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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
From Chicago-based composter Stacy Garrop comes INVICTUS, Latin for “unconquered.” The work unfolds across four movements and an interlude, moving between lyrical introspection, fierce determination, and triumphant resolve, with Grammy-nominated pianist Marta Aznavoorian and the Chicago Philharmonic under the direction of Artistic Director Scott Speck. Available 5/8.
Haymarket Opera Company presents early-18th-century master Leonardo Vinci’s rare operatic gem, Artaserse (1730). A prominent figure of the Neapolitan School of opera, whose work influenced composers such as Johann Adolph Hasse and Giovanni Battista Pergolesi, Vinci’s three-act opera seria centers on the Persian prince, Artaserse, who must bring his father’s murderer to justice amidst betrayal, deceit, and mistaken identity.
To celebrate Stacy Garrop‘s piano concerto, INVICTUS (5/8 release), based on a poem about perseverance and resilience in adversity, a playlist of Cedille tracks that represent struggle against prohibitive odds — explicitly in words or as program music, or inherently in their musical nature.
Enjoy 25% off Cedille’s Weekly Featured Release.