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Artist Spotlight: Leah Dexter on “Terra Nostra”
Darkness, the alto aria from Terra Nostra
The aria “Darkness” that Stacy Garrop composed for the mezzo-soprano, was a very personal and moving piece to perform and record, that left me in a completely vulnerable state. It changed me forever. From Lord Byron’s poignant, powerful words, to the affected wailing and whispering of the accompanying female chorus, the piece evokes images of ultimate terror, destruction, desolation and sadness. A dramatic powerhouse of an aria, it was incredibly difficult to bring this piece to life with the images presented and how they relate quite closely to the current state of the world. I am hoping that the listening audience will be moved just as much as I was and feel just how powerful this particular scene is, and also, how tragically beautiful.
Recommended
Pacifica Quartet’s final album in the American Collections trilogy – American Portraits. Bringing together touchstones of the American repertoire, American Portraits features some of the most canonical American chamber works alongside world premiere recordings of two newly commissioned works.
Winner of Cedille Records’ 2025 Emerging Artist Competition, Chicago-born oboist Oliver Talukder makes his solo recording debut with Briefly Gorgeous. Joined by pianist Moriah Trenk, Talukder presents an album inspired by themes of identity, love, family, and belonging. Drawing on his Mexican and Bengali heritage and his Chicago upbringing, the program explores where classical music intersects with Latino and South Asian traditions, creating a musical portrait shaped by Talukder’s unique story.
To celebrate the Oct. 9 release of American Portraits, the Pacifica Quartet‘s 18th album for Cedille, a playlist with a track from each of its Cedille albums, in chronological order, starting with its very first CD in 1999.