Two years ago, while in Montreal’s extraordinary Archambault music store, I asked the clerk for some suggestions of Canadian classical composers I should know. One of the CDs he recommended was the music of Marjan Mozetich. I had heard the name from one of the chamber ensembles I work with, but didn’t think much of it. I bought the disk and put it on one of the many listening piles around the house.

Fast forward to June 2013. I was looking through my collection for something different to listen to and came across the Mozetich CD. The first piece I heard was Affairs of the Heart, a violin concerto. To say I was stunned by it would be to understate the reaction. It is music of deep, lush beauty, great intensity and tremendous, driving rythmic vitality. I believe it is among the best pieces I’ve heard in many, many years.

Here are nicely produced videos of all three movements, from the Toronto Premiere in 2010.