Mozart Flute Quartets —Sonora Slocum, flute; Joel Link, violin; Milena Pajaro-Van de Stadt, viola; Brook Speltz, cello (Acis 98573)
Sonora Slocum was just 22 years old when she was appointed principal flute of the Milwaukee Symphony. The American Record Guide says of her, “Sonora Slocum has wonderful resonance and a delightfully relaxed vibrato. It’s easy to love such vocal playing, and any orchestra is blessed to have her big sound.” In the CD’s notes, she says that recording the Mozart Quartets “was a dream we had as students at Curtis over twelve years ago.” These recordings were made almost exactly two years ago, before the pandemic changed the world. “Releasing the album now,” she writes, “after a long hiatus in our industry signifies for me a return to my life of music and in-person reconnection with my family. In a year in which I lost my father and was prevented from seeing my mother in person, it is deeply meaningful that my grandmother, Dr. Kay B. Slocum, agreed to write the album’s liner notes…It is an honor to be able to include my family in this project; they are central to my story as a musician.” Sonora Slocum’s colleagues for this program are members of the Dover and Escher String Quartets. The album is available digitally; the CD release is scheduled for 1/25/2022.