From Farm to Record Table
Composed over eight years across Wisconsin, from a biodynamic farm in rural Campbellsport to the snow-blanketed streets of Milwaukee, "When We Were Bears" is the debut album from classical pianist and vocalist Alicia Rytlewski. Brimming with movement and wonder, her compositions soundtrack transition and transformation, chronicling the rhythms of the seasons and the heart alike.
Stream the record everywhere now, and buy the downloads and sheet music on Bandcamp.
Press
“A marvel … When We Were Bears captures Rytlewski’s majestic dynamism, highlighting both her careful ear for fine detail and resplendent totality.”
- Uproxx
“This is a wonderful—and wonderfully accessible—contemporary classical album … earthy, mournful, dramatic, hypnotic, and rich.”
- Milwaukee Record
“Her ability to draw inspiration from personal connections and translate them into music has made her compositions deeply resonant.”
- Interlude (Hong Kong)
“Something special … gentle and insistent and soothing and stirring.” - Radio Milwaukee
“Pastoral melodies, haunting cello passages and rare vocals add up to a rich album.” - Shepherd Express
“Nothing short of beautiful.” - Breaking and Entering
Performing “Convergence” at
the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee
Ben Kalb on cello, Abigail Peterson on violin
Upcoming Dates
“When We Were Bears” album release show w/ Collections of Colonies of Bees and Field Report
Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, The Pabst Theater
8 p.m. | $10