By Mikeila McQueston, special to the Sybaritic Singer<\/em><\/p>\n

Both well-curated and well-crafted, soprano Laura Strickling<\/strong> and pianist Joy Schreier\u2019s<\/strong> collaborative album Confessions<\/em><\/a> celebrates contemporary art song. The album was released in the fall of 2020 by Yarlung Records<\/strong><\/a> and features compositions by Clarice Assad<\/strong>, Tom Cipullo<\/strong>, Michael Djupstrom<\/strong>, Amy Beth Kirsten<\/strong>, Libby Larsen<\/strong>, and Gilda Lyons<\/strong>. The title Confessions<\/em>, borrowed from Assad\u2019s song cycle of the same name, reflects Strickling\u2019s desire to bring audiences and musicians closer together through meaningful, communicative performances. Fortunately for us, Strickling and Schreier deliver. The result is an engaging, kaleidoscopic narrative which is at times fiercely determined, bright and witty, and achingly vulnerable.<\/p>\n