NEW RECORDING OF PHILIP GLASS’ EPIC ORATORIO, “THE PASSION OF RAMAKRISHNA”—PERFORMED BY PACIFIC SYMPHONY—SET FOR RELEASE SEPT. 4
Orange Mountain Music is at last releasing the large-scale Philip Glass’ tour de force, “The Passion of Ramakrishna,” performed by Pacific Symphony under Music Director Carl St.Clair. The work also features Pacific Chorale and world-class soloists Christópheren Nomura, baritone; Janice Chandler-Eteme, soprano; and Kevin Deas, bass-baritone. The majestic 45-minute piece was co-commissioned in 2006 by Pacific Symphony (with the Nashville Symphony) and received its world premiere at the gala opening of the orchestra’s home, the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. Regarded as one of America’s pre-eminent living composers, Glass was the focus of the Symphony’s 11th American Composers Festival (ACF) in 2011—dubbed “The Passion of Philip Glass”—where Maestro St.Clair revived the symphonic tribute to the 19th century Indian spiritual leader for four performances. It was during this period that the recording took place, making it the first such commercial venture in the concert hall.
The CD is now available for pre-order at Amazon. The iTunes release, scheduled for the same day, features a bonus track of the Symphony performing “Meetings Along the Edge” from “Passages,” a 1990 collaboration between Glass and Ravi Shankar, with each having written arrangements around themes created by the other. The piece was also part of the repertoire presented at ACF 2011.
