Hersch: Poppaea / Ah Young Hong, Ensemble Solovoices, Ensemble Phoenix Basel

$29.99
Label
New Focus Recordings
Release Date
February 16, 2024
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Michael Hersch
    • ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE
      Ensemble Solovoices, Ensemble Phoenix Basel
    • PERFORMER
      Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim, Silke Gang
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      February 16, 2024
    • UPC
      690277901454
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      FCR390
    • LABEL
      New Focus Recordings
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      2
    • GENRE
      Contemporary Era
    Works ⌄

    1. Prologue

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    2. Overture

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    3. Scene 1: New Life (Poppaea, Nero)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    4. Scene 2: The Wedding (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: SoloVoices, Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    5. Scene 3: Adultery (Poppaea, Nero, Octavia)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim, Silke Gäng

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    6. Scene 4: Octavia is Innocent (Poppaea, Handmaidens)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Vera Hiltbrunner, Svea Schildknecht, Francisca Näf

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    7. Interlude 1

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    8. Scene 5: Octavia (Octavia)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Silke Gäng

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    9. Scene 6: Poppaea Witnesses Octavia's Death (Octavia, Poppaea)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Silke Gäng

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    10. Scene 7: Milk Bath (Poppaea, Handmaidens)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Vera Hiltbrunner, Svea Schildknecht, Francisca Näf

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    11. Interlude 2

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    12. Scene 8: Claudia Augusta (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: SoloVoices, Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    13. Scene 9: Nero’s Lament (Poppaea, Nero, Octavia)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim, Silke Gäng

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    14. Scene 10: The Great Fire (Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: SoloVoices, Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    15. Scene 11: After the Fire (Poppaea, Nero, Octavia, Handmaidens)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim, Silke Gäng, Vera Hiltbrunner, Svea Schildknecht, Francisca Näf

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger

    16. Scene 12: This World (Poppaea, Nero, Chorus)

      Composer: Michael Hersch

      Ensemble: SoloVoices, Ensemble Phoenix Basel

      Performer: Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim

      Conductor: Jürg Henneberger


Composer Michael Hersch's epic setting of Poppaea turns the classic tale of Nero inside out, examining it from multiple angles and unearthing the powerful lessons it holds for contemporary society. Hersch, along with vocalists Ah Young Hong, Steve Davislim, Silke Gang, with Ensemble Phoenix Basel and Ensemble SoloVoices, delivers a wrenching version of the tale, challenging assumptions and forcing the listener to ask difficult questions about history and the inherent biases that are ingrained into its mainstream understanding.