Bottcher / Hradil / Mahrische Philharmonie - Per Orchestra - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Composer Michael Murray's album PASSAGES brings the words of iconic 19th and 20th century poets to life through stirring music for solo soprano and instruments. Murray has selected poetry from the likes of Robert Louis Stevenson, William Butler Yeats, William Wordsworth, John Keats, and Walt Whitman, with poems detailing childhood adventure, hope, and tragedy. Celebrated soprano Genevieve Fulks performs throughout; most of the music heard on the album was written specifically with her voice in mind. Murray's music has been lauded for it's meticulously crafted yet ultimately approachable style. Through familiar themes and time-honored poetry, Murray invites listeners to engage with, and even be challenged by, this collection of thoughtful compositions.

Gavin Borchert of the Seattle Weekly Says, What Is Most Marvelous About These Songs Is the Absolute Naturalness of Murray's Way of Setting a Text - Flowing, Never Awkward, Neither Mannered Nor Simplistic. And There's Invariably Something Compelling Going on in the Surrounding Instrumental Frame.

Bottcher / Gustav Mahler Ensemble Wien - Lyrische Kontraste [COMPACT DISCS] date 03/04/2005