In Mezzanine Seat, Michael Cunningham exhibits a mastery over all aspects of the orchestra, filling out every bit of space with breathtaking melody and harmony....

In Mezzanine Seat, Michael Cunningham exhibits a mastery over all aspects of the orchestra, filling out every bit of space with breathtaking melody and harmony. The arrangements emote a sophistication that echoes J.S. Bach, one of Cunningham's greatest inspirations. In the three-part composition Bach Diadem, Cunningham pays tribute to the famed composer and incorporates 18th-century orchestral influence in his compositions. Backed by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra and the Croatian Chamber Orchestra, Cunningham uses his compositions to create stories that intertwine darkness and beauty. The instruments interact at the forefront of the pieces as though they are characters in an opera, singing with backdrop of the chamber orchestra. A classic example occurs in the second work, Clarinet Concerto. The composer highlights the clarinet as the protagonist in a fantastic narrative carried by the orchestra. Throughout the three movements, the clarinet creates a conversation which moves the production forward. The somber melodies form a dramatic dialogue with the rest of the orchestra, presenting a chain of events that captures the listener's attention immediately. The captivating compositions in Mezzanine Seat will ensure to listeners that anywhere they listen to the album, they will feel as though they are sitting in the best seats in the concert hall.