Bernstein: A Quiet Place

Bernstein: A Quiet Place

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

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”

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

3:37

Dialogue 1 "I am sorry, ma'am"

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

1:17

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

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

3:30

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

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

1:23

Dialogue 4 “You’re so like her”

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

1:55

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

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

0:38

Dialogue 6 “Oh François, come.”

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

1:31

Dialogue 7 “Welcome to the Family.”

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

0:44

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

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

1:17

Dialogue 9 “Dede, where’s your brother

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

1:53

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

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

5:43

Aria “You’re late…”

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem

4:46

Trio “Dear Daddy, Daddy dear”

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

3:24

Finale “Merry Christmas to you too, asshole”

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

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

4:12

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

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

3:57

“I coming…closer”

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

3:30

Aria “I’ve been afraid”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Joseph Kaiser, Kent Nagano

4:41

Prelude

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano

4:37

Aria “Morning. Good Morning”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Claudia Boyle

2:52

Scene “The one and only cereal”

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

3:37

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

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

2:28

Tag #2 “Watch it! Watch out!”

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

2:25

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

Lucas Meachem, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano

2:01

Aria “Dear loved ones” & Laughing Chorus

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

2:32

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

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

4:25

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

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

3:56

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

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

5:26

Leonard Bernstein

Composer
Kent Nagano

Conductor
Lucas Meachem

Baritone
Joseph Kaiser

Tenor
Steven Humes

Bass

Carl Talbot

Associate Producer
Martin Sauer

Producer
Jack Kelly

Assistant Recording Engineer
Martin Sauer

Recording Engineer
Nicola Lombardo

Assistant Recording Engineer
Christopher Johns

Recording Engineer
Stéphane Brochu

Assistant Recording Engineer
Edwin Garth Sunderland

Editing Engineer