The Mother of Us All
Download from iTunes Download from Amazon Quantity in Basket: None VIRGIL THOMSON The Mother of Us All TROY1486-87 - Price: $33.98
play sound file need help?
Go Back >

 

A new recording of Virgil Thomson's classic opera, The Mother of Us All, is performed by the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater.

Long overdue, this recording of Virgil Thomson’s 1947 opera with libretto by Gertrude Stein by the Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater, makes a major American opera available. The opera, commissioned by the Alice A. Ditson Fund, tells the story of Susan B. Anthony, but Stein’s approach mixes real and fictional characters from different historical periods. Premiered at Columbia University, the opera impressed the distinguished audience and press, but neither of New York’s major opera companies took on the work. Thomson’s music, a continuation of his style of making text come alive through natural inflections and sparing instrumental supports, is suggestive of its American theme with fanfares, political songs, Salvation Army-style marches and parlor songs.
Contents:
Virgil Thomson, composer
The Mother of Us All
Noragh Devlin; Scott Russell; Alexander Frankel; Addison Hamilton; Carlton Moe; Manhattan Opera Orchestra; Steven Osgood, conductor

Review:
“Thomson’s style can be compared to Charles Ives in his use of typical ‘American’ mu-sic: marches, folk songs, and hymn tunes. I find it a fascinating work–very enjoyable to listen to and offering many interesting possibilities for creative staging. “ (American Record Guide)

“A cast of twenty nine [Manhattan School of Music] students plus chorus, led with con-centration and suppleness by Steven Osgood, gives…a rousing performance here, marked by clear projection of text, flexibility and fresh, promising vocal timbres.” (Opera News)
You may also like:
More Info
iTunes WILLIAM MAYER A Death in the Family
More Info
iTunes JOHN MUSTO | MARK CAMPBELL Later The Same Evening
More Info
iTunes THOMAS PASATIERI The Seagull
More Info
iTunes NICOLO ISOUARD Cendrillon
More Info
iTunes ROBERT WARD Roman Fever
More Info
iTunes LOUIS SPOHR Beauty and the Beast
More Info
iTunes SCOTT EYERLY The House of Seven Gables, an opera