Mood Poems.
Curt Cacioppo composer
Maurice Ravel composer
Jean Sibelius composer
Francis Poulenc composer
Bruce Leto, Jr. piano
The work of award-winning Italian-American pianist Bruce Leto has often been referred to as “refined” and “kaleidoscopic” by review outlets such as Fanfare, Artisan Music Reviews, and Take Effect Reviews. Few words could describe his new PARMA release better: MOOD POEMS is a carefully-curated selection of solo piano works exploring the vivid, colorful spectrum of human emotion.
From mysterious and elusive moods (such as those in Apparition), to the blues (Drehleier), spiritual motifs (Old Swedes), emotional (Julian’s Song), pensive (Prelude in A Minor & Consolatio), to waltzes (Valses Nobles et Sentimentales), Leto’s latest release is meant to convey poetry; reminiscent of and inspired by his recent wedding, invigorating Costa Rican Honeymoon, and dedicated to the upcoming birth of his son in June 2024. He masterfully draws upon poetic elements throughout, using vivid imagery, deep emotion, and narrative flow to give listeners an introspective, meditative, and poignant sonic experience.
The featured composers consist of kindred spirits: 20th-century French giants Maurice Ravel and Francis Poulenc, Jean Sibelius (who was well known for his tone poems), and more contemporarily, American Curt Cacioppo, Leto’s academic advisor. Strikingly, Leto holds on to a red thread of expression, almost as if he knew the two late Frenchmen as personally as his professor. As Leto isolates the archetypes of emotion itself, the prime idea proposed on MOOD POEMS turns out to be buoyant and restorative: the human condition is fundamentally unchanging, and thus, there is great consolation to be found in every age — ours included.
Leto has won numerous awards via performance and recording of Cacioppo’s music, ranging from 1st Prize at the Seattle International Piano Festival — Virtuoso Artists Festival, to the American Prize (Judges’ Citation for Championing the Music of Curt and Charles Cacioppo), to the Progressive Musicians International Piano Competition, from which Leto made his Carnegie Hall debut in February 2022.
“MOOD POEMS is meant to celebrate, commemorate, and embrace,” says Leto. “Reaching back to march forward. My hope is that these works will foster moments of gentle reflection unique to each listener, and that they continue to discover more aspects of life where art and poetry shine through.”
Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Drehleier Blues | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 2:26 |
| 02 | Julian's Song | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 2:49 |
| 03 | Prelude in A Minor | Maurice Ravel | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:26 |
| 04 | Ciclo metamorfico sul nome d'un Maestro: Apparition | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:29 |
| 05 | Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales, M. 61: III. Modéré | Maurice Ravel | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:45 |
| 06 | Valses Nobles Et Sentimentales, M. 61: IV. Assez Animé | Maurice Ravel | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:29 |
| 07 | Dans Le Parc | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:32 |
| 08 | 'le Sapin' (The Spruce) Op. 75 No. 5 | Jean Sibelius | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 2:51 |
| 09 | Old Swedes | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 3:08 |
| 10 | Consolatio | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 2:11 |
| 11 | Trois mouvements perpétuels, FP 14 - 1. Assez modéré | Francis Poulenc | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:21 |
| 12 | Variation VII. from "Hail to the Chief" - "Träumerei" | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 2:33 |
| 13 | Pawnee Prelude III: I Hear the Sound of a Child Crying | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 1:16 |
| 14 | Vaya Con Dios! | Curt Cacioppo | Bruce Leto, Jr., piano | 3:09 |
Tracks 1, 2, 4-9, 11-13
Recorded May 3, 2020, May 20, 2023 & January 24, 2024 at Range Studios in Ardmore PA
Recording Session Producer & Engineer Erik Scattareggia
Editing & Mixing Erik Scattareggia
Tracks 3, 10 & 14
Recorded April 27, 2016 & February 17, 2017 at Haverford College in Haverford PA
Recording Session Producer & Engineer Charles Cacioppo
Editing & Mixing Charles Cacioppo, Erik Scattareggia
Mastering Melanie Montgomery
Executive Producer Bob Lord
VP of A&R Brandon MacNeil
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming
Publicity Aidan Curran
Artist Information
Curt Cacioppo
Curt Cacioppo's compositions synthesize and reflect multiple dimensions of his musical and humanistic experience. Like his mentor Leon Kirchner, and other composer/performers such as Frederic Rzewski and George Walker, he is a formidable pianist, fully grounded in the traditional solo, ensemble, and concerto literature, and avidly involved with new repertoire.
Bruce Leto, Jr.
As a prize-winner in scholastic (Dora Khyatt); Collegiate (Bi-Co Concerto Competition); national (Seattle International Virtuoso Artists Festival); and international (Quebec International Music Competition) piano adjudications, Bruce Leto’s music tenure has enabled him to perform in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, New York, and Italy. During his collegiate years, Leto received 1st Prize in the Bi-College Student Concerto Competition and performed the 3rd Movement of Gershwin’s Concerto in F with the Haverford/Bryn Mawr Orchestra.
Notes
“Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.” – Leonard Cohen
Through all moments, events, and moods — the human spirit reacts. One manifestation of self-expression, both enduring and capricious, is our mood — specifically, as it relates to our past, present, and future. Every artist reacts differently and chooses to express himself or herself accordingly — through modes, moods, styles, sensibilities, compositions, and performances.
Pianist Bruce Leto, Jr.’s newest release (building on GOMITOLO! & Singing Style, which both received recognition at the Global Music Awards & The American Prize — with Singing Style receiving airplay on WRTI) poetically adapts to expressions, sensibilities, and moods from impressionistic, post-impressionistic, and modern composers (such as Curt Cacioppo — Leto’s academic advisor and Professor Emeritus at Haverford College). Leto has won numerous awards via performance and recording of Cacioppo’s music, ranging from 1st Prize at the Seattle International Piano Festival— Virtuoso Artists Festival, to the American Prize (Judges’ Citation for Championing the Music of Curt and Charles Cacioppo), to the Progressive Musicians International Piano Competition, from which Leto made his Carnegie Hall debut in February 2022. Music from Leto’s Carnegie performance also appears on MOOD POEMS, such as le Sapin and Dans le Parc. Additionally, Cacioppo’s music was performed recently by Leto (Owner of Dynamic Wave Consulting) at the Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne PA, and favorably reviewed by Fanfare Magazine.
