Cast in four continuous movements, FOUR FRAGMENTS is a ravishing and theatrical showpiece that maximizes the cellist's lyricism and fire, overflowing with declamatory and cadenza-like soliloquys clearly inspired by the comoser's cultural multi-dimensionalism.
"The sole unplugged exception was Huang Ruo’s set of ruminative pieces for unamplified violin, “Four Fragments.” Mr. Huang writes that the “fragments,” which are played almost continuously (with only one break), are reminiscences of his travels, but he leaves the specifics to listeners’ imaginations. As in many of his scores, Chinese articulation styles — sliding notes and gracefully bending tones — mingle freely with Western moves and diatonic harmonies."
-Allan Kozinn, New York Times
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