Thomas Adés Dante Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Symphony, Gustavo Dudamel, conductor Nonesuch CD Thomas Adés The Dante Project London Symphony Chorus, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Koen Kessels, conductor Opus Arte Bluray DVD It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to use Dante as the centerpiece of one’s own creative work. Thomas Adés has courage in spades, as he has created an ambitious ballet based on the Divine Comedy, for dancers, chorus, and orchestra, commemorating the 700th anniversary of the poet’s death. Two documents of the piece are currently available, a Nonesuch recording of the
Read more[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPZU_fK4-J8[/youtube] Early reviews care of bloggers (one well-informed, one not so much) Boosey and Hawkes has a perusal score available–through an inadequate interface methinks–here. I was able to get some sense of the First Act by glancing at the score, and I wrote a preview for the LA Weekly here. I’m attending the Sunday show and will report back here. Did anyone see the premiere last night? Your opinions are most welcome in the comments section! Updates: Zachary Woolfe weighs in with the first professional review I’ve found online. His verdict? Moments of power and beauty, but Adams and Sellars
Read more