Carlisle Floyd – Wuthering Heights

Florentine Opera Company, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra

21,9938,49
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Original Recording Format: DSD 256
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Of all my operas,Wuthering Heights, my second full length opera, had probably the most singular beginning. With all the others, I received the request,for a new opera by the commissioner and the subject matter was determined more or less by me, in the case of Wuthering Heights, it was entirely specified by the commissioner, hand in hand with my publisher, and I reluctantly agreed to the subject matter. 
The reason for this was what is interesting and unique: Phyllis Curtin, the remarkable soprano who had introduced my first opera, Susannah, to the music world via the New York City Opera, had decided to do a second Town Hall recital and asked me to do a concert aria for her program. I immediately agreed since her performing Susannah had successfully launched my career as an opera composer, and I was (and am) forever happily indebted to her for that.

Tracklist

Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.
1.
Prologue
11:58
2.
Act One - Scene One
12:21
3.
Act One - Scene Two
13:45
4.
Act Two - Scene One
14:57
5.
Act Two - Interlude
02:37
6.
Act Two - Scene Two
14:07
7.
Act Two - Scene Two--Part II
11:22
8.
Act Three - Scene One
24:33
9.
Act Three - Scene Two
18:46
10.
Act Three - Scene Three
14:28

Total time: 02:18:54

Additional information

Label

SKU

FR721SACD

Qualities

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Channels

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Artists

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Composers

Genres

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Digital Converters

Horus (Merging)

Mastering Engineer

Mark Donahue (Soundmirror)

Conductors

Instruments

,

Original Recording Format

Producer

Blanton Alspaugh (SoundMirror)

Recording Engineer

John Newton (Soundmirror)

Recording location

Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts, Harris Theater, Brookfield, Wisconsin

Recording Software

Merging

Recording Type & Bit Rate

DSD256

Release DateSeptember 16, 2016

Press reviews

BBC Music Magazine

“In this studio recording following a concert performance by Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, Kelly Markgraf and Georgia Jarman make a powerful impression as the ill-fated couple, and Chad Shelton’s incisive Hindley and Heather Buck’s sweet Isabella also stand out amidst a strong cast. … Under opera specialist Joseph Mechavich, the Milwaukee Symphony makes its contribution with relish…”

Fanfare Magazine

“Here is a composer who writes in an accessible but never simplistic or retrograde tonal vocabulary; has a sound grasp of what makes operas work dramatically in terms of subject matter, plotting, and pacing; and crafts compelling music that vividly illustrates his texts (Floyd writes his own librettos) while yet placing them in expressive, arcing melodic lines. In particular, to anyone who has encountered it, his early opera Susannah is a stunning work of genius. And now [I] am most pleased to welcome into my home the premiere recording of his next opera in order of composition, Wuthering Heights. It is uncommon enough nowadays for recordings of major standard repertoire works to receive consistently well-cast performances; all the more credit to the Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee and Reference Recordings, then, for assembling such a uniformly strong vocal cast here. There is simply not a single weak link in the chain, even in the comprimario roles of Lockwood (tenor Aaron Short), Joseph (tenor Frank Kelly), or Mr. Earnshaw (bass Matthew Burns). The Milwaukee Symphony under Joseph Mechavich plays with conviction and polish. I am overjoyed to have this set. Those who think great opera died with Puccini’s Turandot, or perhaps with Britten’s Peter Grimes, should acquire this opera. Very strongly recommended.”

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