|
NEW RECORDING IN THE WORKS!
The Bridge studio in Glendale, Ca., has been the site of several sessions this summer that will coalesce into a new CD to be released on Delos in spring 2018. Soprano Hila Plitmann and mezzo Janelle DeStefano are doing the vocal honors, with Tali Tadmor at the Steinway D. There are five works in all – two cycles (including one with organ added) and three solo songs (including one with orchestral percussion). The texts are by La Jolla poet Joanne Regenhardt, esteemed L.A. poet and collaborator Kate Gale, and myself. They cover much territory but are comfortable nestling under the same umbrella. Ace engineer James T. Hill is at the controls and, Carol Rosenberger and I are producing. I expect this to be a strong offering! |
"PALM TREES" RECEIVES WORLD PREMIERE BY PLITMANN AND TADMOR
Prominent soprano Hila Plitmann's powerful and memorable rendition of "The Palm Trees Are Restless," set to texts of Kate Gale, has garnered unanimous praise from reviewers of the "Home Is a Harbor" CD package. On October 1, 2016, she and outstanding pianist Tali Tadmor gave the work's first performance in Pasadena, Ca. The program was exciting and received a standing ovation. |
DOUBLE CD PAIRS CHAMBER OPERA
WITH CYCLE SUNG BY HILA PLITMANN
Abel’s lucid narrative and vibrant vocal lines … make (Home Is a Harbor) an affecting experience. … The brilliant soprano Hila Plitmann manages every leap and switch of (The Palm Trees Are Restless’) emotional gears with fearless commitment.
–- Gramophone
I am in hopes of seeing (Harbor) performed because its exquisite score cries out for the addition of visual creativity.
-- Fanfare
Palm Trees is very beautiful, with convincing, well-phrased vocal lines that are quite melodious and compelling.
--Opera Lively
Mr. Abel is at the forefront of (California’s) musical life. – American Record Guide
These are some of the critical returns from the Delos label's March 2016 release of a double-CD package showcasing the chamber opera “Home Is a Harbor” and my newest song cycle – “The Palm Trees Are Restless,” a setting of verses by Los Angeles poet Kate Gale that is sung wonderfully by Grammy-winning soprano Hila Plitmann.
“Home Is a Harbor” is in three acts and runs 103 minutes. I wrote the libretto, which is set variously on California’s Central Coast, in New York City and suburban L.A. The piece is a coming-of-age story about two sisters and a commentary on contemporary American issues – from the vagaries of the art and business worlds to the war in Afghanistan.
“Harbor” was conducted by Benjamin Makino, the music director of Opera Memphis and former assistant conductor at Long Beach Opera. The soloists -- sopranos Jamie Chamberlin and Ariel Pisturino, baritones Babatunde Akinboboye and E. Scott Levin, mezzo Janelle DeStefano, tenor Jon Lee Keenan and bass Carver Cossey – all breathed an impressive vitality into their roles. And the La Brea Sinfonietta, an ensemble composed of some of the L.A. area’s most outstanding players, shone throughout.
Ms. Plitmann, one of most sought-after singers of new music in the classical world, was accompanied on “Palm Trees” by pianist Tali Tadmor. These two longtime collaborators wonderfully served Ms. Gale’s powerful and provocative poems, drawn from her collection "Echo Light." The results are exciting and represent a landmark among my recorded works.
The texts for “Harbor” and “Palm Trees” can be found in this booklet, along with the artist bios, production credits and essays on the two works by Delos annotator Lindsay Koob and myself. Delos has put together excellent video trailers for each -- click here for “Harbor” and here for “Palm Trees.” I hope you’ll enjoy them.
The CD package is available from Amazon, iTunes, ArkivMusic and Delos. And it's a bargain -- two discs for the price of one!
WITH CYCLE SUNG BY HILA PLITMANN
Abel’s lucid narrative and vibrant vocal lines … make (Home Is a Harbor) an affecting experience. … The brilliant soprano Hila Plitmann manages every leap and switch of (The Palm Trees Are Restless’) emotional gears with fearless commitment.
–- Gramophone
I am in hopes of seeing (Harbor) performed because its exquisite score cries out for the addition of visual creativity.
-- Fanfare
Palm Trees is very beautiful, with convincing, well-phrased vocal lines that are quite melodious and compelling.
