Adamo, M.: Late Victorians / Alcott Music / Regina Coeli

$9.99 (COMPACT DISC)

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Late Victorians (more info)
Performed by: Eclipse Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by: Sylvia Alimena
Andrew Sullivan, narrator
Emily Dickinson,
Emily Pulley, soprano
Recording date: 21 May 2007


1.   I. Nineteen eighty-nine… - 00:08:23
2.   II. He had been born in South America… - 00:06:52
3.   III. I stood aloof at Cesar's memorial service… - 00:06:15
4.   IV. Chorale - Sometimes no family came… - 00:06:37


4 Angels (more info)
Performed by: Eclipse Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by: Sylvia Alimena
Dotian Levalier, harp
Recording date: 21 October 2007


5.   4 Angels: III. Regina Coeli - 00:07:55


Lysistrata: Overture (more info)
Performed by: Eclipse Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by: Sylvia Alimena
Recording date: 21 October 2007


6.   Lysistrata: Overture - 00:04:00


Alcott Music (more info)
Performed by: Eclipse Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by: Sylvia Alimena
Recording date: 21 October 2007


7.   I. Jo - 00:09:10
8.   II. Meg - 00:03:48
9.   III. Alma and Gideon - 00:03:21

Reviews

Late Victorians, wearing modern garb (Apr 4, 2010)
Reviewer:Jim D.
Here's a varied program by a leading American composer of our time, both tonal and contemporary in the music he creates. One movement from a full-length concerto has been scored as a standalone piece for harp and strings, while an overture to one opera is followed by a suite from another (the much-performed "Little Women").

"Late Victorians," the title work of the disc, takes a... Here's a varied program by a leading American composer of our time, both tonal and contemporary in the music he creates. One movement from a full-length concerto has been scored as a standalone piece for harp and strings, while an overture to one opera is followed by a suite from another (the much-performed "Little Women").

"Late Victorians," the title work of the disc, takes a magazine essay on AIDS, its victims and survivors, and weaves around it the poetry of Emily Dickinson; two solo voices are featured, one spoken and one sung. In a way, it derives from Haydn's "Farewell" symphony, with its vanishing musicians, but though regret and bitterness are added to the mix here, the piece is all the more effective for its generally understated tone. Performances are assured, and the recording is mostly close and clear (the harp gets a little swimmy at times). Notes are by the composer himself, who you should know if you don't.
(read more)

The Beauty of Remembrance (Dec 8, 2009)
Reviewer:Tym
"Late Victorians" is a great piece about a terrible thing. It is a sonic essay commemorating the losses of the AIDS plague in late 80's San Francisco. Composer Adamo evokes this in a theatrical collage of spoken word, operatic poetry, and bittersweet music. The narrative voice, based on Richard Rodriguez's essays, carries the tone of his spare, wise, sad clarity. Hardwon, wounded, a stark... "Late Victorians" is a great piece about a terrible thing. It is a sonic essay commemorating the losses of the AIDS plague in late 80's San Francisco. Composer Adamo evokes this in a theatrical collage of spoken word, operatic poetry, and bittersweet music. The narrative voice, based on Richard Rodriguez's essays, carries the tone of his spare, wise, sad clarity. Hardwon, wounded, a stark certainty come to from quiet, persistent, painful shifts. Stripped down to life and death, each moment becomes an epiphany, each memory a parting gift. Andrew Sullivan deftly narrates in harmony alongside soprano Emily Pulley, who instills melodic ease into unflinching lines from Emily Dickenson. Pulley in particular delivers a delicate balancing act of operatic beauty, witty phrasing, and topical modernity.

"Regina Coeli", adapted from Adamo's "Four Angels" concerto, brings Mother Mary into heaven. The sad ascendence of the strings blossoms into gossamer wonder by harpist Dotian Levalier. "Overture to Lysistrata" compresses his "Lysistrata" opera into three movements: the dramatic first driven and restless, a tumbling wind through every corner; the second lyrical and passionate, romantic in the sense of idealism; and the third a complex tonal strobe running fiercely. From his world-famed "Little Women" opera, Adamo streamlines "Alcott Music" into three character movements for orchestral voicing. Rich in the personalities of their character namesakes, they are a joy to the ear. A fine overview of an important new composer. (read more)