The mask of Orpheus / Harrison Birtwistle.

Author/creator Birtwistle, Harrison composer.
Format Audio (CD)
PublicationLondon : NMC Recordings, [1997]
Copyright Date℗1997
Description3 audio discs (2 hr., 42 min., 17 sec.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Subjects

Other author/creatorZinovieff, Peter, librettist.
Other author/creatorAnderson, Barry, 1935-1987, performer.
Other author/creatorAngel, Marie, 1953- performer.
Other author/creatorRigby, Jean, performer.
Other author/creatorOwens, Anne-Marie, performer.
Other author/creatorGarrison, Jon, performer.
Other author/creatorBronder, Peter, 1953- performer.
Other author/creatorOpie, Alan, performer.
Other author/creatorEbrahim, Omar, performer.
Other author/creatorDavis, Andrew, 1944-2024, conductor.
Other author/creatorBrabbins, Martyn, conductor.
Other author/creatorBBC Singers, performer.
Other author/creatorBBC Symphony Orchestra, performer.
Other author/creatorIRCAM (Research institute : France), sponsoring body.
Contents Disc 1. Act 1. Parados (2:12) -- First poem of reminiscence (9:13) -- First act of love/First duet of love (3:34) -- First passing cloud (2:41) -- First structure of decision (1:32) -- First ceremony (2:03) -- First love duet (2:49) -- First song of magic (2:34) -- First immortal dance (3:03) -- First cry of memory (3:18) -- Second passing cloud (3:47) -- Second act of love (3:57) -- First allegorical flower of reason (3:43) -- First look of loneliness (Aristaeus) (5:20) -- First time shift/first human lie (1:30) -- First whisper of change (a) (0:46) -- Second ceremony/First exchange (2:06) -- First song of failure (2:35) -- Second immortal dance (0:59) -- First hysterical aria (a) (1:04) -- Second statement of reason (2:03) -- First hysterical aria (b) (0:36) -- First magic formula (1:49) -- First hysterical aria (c) (0:47) -- First shout of gratitude (3:28).
Contents Disc 2. Act 2. Second time shift/Second love duet (4:18) -- First whisper of change (b) (0:49) -- 1st arch (2:57) -- 2nd arch (2:15) -- 3rd arch (2:15) -- 4th arch (2:21) -- 5th arch (2:08) -- 6th arch (2:14) -- 7th arch (1:44) -- 8th arch (2:05) -- 9th arch (2:52) -- 10th arch (2:05) -- 11th arch (2:04) -- 12th arch (1:43) -- 13th arch (1:50) -- 14th arch (1:51) -- 15th arch (2:27) -- 16th arch (1:43) -- 17th arch (3:48) -- Second allegorical flower of reason (3:28) -- First terrible death/Second whisper of change (1:23).
Contents Disc 3. Act 3. Third time shift (3:32) -- Third whisper of change (1:03) -- Third dream (2:39) -- Third allegorical flower of reason (3:27) -- Third song of magic (a) (0:30) -- Euridice puppet/Euridice singer (2:28) -- Third song of magic (b) (1:04) -- Third spoken argument (1:38) -- Third song of magic (c) (1:08) -- Third sentence of teaching (1:45) -- Third terrible death (1:19) -- Third song of magic (d) (1:08) -- Third ceremony (2:30) -- Third song of magic (e) (1:31) -- Third love duet (1:49) -- Third song of magic (f) (1:53) -- Third hysterical aria (3:47) -- Third passing cloud (3:05) -- Third immortal dance (3:15) -- Exodus (6:56).
General note"Lyric tragedy in three acts"--Program notes.
General noteLibretto by Peter Zinovieff.
General noteEmploys extensive electronic music sections realized by Barry Anderson in association with IRCAM.
General noteCompact discs.
General noteIncludes booklet of program notes in English with French and German translations (79 pages : portraits)--and libretto (69 [i.e. 138] pages).
Performer Marie Angel, soprano ; Jean Rigby, Anne-Marie Owens, mezzo-sopranos ; Jon Garrison, Peter Bronder, tenors ; Alan Opie, Omar Ebrahim, baritones ; supporting soloists ; BBC Singers ; BBC Symphony Orchestra ; Andrew Davis, Martyn Brabbins, conductors.
Date/time/place of a event noteRecorded live at the Royal Festival Hall, London, April 11-12, 1996.
LanguageSung principally in English and, in part, an invented language.
Awards noteGrawemeyer Award, 1987.
LCCN 2014627397
Standard identifier# 5023363005029
Publisher numberNMC D050 NMC Recordings