Two New Comic Operas By Bolcom And Musto
) | Label: Bridge Records Catalog: BRIDGE9299A/B Format: CD New York Festival of Song: Lisa Vroman, soprano; Sasha Cooke, mezzo-soprano; Paul Appleby, tenor; Patrick Mason, baritone; Matthew Boehler, bass; Steven Blier and Michael Barrett, pianoComposed by: Bastianello - Music by John Musto; Libretto by Mark Campbell This two-disc set presents the world premiere recordings of new comic operas by John Musto and William Bolcom. The twin operas are on librettos written by Mark Campbell, and were commissioned by and composed for the excellent New York Festival of Song (NYFOS). Both operas were written for identical casts- the five singers heard on these recordings. NYFOS artistic director, Steven Blier writes: "Bill Bolcom's music for Lucrezia is exuberant and tonal, the opulent sound of desire. John Musto's musical world in Bastianello is more elusive and complex: chords often include elements of both major and minor, defying easy categorization. It is a fitting musical landscape for a piece that explores the way one moment can embrace many conflicting feelings. Lucrezia is a riotous piece where greed and deception are thwarted, and Bastianello, is a complex work in which a man learns the lesson of forgiveness." The 2-CD release comes packaged in a slipcase which contains a 112 page book with complete librettos for both operas.  Price: $48.98 |