Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment

Knighted by the Republic of Italy for his contribution to music, Antonio Peruch pursues his vision of the accordion as an exciting classical concert instrument. His Logos Futura accordion, built to his specifications in Italy, helps him achieve this vision. His debut Logos Futura CD features the World Premiere recordings of three landmark concerti he commissioned—Malcolm Forsyth’s Concerto for Accordion and Orchestra (Peruch’s live 2001 world premiere performance with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Grzegorz Nowak); Violet Archer’s Pensieroso; and Allan Gilliland’s Concerto for Accordion and String Orchestra. He recorded the Archer and Gilliland works with Cuba’s prestigious Camerata Romeu chamber orchestra, conducted by Music Director Zenaida Romeu, and gave the Gilliland world premiere performance with them in Havana. He has performed with several chamber ensembles and as concerto soloist with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, the Sooke Philharmonic Chamber Players, and the San Diego Jewish Community Center Orchestra. Peruch’s upcoming CD releases include Loving: The Music of Astor Piazzolla and Homenaje al Tango, the only monographic CD of Daniel Binelli’s music—both recorded with New York-based Uruguayan pianist and tango specialist Polly Ferman and Cuba’s Camerata Romeu.