<<  -- 3 --  Patric Standford    NARRATIVE STYLE

This narrative style is maintained throughout, with the expressional sophistication layed over the voices by often colourful orchestral means [listen -- CD2 track 2, 4:46-5:44 -- the second day in icy fog, when anger and despair set in].

The short third act is made to seem extraordinarily long by its expanse of space and stillness, and the chorus recall the opera's first act prelude to welcome the hero back at the end, albeit alone. There are some highly dramatic moments throughout the opera in which instrumental and percussive effects are brought together [listen -- CD1 track 8, 0:00-0:58] but the live action and sight of the stage is sorely missed. The recording, made between November 2000 and February 2002, under the careful direction of the Israeli conductor Lior Shambadal, is excellent, and even without the stage it gives a sense of depth to the sound production.

For help listening to the sound extracts here, please refer to our questions & answers page.