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The Seagull
Cast, Chorus and Orchestra of the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater, David Gilbert, conductor
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Opera
Word premiere recording of this landmark opera.
The world premiere of Thomas Pasatieri's The Seagull took place at the Houston Grand Opera on March 5, 1974. This recording represents the New York premiere performances which took place in December, 2002. It uses the composer's revised score. In his notes for the 2002 performances Thomas Pasatieri writes: "Over 28 years have passed since the premiere of The Seagull, half a lifetime for me. Of my 17 operas, it remains my favorite child. The musical atmosphere has changed greatly in the interim and the lyric, romantically tonal is no longer the exception, but now the standard. Critics are no longer shocked by a flow of melody from composers, and the love of audiences for a new work is no longer suspect. For this production, I have written two new interludes to accompany the act divisions and stagecraft. As I wrote them, I was flooded with the feelings of my 26 year old self and so grateful that this opera has survived and is still being produced. It has been twenty years since I have written an opera and I have in all that time refused to do so. But now, my heart and mind have changed and as I poured over the score for this New York production, and in preparation for next season's in San Francisco, I begin to hear faintly in the back of my mind... music...operatic music. Perhaps soon, there might be number 18."Contents:
Thomas Pasatieri, composerThe Seagull
Cast, Chorus and Orchestra of the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater, David Gilbert, conductor