Release Date: 1 November 1997
Birtwistle's awe-inspiring masterpiece is a key work in the development of post-war opera, groundbreaking in its fusion of music, song, drama, myth and electronics.
Peter Zinovieff librettist
Orpheus:
The Man Jon Garrison tenor
The Myth/Hades Peter Bronder tenor
Euridice:
The Woman Jean Rigby mezzo soprano
The Myth/Persephone Anne-Marie Owens mezzo soprano
Aristaeus:
The Man Alan Opie baritone
The Myth/Charon Omar Ebrahim baritone
The Oracle of the Dead/Hecate Marie Angel soprano
BBC Symphony Orchestra
BBC Singers
Andrew Davis & Martyn Brabbins conductors
Electronic material realised by Barry Anderson in association with IRCAM
AUDIO
REVIEWS
GRAMOPHONE AWARD - BEST CONTEMPORARY RECORDING 1998
'Music of utterly compelling beauty and sheer elemental force' The Independent
'This has to be one of the most important recording events of the decade' The Sunday Times
'A landmark recording of a contemporary operatic masterpiece' Classic CD
FUNDERS
The Mask of Orpheus was commissioned by English National Opera with the help of funds provided by the Arts Council of Great Britain and the RVW Trust.
Produced in collaboration With the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
RECORDING CREDITS
Recorded live at the Royal Festival Hall , London on 11-12 April 1996
Remixed and edited at the BBC Studios, Maida Vale, London by Neil Pemberton, Ian Dearden, and Colin Matthews
Balance engineer: Neil Pemberton
Sound supervisor: Ian Dearden
Producer: Ann McKay
(P) & (c) 1997 NMC Recordings Ltd
Catalogue number: NMC D050
Release Date: 1 November 1997