Composer: George Antheil
Performer: Claudia Barainsky, Johanna Stojkovic, Milgenko Turk, Thomas Laske, Stephan Boving
Orchestra: Bochumer Symphhoniker
Conductor: Steven Sloane
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: CPO
Catalogue: 7774502
Release: 2024
Size: 255 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Venus in Africa
Scene One
01. I. Yvonne: No! Charles: Yvonne!
02. II. Peddler: Hey, M’sieur! Pearls from Hindou for jolie madame?
03. III. Yvonne: Can’t you love me as you did in the beginning?
04. IV. Charles: Yes! I gave up my work
Scene Two
05. I. Yvonne: Take those to the bus please
06. II. Charles: She didn’t want to go
07. III. Innkeeper: There are others!
08. IV. Interlude
09. V. Charles: I am sorry. I can’t help staring!
10. VI. Charles: You seem real enough
Scene Three
11. I. Girl: Well? Charles: That was the most beautiful night
12. II. Girl: No, no, no! Last night you asked advice
13. III. Charles: Yvonne! Yvonne: Excuse me for interrupting you
14. IV. Innkeeper: Yes, M’sieur? Charles: Where’s the Lady?
After George Antheil had earned his reputation in Europe as the self-proclaimed “Bad Boy of Music” and caused plenty of scandals with his avant-garde experiments, he made a dramatic shift upon returning to his native America. This change in direction led to a significant number of important compositions, including his later symphonies and a series of one-act stage works, where Antheil dramatized a wide range of themes and situations. The final work in this series is Venus in Africa, a charming, touching, and highly amusing piece for five characters, in which the ancient goddess of love helps an American couple forge a lasting relationship. The music, oscillating between operatic turbulence, impressionistic refinement, and musical-style tunes, is further proof that Antheil had successfully shed his early rebellious image.