Wayne Alpern, Rezurrektion Review

Looking for a contemporary classical music album? Wayne Alpern’s latest album, Rezurrektion, is a fresh and innovative contribution to the classical genre. Released on September 15, 2023, under Henri Elkan Music, Alpern takes on the role of composer and arranger, becoming a re-imagineer of these works. He also acts as the producer, showcasing his multifaceted talent in bringing this project to life. The Sirius Quartet—featuring Chern Hwei Fung on the first violin, Gregor Huebner on the second, Ron Lawrence on the viola, and Jeremy Harmon on the cello—serves as the vehicle for Alpern’s creative vision, delivering performances that breathe new sounds and textures into the compositions of Mozart, alongside pieces by Larson, Grieg, Ellington, and Gershwin.

Rezurrektion can be characterized by three words: creative, thought-provoking, and universal. It is an album that flows with imagination and freshness, immediately standing out through tracks like “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” “G Minor Quintet,” and “C Major Sonata.” These pieces, in particular, showcase Alpern’s unique ability to blend and bend genres, reimagining classic compositions through a contemporary lens that is innovative with today’s sounds and respectful of their origins.

At the heart of Rezurrektion lies a thematic essence of rebirth and revitalization. Alpern’s arrangements are not reinterpretations but re-imaginations that transform the familiar into something new and exciting. The album features many musical styles, where classical motifs collide and merge with elements of jazz, rock, Mowtown, and beyond. This mix is further enhanced by the Sirius Quartet’s masterful performance and their understanding of Alpern’s desired textures and music flow.

The production quality of Rezurrektion is polished, with each track meticulously recorded, mixed, and mastered to perfection. The pacing and flow of the album are natural, showcasing Alpern’s adeptness in varying tempo, tension, and complexity across pieces. This dynamic range ensures the album maintains its engaging quality, inviting listeners on a journey through musical time and space.

In analyzing individual tracks, the opening “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” is a prime example of Alpern’s genius. He presents Mozart’s well-known melody with clarity, then skillfully weaves in counterpoints and pizzicato, infusing the piece with harmonic elements from jazz and twentieth-century classical music. This approach honors Mozart’s original composition but also expands upon it, creating a sound that is familiar and new. The Sirius Quartet’s passionate performance further elevates the piece, their balance and energy breathing life into Alpern’s creative re-imaginations.

The “G Minor Quintet” and “C Major Sonata” similarly showcase Alpern’s ability to reimagine classical compositions with a modern twist. In the “G Minor Quintet,” the darker, more passionate counterpart to “Eine kleine Nachtmusik,” Alpern introduces blues notes and flowing counterpoints that add depth and complexity to the piece. On the other hand, the “C Major Sonata” is bright and optimistic, featuring a walking bassline and jazz-inflected rhythms that transform Mozart’s work into something wholly contemporary and accessible.

Rezurrektion is an album that shows the endless possibilities that arise when the past and present converge. Alpern has crafted a work that promises to enchant listeners for years to come, standing as a prime example of the beauty and joy of creative musical reimagining.