with soprano Emily Truckenbrod and pianist Amy I-Lin Cheng, released February 20, 2026
from the Fanfare review by Colin Clarke: “It is always good to see the name of Lori Laitman in a listing, especially in relation to song. Here, we have Between the Bliss and Me, three settings of Emily Dickinson. It begins with “I gained it so,” referring to a glimpse of transcendence or, as the text says, “an instant’s grace.” Dickinson’s extravagance with long dashes is everywhere in this poem, even across stanzas: Laitman uses a short piano link, beautifully composed, as bridge at that point. The fragility of the textures immediately after seems to reflect the liminal moment between Grace and the quotidian, encompassing in its emptiness a sense of loss Truckenbrod conveys marvelously. For all the naturalness of Laitman’s lines, a moment’s consideration reveals they are not as easy as they sound. Better known as He ate and drank the precious words, the second song speaks of an old man who has gained freedom through reading (hence the title here, “A Book”). It is a single-stanza poem, but Laitman divides it, mid-line, to allow her music to fly at “What liberty / A loosened spirit brings!”, and it works perfectly. This is a more disjunct song, and Amy I-Lin Cheng seems to really enjoy the piano’s spikiness. Finally, “I could not prove” (“I could not prove the Years had feet” in full form), where the protagonist looks back from a place of wisdom (and age), an aspect caught beautifully via Laitman’s harmonies and by Truckenbrod’s knowing realization….Laitman steals the show, but Muriel Herbert is the discovery du jour.”
