Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Kent Nagano – Bernstein: A Quiet Place (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal, Kent Nagano – Bernstein: A Quiet Place (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:33:04 minutes | 1,63 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Decca Music Group Ltd.

Why yes, it is still possible to discover Bernstein scores, or in this case the chamber version of A Quiet Place, adapted by Garth Edwin Sunderland, conducted and recorded for the first time by Kent Nagano, at the Montreal Symphony House. The final stage score by the American composer, first performed at the Houston Grand Opera in 1983, it was revisited by the librettist Stephen Wadsworth, and the composer who added several fragments from the one-act piece Trouble in Tahiti, from 1951; this addition would see two new performances (the Scala in Milan, and Washington). Another draft – this one definitive – was performed at the Vienna Opera House, conducted by the composer, in 1986. Fascinating in more ways than one, rather like a modern-day Intermezzo by Strauss, the work depicts American society by way of an existential crisis faced, first by one couple, (Trouble in Tahiti) and then by one family. Bernstein borrowed from Mahler for the structure, with a final movement whose “grave nobility” recalled the final movements of the Third and NinthSymphonies by his much-admired forebear. As is often the case with this composer, Bernstein’s mix of styles (jazz, chorale, Broadway, Mahler, Berg, Britten, Copland…) provides an explosive cocktail, which has about it more of a musical conversation than grand opera – and, paradoxically, that’s what makes this work so unique… And so charming. This is well worth a re-discovery, this time under the baton of Bernstein’s faithful former pupil, Kent Nagano, at the head of top-flight solo singers, who point the way to that “quiet place”, where “love will teach us harmony and grace”. – Franck Mallet

Tracklist:
1-01. Claudia Boyle – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Prologue…”The path of truth is plain and safe” (03:37)
1-02. Rupert Charlesworth – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 1. “I am sorry, ma’am” (01:17)
1-03. Maija Skille – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 2. “She wasn’t exactly what you would call a beautiful woman” (03:30)
1-04. Annie Rosen – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 3. “Dede! Darlin how’ve you been?” & Arietta “Fantastic, great!” (01:23)
1-05. Annie Rosen – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 4. “You’re so like her” (01:55)
1-06. Annie Rosen – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 5. “Uh, Susie – You must be François” (00:38)
1-07. Daniel Belcher – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 6. “Oh François, come.” (01:31)
1-08. Maija Skille – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 7. “Welcome to the Family.” (00:44)
1-09. John Tessier – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 8. “Say, who’s that character with…” (01:17)
1-10. Annie Rosen – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Dialogue 9. “Dede, where’s your brother (01:53)
1-11. Steven Humes – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Readings “Who can find a virtuous woman?” & Choral “God has his ways” (05:43)
1-12. Lucas Meachem – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Aria “You’re late…” (04:46)
1-13. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Trio “Dear Daddy, Daddy dear” (03:24)
1-14. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Finale “Merry Christmas to you too, asshole” (02:29)
1-15. Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 1 : Postlude (04:07)
1-16. Lucas Meachem – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 2 : Aria “I wish I could sleep” (03:56)
1-17. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 2 : Scene “What are you doing?” (04:12)
1-18. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 2 : “First, I would like to sing you a little song” (03:57)
1-19. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 2 : “I coming…closer” (03:30)
1-20. Joseph Kaiser – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 2 : Aria “I’ve been afraid” (04:41)
1-21. Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Prelude (04:37)
1-22. Claudia Boyle – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Aria “Morning. Good Morning” (02:52)
1-23. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Scene “The one and only cereal” (03:37)
1-24. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Tag #1 “Ha! Absence makes the heart grow fonder! & Trio “Oh! Bon anniversaire” (02:28)
1-25. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Tag #2 “Watch it! Watch out!” (02:25)
1-26. Lucas Meachem – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Aria “Oh, François, please. Somehow it’s meant for you” (02:01)
1-27. Joseph Kaiser – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Aria “Dear loved ones” & Laughing Chorus (02:32)
1-28. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Scene “I like it here! You mean, maybe you would…” (04:25)
1-29. Joseph Kaiser – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Aria “Stop. You will not take another step!” (03:56)
1-30. Gordon Bintner – A Quiet Place – Ed. Sunderland / Act 3 : Aria “You see, Daddy, that death does bring some relief” (05:26)

Personnel:
Claudia Boyle, soprano (Dede)
Joseph Kaiser, tenor (François)
Gordon Bintner, baritone (Junior)
Lucas Meachem, baritone (Sam)
Rupert Charlesworth, tenor (Funeral Director)
Daniel Belcher, baritone (Bill)
Annie Rosen, mezzosoprano (Susie)
Steven Humes, bass (Doc)
Maija Skille, mezzosoprano (Mrs. Doc)
John Tessier, tenor (Analyst)
Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal
Kent Nagano, conductor

Download: