Bernstein: A Quiet Place

Bernstein: A Quiet Place

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

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

3:37

Dialogue 1 "I am sorry, ma'am"

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

1:17

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

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

3:30

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

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

1:23

Dialogue 4 “You’re so like her”

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

1:55

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

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

0:38

Dialogue 6 “Oh François, come.”

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

1:31

Dialogue 7 “Welcome to the Family.”

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

0:44

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

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

1:17

Dialogue 9 “Dede, where’s your brother

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

1:53

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

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

5:43

Aria “You’re late…”

Kent Nagano, Lucas Meachem, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal

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”

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

2:29

Postlude

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano

4:07

Aria “I wish I could sleep"

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Lucas Meachem, Kent Nagano

3:56

Scene “What are you doing?”

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

4:12

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

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

3:57

“I coming…closer”

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

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, Claudia Boyle, Kent Nagano

2:52

Scene “The one and only cereal”

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

3:37

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

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

2:28

Tag #2 “Watch it! Watch out!”

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

2:25

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

Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, Kent Nagano, Lucas Meachem

2:01

Aria “Dear loved ones” & Laughing Chorus

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

2:32

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

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

4:25

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

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

3:56

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

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

5:26

Leonard Bernstein

Composer
Kent Nagano

Conductor
Gordon Bintner

Baritone
Joseph Kaiser

Tenor
Steven Humes

Bass

Martin Sauer

Producer
Carl Talbot

Associate Producer
Christopher Johns

Recording Engineer
Nicola Lombardo

Assistant Recording Engineer
Martin Sauer

Recording Engineer
Jack Kelly

Assistant Recording Engineer
Stéphane Brochu

Assistant Recording Engineer
Edwin Garth Sunderland

Editing Engineer