The human experience is alive with emotion, from love and the profound effects of beauty, to the sorrow of loss. Composer Laurie Christman explores both ends of the emotional spectrum and everything in between on Running With Horses, a collection of her orchestral works performed by the acclaimed London Symphony Orchestra with award-winning conductor Robert Ziegler. Nature provides powerful inspiration to much of the album, giving a dreamlike quality to the lush, expressive soundscapes. With her melodic compositional language, Christman’s Romantic and Impressionist influences infuse her music with a strong sense of passion, empathy, and a deep appreciation for the world’s fragile wonders...

Laurie Christman's Running With Horses is one of those rare classical music releases where every single movement has something emotionally triggering to touch your soul. It's a melancholic collection of perfectly formed pieces that stay with you long after you've stopped listening.

The collection consists of 13 tracks (6 works, with a running time of 54 min, 50 sec) and is emotionally charged on so many levels. I found myself discovering something new to appreciate on each listen.

There are so many highlights, that I would could be here, forever, extolling the merits of each track. But, in all honesty, I can't think of a single bad word to say about any aspect of the recording.

As a side note, I couldn't help smile when listening to 'Wedding Suite: April Joy (Processional)' as it has a very brief segment which incorporates a signature move of film composer James Horner.

The London Symphony Orchestra perform each piece with the subtlety and attention to detail that we've come to expect from such an established group. This is a flawless release.

10

Darren Rea