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Picker: Opera Without Words; The Encantadas / Guerrero, Nashville Symphony
Naxos

Picker: Opera Without Words; The Encantadas / Guerrero, Nashville Symphony

$9.99
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Details

Composer
PICKER, TOBIAS
Artist
Picker, Guerrero
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
Aug 28, 2020
Catalog #
8559853
UPC
636943985328

About

Tobias Picker, hailed as “a genuine creator” by The New Yorker, has written extensively for the stage and for symphonic forces, and these two approaches are represented in this album. The Encantadas (an older name for the Galapagos Islands) derives from a novella by Herman Melville. Picker has set it as a melodrama, exploring the enchanted isles in all their quietly menacing and spectacular beauty. In a radical new form, Picker’s Opera Without Words is set to a libretto by Irene Dische that has now been removed, allowing the music alone to bear the expressive richness and intensity of this “secret opera.” Tobias Picker has been commissioned to write numerous works in other genres, including operas, three symphonies, concertos for violin, viola, cello and oboe, four piano concertos and chamber music. His many honors include the 2020 GRAMMY Award for Best Opera Recording (Fantastic Mr. Fox). Picker is a lifetime member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and is artistic director of the Tulsa Opera, a post he has held since 2016.

REVIEW:

The title for The Encantadas (1983) comes from the early name for the Galapagos Islands. In six sections it relates the journey made there by Herman Melville. The work was conceived for narrator and a standard sized orchestra, and, on this recording, the composer is the very articulate voice that relates Melville’s discoveries he made there.

The more recent score, Opera Without Words, was completed five years ago, and had a strange birth. He had hired a librettist, Irene Dische, to conceive the story, and, after many discussions, all was completed, even down to the stage actions and directions for the producer. But in the end Picker deciding to dispense with words. It receives its World Premiere Recording by one of the commissioning orchestras, the Nashville Symphony. They, and their conductor Giancarlo Guerrero, provide a very colourful score, both works instantly enjoyable in pure tonality. The booklet includes the words narrated in The Encantadas and I hope there is more Picker coming from Naxos.

-- David's Review Corner (David Denton)

This new release from Naxos brings together the two poles of Tobias Picker’s output: symphonic music and opera. He brilliantly straddles both worlds, drawing upon each to bring something new to the other.

…The music on this disc is impassioned and adventurous, providing the curious listener a great introduction to Tobias Picker’s output. The recorded sound is excellent, and the Nashville Symphony is in top form. Recommended.

-- Fanfare

Tracklist 11 tracks

  1. 1 I. Dream 04:38
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Dream
    Duration
    04:38
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Performer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  2. 2 II. Desolation 02:46
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Desolation
    Duration
    02:46
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Performer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  3. 3 III. Delusion 03:30
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Delusion
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Performer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  4. 4 IV. Diversity 10:19
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Diversity
    Duration
    10:19
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Performer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  5. 5 V. Din 03:27
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Din
    Duration
    03:27
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Performer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  6. 6 VI. Dawn 05:21
    Track
    6
    Title
    VI. Dawn
    Duration
    05:21
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Performer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  7. 7 Scene 1: The Beloved 05:12
    Track
    7
    Title
    Scene 1: The Beloved
    Duration
    05:12
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  8. 8 Scene 2: The Minstrel 05:03
    Track
    8
    Title
    Scene 2: The Minstrel
    Duration
    05:03
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  9. 9 Scene 3: The Idol 06:42
    Track
    9
    Title
    Scene 3: The Idol
    Duration
    06:42
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  10. 10 Scene 4: The Gladiator 04:02
    Track
    10
    Title
    Scene 4: The Gladiator
    Duration
    04:02
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero
  11. 11 Scene 5: The Farewell 06:43
    Track
    11
    Title
    Scene 5: The Farewell
    Duration
    06:43
    Composer
    Tobias Picker
    Ensemble
    Nashville Symphony Orchestra
    Conductor
    Giancarlo Guerrero