Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena

Paul Dab, Leandra Ramm, San Francisco Opera Scouts, Alejandra Tejeda, Mark Hernandez, Billy Lawley

Catalog #: TROY1811
Release Date: March 1, 2020
Format: Digital
Opera

Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena is a children's opera with music by Evan Mack and libretto by Joshua McGuire. The concept was conceived at a National Opera Association Convention when Mack, McGuire, and director Anthony Radford agreed that operas for children were missing from new American opera. Subsequently California State University at Fresno commissioned a 45 minute opera that could tour schools and be performed in opera houses. The result is Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena -- a multicultural Christmas opera for all ages. Since its premiere in Fresno, Lucinda has been produced all over the United States and seen by more than 20,000 children. Composer Evan Mack, a member of the faculty at Skidmore College, has devoted much of his compositional life to opera and song. Mack was named 2018 Professional of the Year by Musical America and was a composing fellow at the John Duffy Composers Institute. Librettist Joshua McGuire has collaborated with Evan Mack on numerous operas. He was commissioned in 2015 to write a libretto for Washington National Opera's American Opera Initiative. His is an author as well as being on the faculty at Vanderbilt University.

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Track Listing

Title Composer Performer
Lucinda y las Flores de la Nochebuena Evan Mack Alejandra Tejeda (soprano); Leandra Ramm (mezzo-soprano); Billy Lawley (tenor); Mark Hernandez (tenor); San Francisco Opera Scouts (chorus); Paul Dab (piano); Caroline Altman (conductor)

Reviews

  • "…Mack’s music is tuneful and simple enough to be remembered and hummed on the way out of the theater. He doesn’t over-whelm the listener with clashing harmonies and leitmotifs. Rather he allows the simple story to shine through the music. None of the vocal roles are very difficult, so even moder-ately trained singers could perform them. The singers on this recording are all very good and easy to listen to, with solid diction. Musi-cally this isn’t as sophisticated as Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, for example, but it isn’t supposed to be. Short and to the point, it is an ideal way to introduce children to the wonders of opera. Albany offers notes, texts, and good sound. In the words of Ira Gershwin 'Who could ask for anything more?"

    – American Record Guide

*Album cover provided for Editorial use only. ©Albany Records. The Albany Imprint is a registered trademark of PARMA Recordings LLC. The views and opinions expressed in this media are those of the artist and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views and opinions held by PARMA Recordings LLC and its label imprints, subsidiaries, and affiliates.