Oliver Davis: Arcadia

Oliver Davis’ music bursts with invention and colour, and Arcadia is a captivating overview of this talented composer’s rare gift for writing orchestral works that possess both integrity and instant appeal. The joyful opening movement of Infinite Ocean, written for the San Francisco Ballet, effortlessly combines the bravado of Italian Baroque with a modern, pulsing energy, while Gemini, for solo violin and orchestra, blends pure Romance and raw folk. The Suite for Piano and Orchestra harks back to both Debussy and Bach, its final movement a nod to Shostakovich at his most lyrical. The best, however, is saved for last: The Elements is a spellbinding suite for tuba, viola, recorder, and piano—an unusual combination that proves utterly beguiling and great fun.