--Opera Lively
Mr. Abel is at the forefront of (California’s) musical life. – American Record Guide
These are some of the critical returns from the Delos label's March 2016 release of a double-CD package showcasing the chamber opera “Home Is a Harbor” and my newest song cycle – “The Palm Trees Are Restless,” a setting of verses by Los Angeles poet Kate Gale that is sung wonderfully by Grammy-winning soprano Hila Plitmann.
“Home Is a Harbor” is in three acts and runs 103 minutes. I wrote the libretto, which is set variously on California’s Central Coast, in New York City and suburban L.A. The piece is a coming-of-age story about two sisters and a commentary on contemporary American issues – from the vagaries of the art and business worlds to the war in Afghanistan.
“Harbor” was conducted by Benjamin Makino, the music director of Opera Memphis and former assistant conductor at Long Beach Opera. The soloists -- sopranos Jamie Chamberlin and Ariel Pisturino, baritones Babatunde Akinboboye and E. Scott Levin, mezzo Janelle DeStefano, tenor Jon Lee Keenan and bass Carver Cossey – all breathed an impressive vitality into their roles. And the La Brea Sinfonietta, an ensemble composed of some of the L.A. area’s most outstanding players, shone throughout.
Ms. Plitmann, one of most sought-after singers of new music in the classical world, was accompanied on “Palm Trees” by pianist Tali Tadmor. These two longtime collaborators wonderfully served Ms. Gale’s powerful and provocative poems, drawn from her collection "Echo Light." The results are exciting and represent a landmark among my recorded works.
The texts for “Harbor” and “Palm Trees” can be found in this booklet, along with the artist bios, production credits and essays on the two works by Delos annotator Lindsay Koob and myself. Delos has put together excellent video trailers for each -- click here for “Harbor” and here for “Palm Trees.” I hope you’ll enjoy them.
The CD package is available from Amazon, iTunes, ArkivMusic and Delos. And it's a bargain -- two discs for the price of one!
ARTICLES AND RADIO INTERVIEWS
Certainly, the most fun of these has been my interview by Dacia Clay of Houston Public Media for the charming and informative podcast "Classical Classroom." In it, we define art song and discuss its value, listen to some music along the way, and rehash some of my history. Check it out here.
"Home Is a Harbor" was aired in its entirety on KCBX, the NPR station for California's Central Coast. Excerpts from my interview with program host Bettina Swigger can be found here.
The website of Los Angeles' venerable KCET, America's largest independent public television station, issued a long piece on my work by Sarah Linn, arts writer for The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, Ca. It can be viewed here. Ms. Linn also wrote this profile at the time of release of "Terrain of the Heart."
More recently, Ryah Cooley of the New Times of San Luis Obispo wrote this look at the origins and making of "Home Is a Harbor."
I had very enjoyable and wide-ranging chats about "Terrain of the Heart" with Ted Peterson of Estero Bay Community Radio in Morro Bay, Ca., and Jim Cross of WGDR, community and public radio for Central Vermont. The Peterson interview can be heard here and the Cross interview here.
An earlier interview takes "The Dream Gallery" as its subject. I was a guest of Charles Sepos of KRCB, the NPR affiliate for California's Sonoma County. Hear it here.
Certainly, the most fun of these has been my interview by Dacia Clay of Houston Public Media for the charming and informative podcast "Classical Classroom." In it, we define art song and discuss its value, listen to some music along the way, and rehash some of my history. Check it out here.
"Home Is a Harbor" was aired in its entirety on KCBX, the NPR station for California's Central Coast. Excerpts from my interview with program host Bettina Swigger can be found here.
The website of Los Angeles' venerable KCET, America's largest independent public television station, issued a long piece on my work by Sarah Linn, arts writer for The Tribune of San Luis Obispo, Ca. It can be viewed here. Ms. Linn also wrote this profile at the time of release of "Terrain of the Heart."
More recently, Ryah Cooley of the New Times of San Luis Obispo wrote this look at the origins and making of "Home Is a Harbor."
I had very enjoyable and wide-ranging chats about "Terrain of the Heart" with Ted Peterson of Estero Bay Community Radio in Morro Bay, Ca., and Jim Cross of WGDR, community and public radio for Central Vermont. The Peterson interview can be heard here and the Cross interview here.
An earlier interview takes "The Dream Gallery" as its subject. I was a guest of Charles Sepos of KRCB, the NPR affiliate for California's Sonoma County. Hear it here.
