Bernstein: A Quiet Place

Bernstein: A Quiet Place

John Tessier, Gordon Bintner, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano, Maija Skille, Joseph Kaiser, Steven Humes, Rupert Charlesworth, Daniel Belcher, Claudia Boyle, Annie Rosen, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

2018

Bernstein’s final work for the stage is a biting commentary on dysfunctional family politics. Scored for an orchestra of more than 70 players, it was originally intended as a sequel to his one-act opera about a failing marriage, Trouble in Tahiti. This recording showcases a new re-orchestration for just 18 musicians. The result is brilliantly claustrophobic, an acute picture of a family battling with its differences and past traumas. Lucas Meachem’s portrayal of Sam, who struggles with the death of his wife and his children’s issues, is a highlight, as is conductor Kent Nagano’s grasp of one of Bernstein’s most varied, memorable, sparkling scores.

Prologue "The path of truth is plain and safe”

Maija Skille, Rupert Charlesworth, Lucas Meachem, Steven Humes, Joseph Kaiser, John Tessier, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Annie Rosen, Claudia Boyle, Daniel Belcher

3:37

Dialogue 1 "I am sorry, ma'am"

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Rupert Charlesworth, Maija Skille

1:17

Dialogue 2 “She wasn’t exactly what you would call a beautiful woman”

Steven Humes, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, John Tessier, Rupert Charlesworth, Annie Rosen, Kent Nagano, Maija Skille, Daniel Belcher

3:30

Dialogue 3 “Dede! Darlin how’ve you been?” & Arietta “Fantastic, great!”

Annie Rosen, Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Claudia Boyle

1:23

Dialogue 4 “You’re so like her”

Annie Rosen, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Claudia Boyle

1:55

Dialogue 5 “Uh, Susie - You must be François”

Annie Rosen, Steven Humes, Joseph Kaiser, Kent Nagano, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Claudia Boyle, Daniel Belcher

0:38

Dialogue 6 “Oh François, come.”

Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Joseph Kaiser, Daniel Belcher

1:31

Dialogue 7 “Welcome to the Family.”

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Maija Skille, Joseph Kaiser, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal

0:44

Dialogue 8 “Say, who’s that character with…”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, John Tessier, Rupert Charlesworth, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano

1:17

Dialogue 9 “Dede, where’s your brother

Annie Rosen, Rupert Charlesworth, John Tessier, Claudia Boyle, Maija Skille, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Daniel Belcher, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Joseph Kaiser, Kent Nagano

1:53

Readings "Who can find a virtuous woman?" & Choral “God has his ways”

Claudia Boyle, Chœur de l'Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Annie Rosen, Joseph Kaiser, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Maija Skille, Steven Humes, Rupert Charlesworth, John Tessier, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner, Daniel Belcher

5:43

Aria “You’re late…”

Kent Nagano, Lucas Meachem, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

4:46

Trio “Dear Daddy, Daddy dear”

Claudia Boyle, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Gordon Bintner, Kent Nagano, Joseph Kaiser

3:24

Finale “Merry Christmas to you too, asshole”

Lucas Meachem, Joseph Kaiser, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner, Claudia Boyle

2:29

Postlude

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

4:07

Aria “I wish I could sleep"

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem

3:56

Scene “What are you doing?”

Joseph Kaiser, Lucas Meachem, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Claudia Boyle, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner

4:12

“First, I would like to sing you a little song”

Lucas Meachem, Claudia Boyle, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner, Joseph Kaiser, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

3:57

“I coming…closer”

Joseph Kaiser, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano, Claudia Boyle, Gordon Bintner, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

3:30

Aria “I’ve been afraid”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Joseph Kaiser

4:41

Prelude

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

4:37

Aria “Morning. Good Morning”

Claudia Boyle, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano

2:52

Scene “The one and only cereal”

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Gordon Bintner, Claudia Boyle

3:37

Tag #1 “Ha! Absence makes the heart grow fonder! & Trio “Oh! Bon anniversaire”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Joseph Kaiser, Gordon Bintner, Claudia Boyle

2:28

Tag #2 “Watch it! Watch out!”

Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner, Claudia Boyle, Joseph Kaiser, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem

2:25

Aria “Oh, François, please. Somehow it’s meant for you”

Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

2:01

Aria “Dear loved ones” & Laughing Chorus

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Claudia Boyle, Lucas Meachem, Joseph Kaiser, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner

2:32

Scene “I like it here! You mean, maybe you would…”

Claudia Boyle, Joseph Kaiser, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Lucas Meachem, Gordon Bintner

4:25

Aria “Stop. You will not take another step!”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner, Joseph Kaiser

3:56

Aria “You see, Daddy, that death does bring some relief”

Joseph Kaiser, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Claudia Boyle, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano, Gordon Bintner

5:26

Leonard Bernstein

Composer
Stephen Sondheim

Composer
Gordon Bintner

Baritone
Lucas Meachem

Baritone
Kent Nagano

Conductor

Martin Sauer

Producer
Carl Talbot

Associate Producer
Christopher Johns

Recording Engineer
Martin Sauer

Recording Engineer
Stéphane Brochu

Assistant Recording Engineer
Nicola Lombardo

Assistant Recording Engineer
Edwin Garth Sunderland

Editing Engineer
Jack Kelly

Assistant Recording Engineer