Sylvia McNair - You Are Tomorrow - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Sylvia Heermann - Heerman Sings Handel Soir [COMPACT DISCS] date 06/09/1999

Based on August Strindberg's celebrated 1888 play Miss Julie, chamber opera Juliana (2018) unites composer Joseph Phibbs and librettist Laurie Slade in a modern tale about the power of money, immigration politics, drugs and the blurring of sexual boundaries. In confronting these issues head-on, the power of aristocracy is replaced by that of plutocracy. Strindberg's Count, an unseen but malevolent presence, becomes the Boss, a multi-millionaire businessman. Julie becomes Juliana, a spoilt little rich girl in thrall to her father. Jean becomes Juan, an immigrant servant, his status insecure. Juliana and Juan live on the edge emotionally. Kerstin, the housekeeper, is caught in a triangular conflict with them both. Conductor George Vass and the Nova Music Opera Ensemble, are joined by soprano Zoe Drummond (Juliana), mezzo-soprano Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (Kerstin) and baritone Felix Kemp (Juan) in the world premiere recording of this major new work.

James Mapley-Brittle (GRRL) and Nick Sanborn (Made of Oak) make and spin very different music but often end up playing the same parties, thanks to the eclecticism of the North Carolina dance scene. After a conversation they had one day surrounding a shared obsession with peak-hour club music, Sanborn wondered about a collaboration. About a track that existed that somehow made sense for each of them to play at their irrespective sets. It could be massive. But what would it sound like? The answer is Inertia, the duo's collaborative EP. The two got together every now and again to jam and find a creative chemistry; it didn't take long for the shared language to emerge, and they recorded the subsequent jolt of energy out at Betty's studio in Chapel Hill. For both Made of Oak and GRRL, Inertia feels like the beginning of something entirely new.This limited edition of 300 is now available at retail for the first time ever, and will be followed by a follow up EP in early 2025.