Musgrave's 'opera for radio' sets a dreamlike tale of the American Civil War based on An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, Ambrose Bierce's short story. It is paired with Green, for 12 solo strings, and Wild Winter I, for solo voices and viol consort, both exploring different aspects of conflict past and present.
Jake Gardner baritone
Gayle Hunnicutt narrator
London Sinfonietta
Thea Musgrave conductor
Scottish Ensemble
Red Byrd
Fretwork
AUDIO
REVIEWS
'The 1993 Lamentations for four voices and a consort of viols creates a haunting landscape from settings of poems by Wilfred Owen, Lorca, Hart Crane, Petrarch and Georg Trakl, while Green from 2007 is a dramatic scene for strings, a clash of instrumental voices and musical ideas' Guardian
'The London Sinfonietta, under Musgrave herself, plays with razor-sharp precision ... performances and recordings are excellent' BBC Music Magazine
'A reminder of a genre that seems to have disappeared from the schedules; the radio opera. The atmospheric music on this disc deserves your attention.' International Record Review
'The recording of the orchestra and singing voice is excellent. It is powerful and moving and I urge readers to make its acquaintance.' Music Web International
'Rich, powerful musical language and this strong sense of drama have made Thea Musgrave one of the most respected of living composers.' new-classics.co.uk
FUNDERS
A BBC Recording
Produced in association with BBC Radio 3
RECORDING CREDITS
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge was recorded by BBC Radio 3 on 20 December 1981 in Studio 1, BBC Maida Vale. Green was recorded by BBC Radio 3 on 15 December 2008 in The Music Hall, Aberdeen. Wild Winter I was recorded by BBC Radio 3 on 16 July 1993 in Lichfield Cathedral.
Mastering: DAVID LEFEBER for Metier
Executive producer: COLIN MATTHEWS
Graphic design: FRANÇOIS HALL
(P) 2011 BBC
© 2011 NMC Recordings Ltd
Catalogue number: NMC D167
Release Date: 18 April 2011