widely acclaimed for her beauty of tone. Her riveting stage presence, and “irresistible panache”, according to the Chicago Tribune, has won her friends all over the world from major international orchestras such as the Chicago, Seattle, and National Symphony Orchestras, as well as in recitals at the Lincoln Center and Ravinia’s ‘Rising Stars’.
