Antheil: Venus in Africa

$13.99
Label
CPO
Release Date
February 7, 2025
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      George Antheil
    • PERFORMER
      Bochumer Symphoniker, Johanna Stojkovic, Miljenko Turk, Thomas Laske, Claudia Barainsky, Stephen Bov
    Product Details ⌄
    Works ⌄

    1. Scene 1: No! Yvonne! (Yvonne, Charles)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Johanna Stojkovic, Miljenko Turk

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    2. Scene 1: Hey, M'sieur! Pearls from Hindou for jolie madame? (Peddler, Charles, Yvonne, Innkeeper)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Stephan Boving, Miljenko Turk, Johanna Stojkovic, Thomas Laske

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    3. Scene 1: Can't you love me as you did in the beginning? (Yvonne, Charles, Innkeeper)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Johanna Stojkovic, Miljenko Turk, Thomas Laske

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    4. Scene 1: Yes! I gave up my work (Charles, Peddler, Innkeeper)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Miljenko Turk, Stephan Boving, Thomas Laske

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    5. Scene 2: Take those to the bus please (Yvonne, Charles)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Johanna Stojkovic, Miljenko Turk

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    6. Scene 2: She didn't want to go (Charles)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Miljenko Turk

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    7. Scene 2: There are others! (Innkeeper, Charles)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Thomas Laske, Miljenko Turk

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    8. Scene 2: Interlude

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    9. Scene 2: I am sorry. I can't help staring! (Charles, Venus)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Miljenko Turk, Claudia Barainsky

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    10. Scene 2: You seem real enough (Charles, Venus)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Miljenko Turk, Claudia Barainsky

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    11. Scene 3: Well? That was the most beautiful night (Venus, Charles)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Claudia Barainsky, Miljenko Turk

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    12. Scene 3: No, no, no! Last night you asked advice (Venus)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Claudia Barainsky

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    13. Scene 3: Yvonne! Excuse me for interrupting you (Charles, Yvonne, Venus, Innkeeper, Peddler)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Miljenko Turk, Johanna Stojkovic, Claudia Barainsky, Thomas Laske, Stephan Boving

      Conductor: Steven Sloane

    14. Scene 3: Yes, M'sieur? Where's the Lady? (Charles, Innkeeper, Yvonne)

      Composer: George Antheil

      Ensemble: Bochum Symphony Orchestra

      Performer: Miljenko Turk, Thomas Laske, Johanna Stojkovic

      Conductor: Steven Sloane


After George Antheil had earned his reputation in Europe as the self-proclaimed "Bad Boy of Music" and caused plenty of scandals with his avant-garde experiments, he made a dramatic shift upon returning to his native America. This change in direction led to a significant number of important compositions, including his later symphonies and a series of one-act stage works, where Antheil dramatized a wide range of themes and situations. The final work in this series is�Venus in Africa, a charming, touching, and highly amusing piece for five characters, in which the ancient goddess of love helps an American couple forge a lasting relationship. The music, oscillating between operatic turbulence, impressionistic refinement, and musical-style tunes, is further proof that Antheil had successfully shed his early rebellious image.