Bernstein: A Quiet Place

Bernstein: A Quiet Place

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

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

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”

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

3:30

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

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

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

0:38

Dialogue 6 “Oh François, come.”

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

1:31

Dialogue 7 “Welcome to the Family.”

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

0:44

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

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

1:17

Dialogue 9 “Dede, where’s your brother

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

1:53

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

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

5:43

Aria “You’re late…”

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano

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”

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

2:29

Postlude

Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

4:07

Aria “I wish I could sleep"

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano

3:56

Scene “What are you doing?”

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

4:12

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

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

3:57

“I coming…closer”

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

3:30

Aria “I’ve been afraid”

Joseph Kaiser, Kent Nagano, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

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”

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

3:37

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

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

2:28

Tag #2 “Watch it! Watch out!”

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

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

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

2:32

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

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

4:25

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

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

3:56

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

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

5:26

Leonard Bernstein

Composer
Lucas Meachem

Baritone
Kent Nagano

Conductor
Rupert Charlesworth

Tenor
Joseph Kaiser

Tenor

Martin Sauer

Producer
Carl Talbot

Associate Producer
Martin Sauer

Recording Engineer
Stéphane Brochu

Assistant Recording Engineer
Christopher Johns

Recording Engineer
Nicola Lombardo

Assistant Recording Engineer
Edwin Garth Sunderland

Editing Engineer
Jack Kelly

Assistant Recording Engineer