Elements
Donald Macleod gives opera a health-check, and finds it to be alive and well in the 21st century, featuring works by Glass, Saariaho, Goebbels and Benjamin.
In conversation with novelist, critic and opera librettist Paul Griffiths, Donald Macleod gives opera a health-check, and finds it to be alive and well in the 21st century. Today they consider works by Philip Glass, Kaija Saariaho, Heiner Goebbels and George Benjamin that retain traditional elements.
Philip Glass
The Trial: Act 1 scene 2b
Johnny Herford, baritone (Josef K.)
Amanda Forbes, soprano (Fräulein Bürstner)
Music Theatre Wales Ensemble
Kaija Saariaho
Émilie Suite: Contre l'oubli (Against oblivion)
Karen Vourc'h, soprano
Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg, Orchestra National
Marko Letonja, conductor
Heiner Goebbels
Landschaft mit entfernten Verwandten (Landscape with Distant Relatives):
- Part One no 9, 'Homme-bombe'
- Part One no 10, 'Schlachtenbeschreibung'
David Bennent, voice
Georg Nigl, baritone
Ensemble Modern
Deutscher Kammerchor
Franck Ollu, conductor
George Benjamin
Written on Skin: Part 1 scenes 4, 6 and 10
Barbara Hannigan, soprano (Agnès)
Bejun Mehta, countertenor (The Boy)
Mahler Chamber Orchestra
George Benjamin, conductor.
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Philip Glass
The Trial
Ensemble: Music Theatre Wales.- The Trial. Music Theatre Wales.
- Orange Mountain Music.
- 3.
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Kaija Saariaho
Emilie - V Contre l'oubli (Against oblivion)
Singer: Karen Vourc'h. Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg. Conductor: Marko Letonja.- Saariaho: Emilie Suite; Quatre Instants; Terra Memoria.
- Ondine.
- 10.
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Heiner Goebbels
Landschaft mit entfernten Verwandten (Excerpts)
Choir: German Chamber Choir. Ensemble: Ensemble Modern. Conductor: Franck Ollu. Singer: Georg Nigl. Narrator: David Bennett.- GOEBBELS, HEINER: Landscape with Distant Relatives: Sirens.
- ECM.
- 9.
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Sir George Benjamin
Written On Skin - Scene 4: Agnes and the Boy
Performer: Sir George Benjamin. Singer: Barbara Hannigan. Singer: Bejun Mehta. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra.- Written on Skin.
- Nimbus.
- 4.
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Sir George Benjamin
Written On Skin - Part 1 scene 6
Performer: Sir George Benjamin. Singer: Barbara Hannigan. Singer: Bejun Mehta. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra.- Written on Skin.
- Nimbus.
- 4.
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Sir George Benjamin
Written On Skin - Part 2 scene 10
Singer: Christopher Purves. Singer: Barbara Hannigan. Singer: Bejun Mehta. Orchestra: Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Sir George Benjamin.- Written on Skin.
- Nimbus.
- 10.
Broadcast
- Mon 4 Dec 201712:00BBC Radio 3
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