At various times members of the list have asked about performances that my
Company or my Artists have given in New York. In that spirit I would like
to tell you about four CDs that are now available. Two by my Company,
The Magic Circle Chamber Opera and two just released with Artists from
my studio:
MAGIC CIRCLE performances: Operas in English
I. NED ROREM: Two One-Act Operas (World Premiere Recording)
"A Childhood Miracle" from a story by Nathaniel Hawthorne
"Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters" libretto by Gertrude Stein
Newport Classic CD (NPD85594)
(Ned Rorem is America's greatest composer for the voice. REH)
REVIEWS: for A Childhood Miracle.
"Beautifully sung...cast is strong...
Ray Evans Harrell leads the
Magic Circle Chamber Orchestra"
Tommasini, NYTimes:
"The singers in both works dispatch
the material with assurance,
led by Ray Evans Harrell"
Smith, Opera News
"This recording, with a well-balanced
cast from Magic Circle Opera, ought to
help to make this sparkling piece part
of the repertory of every opera school.
Dickenson, Gramophone Mag.
"But the 'piece de resistance' came after
intermission: The New York orchestral staged
premiere of the one-act opera "A Childhood
Miracle....lovingly conducted by the company's
Artistic Director Ray Evans Harrell"
Lehrman, Opera Monthly Magazine
II. "STONES, TIME & ELEMENTS, A Humanist Requiem
text by Kurt Vonnegut, Music by Edgar David Grana
Chorus and Soloists of the Magic Circle Opera
with Grammy Award winning soloist Michael Brecker.
Reader: Kurt Vonnegut. (World Premiere Recording)
Newport Classic CD (NPD 85573)
REVIEW: Stones, Time & Elements, A Humanist Requiem
"The MAGIC CIRCLE CHORUS here is excellent,
dedicated, and passionate...the vocal soloists
are very professional. Particularly Darcy Dunn who
has a powerful voice...You'll sense an inner harmony
here, in that the composer surely expected and
wrote for just such a voice. Clearly a very gratifying
work to perform and for listening..."
Canby, Audio Magazine
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The next two CDs are just released. The "FARAMONDO" is a world premiere
recording of an opera by Handel. I trained the lead baritone Peter
Castaldi at the Magic Circle. Both recordings are produced by America's
finest producer of Baroque recordings John Ostendorf. John was for many
years a world class baroque singer (I think the best) until he retired
from singing to supervise the artistic production of Newport Classics
distinguished Baroque series. John has two pre-retirement solos on the
"WHERE'ER YOU WALK" CD. These two cuts will more than substantiate the
claim that he retired at his peak. They are magnificent as is the entire
CD. John Ostendorf was my student for fifteen years.
These recordings are just released and not yet reviewed but if you love
Baroque music you will not be disappointed. These are wonderful. I am
partial to the "WHERE'RE YOU WALK, Favourite English Arias" recording. It
is a winner without a doubt! (REH)
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III. FARAMONDO, by George Friedrich Handel
(World Premiere Recording)
Opera in Three Acts, with Peter Castaldi, Julianne Baird,
Drew Minter, DAnna Fortunato, Jennifer Lane, Mary Ellen
Callahan and Mark Singer with the Brewer Chamber Orchestra, Rudolf
Palmer Conductor.
VOX Classics (vox37536)
(the small part of "Tebaldo" is expertly handled by another Magic Circle
trained artist, Mark Singer. REH)
IV. "HANDEL 'Where're You Walk,' Favourite English Arias" with
John Ostenforf, Peter Castaldi, John Aler, Julianne Baird, William
Watson and D'Anna Fortunato. The Brewer Chamber Orchestra, Rudolf
Palmer Conductor.
Newport Classic CD (NPD85610)
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This recording constitutes a kind of who's who of great baroque artists in
the U.S. I would like to make special mention of a singer that I had
never heard before. William Watson sings the title aria "Where're You
Walk" as beautifully as I have ever heard it sung. I have heard great
performances of it by famous singers of the present and past, but never
any better performances of it.
Ray Evans Harrell, artistic director
The Magic Circle Chamber Opera of New York
mcore@idt.net
--Ray Evans Harrell <mcore@IDT.NET>
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