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Elliott Carter
The Minotaur

The Minotaur cover art
79248

Track Listing

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1The Minotaur: Scene I: King Minos' Palace in Crete: Overture0:59
2The Minotaur: Scene I: King Minos' Palace in Crete: Queen Pasiphaë prepares for a tryst with the sacred bull3:49
3The Minotaur: Scene I: King Minos' Palace in Crete: Entrance of the and sacred bull0:38
4The Minotaur: Scene I: King Minos' Palace in Crete: Dance of the bulls and Pasiphaë with the sacred bull2:37
5The Minotaur: Scene I: King Minos' Palace in Crete: Interlude—Pasiphaë heartbeat becomes the pounding of hammers ...1:18
6The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Building the labyrinth to imprison the Minotaur who destroys men2:00
7The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Entrance of King Minos1:39
8The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Selection of Greek victims to be sent into the labyrinth1:09
9The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Ariande, princess of Crete, dances with Theseus, a Greek victim4:23
10The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Greek victims are driven into the labyrinth1:40
11The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Theseus' farewell to Ariande as he enters the labyrinth1:54
12The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Adriadne unwinds her thread as Theseus, entering the labyrinth ...1:19
13The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Theseus fights and kills the Mintour ...1:15
14The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Adriane rewinds the thread to lead Theseus out of the labyrinth1:55
15The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: The thread breaks. Adriadne is greatly dismayed1:32
16The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: Theseus ad some of the Greeks emerge from the labyrinth and rejoice1:03
17The Minotaur: Scene II: Before the Labyrinth: The Greeks and Thesus, forgetting Adriande, leave Crete3:31
18Dust of Snow1:05
19The Rose Family1:07
20Piano Sonata: I. Maestoso11:31
21Piano Sonata: II. Andante14:58

News & Reviews

  • Friday, December 11, 2009

    Celebrate Elliott Carter's 101st Birthday with Composer's Four-Disc Nonesuch Retrospective

    Composer Elliott Carter turns 101 today. Earlier this year, as part of the composer's centennial celebration, Nonesuch Records released Elliott Carter: A Nonesuch Retrospective, featuring most of Carter's Nonesuch recordings from 1968 to 1985. The four-disc set The Observer called "covetable and historic" is now 33 1/3% off the standard list price at nonesuch.com as part of the Nonesuch Store Anniversary Sale.

  • Monday, March 9, 2009

    Sunday Times (UK): Four Stars for Elliott Carter Nonesuch Retrospective, Among Best Tributes to Composer

    Elliott Carter: A Nonesuch Retrospective, a four-disc set featuring the recordings of the composer's works made for the label from 1968 to 1985, was recently released in celebration of the Carter's 100th birthday. "Among tributes to the centenarian master," says the Sunday Times (UK) in its four-star review, "few are as nicely judged as this set of recordings made for Nonesuch." The Buffalo News gives three stars to "this exceptional four-disc box," asserting that the performances it features "give the music its optimal opportunity to be heard."

About this Album

Commissioned by George Balanchine’s Ballet Society, The Minotaur is an exploration of the neo-classical style that marked the last traditional narrative Carter composed. It is joined on this album by settings of two poems by Robert Frost and the Piano Sonata, together illuminating the composer’s oft-overlooked early works; the details of these early pieces are at once complex, immediately graspable, and immensely powerful.

Credits

MUSICIANS
New York Chamber Symphony of the 92nd Street Y (1-17)
Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Jan DeGaetani, mezzo-soprano (18, 19)
Gilbert Kalish, piano (18, 19)
Paul Jacobs, piano (20, 21)

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced and engineered by Max Wilcox
Recorded December 6, 1988 at the Manhattan Center, New York City
Tracks 18, 19 produced by Teresa Sterne
Engineering and musical production: Max Wilcox
Recorded December, 1987 at the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York City
Digital Engineering: MacDonald Moore
20, 21 produced and engineered by Max Wilcox
Recorded August, 1982 at RCA Studio A, New York City

Composed by Elliott Carter; texts (18, 19) by Robert Frost

Art direction and design: John William Costa
Photograph by Don Hunstein

Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

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