Extraits / Excerpts
Kats-Chernin - Boyd - Conyngham: Bassoon Concertos - Kim Walker
Elena KATS-CHERNIN: Setting Out: I. – II. – III. Dark Waltz – IV.
Kim Walker, Bassoon
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Philip Mann, Conductor
Anne BOYD: YuYa II – Elena KATS-CHERNIN: Reinventions
Kim Walker, Bassoon
Camerata Sydney
Barry CONYNGHAM: FallingWater: I. – II. – III. – IV. – V.
Kim Walker, Bassoon I
Yoshi Ishikawa, Bassoon II
Sydney Conservatorium Chamber Orchestra
Imre Palló, Conductor
This album presents four exceptional works for bassoon and ensemble by esteemed Australian composers, each revealing a different facet of the instrument’s expressive depth and narrative power. From the vibrant cityscapes of Elena Kats-Chernin’s Setting Out and the meditative elegance of Anne Boyd’s YuYa II, to the crystalline clarity of Kats-Chernin’s Reinventions and the dramatic interplay of two bassoons in Barry Conyngham’s FallingWater, this collection invites listeners on a journey through sound worlds both intimate and expansive.
Kim Walker
Kim Walker is internationally acclaimed as a transformative figure in bassoon performance. Her artistry, marked by technical brilliance and deep musical insight, has expanded the instrument’s repertoire and reach. Walker has commissioned and premiered numerous works, including all the concerti featured on this album. Her influence extends beyond the stage, through teaching and leadership, inspiring new generations of musicians and audiences. This recording is a testament to her vision and the boundless expressive possibilities of the bassoon.
Her early training at Interlochen Arts Academy, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, and the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis laid the groundwork for a career without precedent.
From her celebrated debut at London’s Wigmore Hall in 1982, critics and peers recognized her as a generational talent. The London Times wrote that she “outclassed many an operatic rival.” That promise led to appearances at legendary venues worldwide, from the London Proms and Beijing’s National Center for the Performing Arts to command performances at the White House and the United Nations.
Described by The New York Times as “the sure and fluent soloist,” Walker has appeared at major festivals – Lucerne, Ravinia, Wolf Trap, Schleswig-Holstein, Prades, and Korsholm. Her discography of over thirty solo recordings for DECCA, Collins, and GALLO-VDE has become a touchstone for the field.
A pioneer, Walker broke new ground as the first woman to serve as principal bassoon with the London Symphony Orchestra, performing with Leonard Bernstein and Sir Georg Solti. Her orchestral career flourished in Europe with long tenures and guest principal invitations from leading orchestras, performing under conductors including Antal Dorati, Armin Jordan, Charles Dutoit, Sir Simon Rattle, and Lorin Maazel, each recognizing her rare blend of precision and artistry.
Walker’s collaborations span the world’s finest musicians and ensembles, from Vladimir Ashkenazy and the Berlin RIAS to Tamás Vásáry, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic, and longstanding partnerships with pianists Julius Drake and Leonard Hokanson.
As a chamber musician, she was invited to the Marlboro Music Festival while still in her teens. She has appeared with legendary artists: the Guarneri Quartet, Menahem Pressler, Richard Tognetti and ACO chamber players, Joseph Silverstein, David Shifrin, Aurèle Nicolet, and Maurice Bourgue. She serves as Artistic and Executive Director of Orvieto Musica, leading its summer festival for emerging artists and an annual leadership summit.
A passionate advocate for contemporary music, Walker has commissioned and premiered dozens of works, including all three concerti on this recording. Her alliances with composers such as Luciano Berio, Karlheinz Stockhausen, György Ligeti, Sofia Gubaidulina, Sean Shepherd, Simon Bainbridge, Elena Kats-Chernin and many others have resulted in bold new works that have expanded the expressive range of the bassoon.
Beyond performance, Walker completed Stanford’s Executive Non-Profit Leadership program and spent eight years teaching strategy and leadership at the University of Sydney’s EMBA program. She is also the founder of VirtuosoCEO and The Performance Dimension executive leadership programs.
As a dedicated educator and leader, Walker has shaped the next generation of artists through professorships at the Geneva and Lausanne Conservatoires and Indiana University, as well as senior positions at Indiana University, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, and Texas Tech University, where she continues to mentor young musicians and arts leaders. Her commitment to global education is reflected in ongoing collaborations with institutions in Shanghai and Beijing, where she was named Distinguished Guest Professor at the Central Conservatory of Music.
Walker’s impact as an editor and author is equally significant. Her best-selling books – Resilience to Brilliance, INSPIRE: Creative Collisions in Music, Politics and Life, and Spirited Wind Playing: The Performance Dimension – have inspired musicians and leaders worldwide.
Kim Walker’s legacy bridges artistry, scholarship, and leadership across six continents. With this recording of three landmark concerti, she reaffirms the boundless possibilities of the bassoon and sets a standard for future generations. Her journey lights the way for artists everywhere – proof that vision and dedication can reshape the world of music.
Walker remains in demand as a soloist, teacher, and collaborator, admired for a style that is both commanding and deeply nuanced. This recording is more than a showcase of her artistry – it is a testament to the enduring power and possibility of the bassoon.
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/music/aboutus/faculty/kim-walker.php?
