About the Album

The first volume of Visions & Dreams captures the spirit of invention and discovery that has defined Art of Elan since 2007. It functions as a "sonic journey" rooted in play and experimentation, opening with Paul Wiancko’s Toy Bricks, which establishes a sense of joy and forward motion and invites listeners into a world where structure and spontaneity coexist. The first half of the retrospective explores the emergence of identity through diverse cultural lenses, such as Chen Yi’s Sprout, and Michael Oesterle’s Parlour Games, where musical form itself is reimagined and reshaped. Across these works, sound behaves as something tactile and alive — shaped by curiosity, vulnerability, and creative risk. 

As the journey progresses, the music expands in color and perspective exploring unexpected textures and improvisatory conversations. Works like Reena Esmail’s Nadiya and Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Shiner showcase how contrasting timbres and global influences—from Hindu ragas to modern ensemble blends—can create a "transportive" sound world. Nahre Sol’s Crossroads reveal unexpected landscapes and moments of transformation, while Ljova’s Vjola Suite brings the journey to an energetic close, weaving together dances that feel both rooted and newly invented. Together, these works establish the ensemble’s foundational ethos: liberating classical music from traditional confines and treating the stage as a laboratory for community and creative risk.