Composer: Harrison Birtwistle
Performer: The Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra: The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Conductor: Antonio Pappano
Blu ray
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks+m3u)
Label: Opus Arte
Size: 1.27 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Ariadne: Christine Rice (Mezzo-soprano)
The Minotaur: John Tomlinson (Bass)
Theseus: Johan Reuter (Baritone)
First Innocent: Rebecca Bottone (Soprano)
Second Innocent: Pumeza Matshikiza (Soprano)
Third Innocent: Wendy Dawn Thompson (Mezzo-soprano)
Fourth Innocent Christopher Ainslie (Counter-tenor)
Fifth Innocent: Tim Mead (Counter-tenor)
Ker: Amanda Echalaz (Soprano)
Snake Princess: Andrew Watts (Counter-tenor)
Hiereus: Philip Langridge (Tenor)
Antonio Pappano ( Conductor )
The Royal Opera Chorus
The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
01 – Inception
02 – One. Arrival.
03 – Toccata 1
04 – Two. The choice
05 – Three. The labyrinth
06 – Four. Ariadne
07 – Five. The labyrinth
08 – Toccata 2
09 – Six. The Minotaur dreams
10 – Seven. The labyrinth
11 – Eight. A proposition
12 – Toccata 3
13 – Nine. The Minotaur dreams
14 – Ten. The Oracle at Psychro
15 – Eleven. A blind bargain
16 – Twelve. The labyrinth
17 – Thirteen. The Death of the Minotaur, Curtain calls
John Tomlinson sings and howls the role of the Minotaur, in a costume of theatrical genius. Christine Rice and Johan Reuter sing the roles of Ariadne and Theseus. These are astoundingly demanding roles, of the sort that will make you wonder how anyone could possibly memorize such strange musical phrases, and the three principals all sing superbly. Rice and Reuter are slightly less impressive as actors — a little podgy and hesitant in movement – but their voices and the visual drama of the sets and lighting are enough to keep the excitement churning.