Danielpour: Darkness in the Ancient Valley, Lacrimae Beati A Woman's Life Nashville Symphony & Giancarlo Guerrero / Pacific Chorale

• 1 I. Lamentation 04:31
• 2 II. Desecration 04:03
• 3 III. Benediction 10:49
• 4 IV. Profanation 03:49
• 5 V. Finale Consecration 12:42
• 6 Lacrimae Beati 11:12
• 7 I. Little Girl Speakings 03:20
• 8 II. Life Doesn t Frighten Me 03:20
• 9 III. They Went Home 02:48
• 10 IV. Come and Be My Baby 02:43
• 11 V. Let s Majeste 03:48
• 12 VI. My Life Has Turned to Blue 03:21
• 13 VII. Many and More 03:26
• Total Runtime 01:09:52

Info for Danielpour: Darkness in the Ancient Valley, Lacrimae Beati A Woman's Life

Darkness is a five-movement symphony, in which Danielpour explores aspects of his Persian heritage, confronted by the troubled recent history of Iran. The work follows a powerful dramatic arc, in which prayerful lament alternates with stark aggression, conflict and frantic activity. The work's long, ornate melodies, derived from Persian folk music, seamlessly blend with Danielpour's customary rich neo-romantic idiom. The last movement is a beautiful setting of a poem by Rumi, achingly serene in the face of violence and falling shadows. Lacrimae beati is a somber, sometimes agitated yet ultimately consoling tribute to Mozart, based on material from the Lacrimosa of his Requiem and inspired by some experiences of Danielpour's to which Mozart's last work provided a kind of backdrop. A Woman's Life sets a cycle of poems by Maya Angelou, eloquently and evocatively charting a childhood to deathbed trajectory. Danielpour here achieves a Bernsteinian blend of the colloquial and the most emotionally charged romanticism, vividly matching the texts' moods and resonances.

Since 2000, the Nashville Symphony has released more than 20 recordings, and it has a unique resource in the resonant acoustics of its concert hall, which is located just around the corner from Nashville’s legendary honky-tonks. As a part of the rich cultural mix in the world-famous Music City, the orchestra has also developed a special focus on contemporary American repertoire. This will be the third time that it has recorded the music of Richard Danielpour, a New York-based composer whose distinctive voice places him in the company of such American greats as Copland, Bernstein and Barber. The orchestra’s upcoming Naxos release will also include Danielpour’s Lacrimae Beati and Darkness in the Ancient Valley, the latter a Nashville Symphony commission.

“The Symphony’s commitment to performing and recording new works is key to energizing new audiences, and it’s an integral part of the culture here in Nashville,” says Nashville Symphony Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero. “With our orchestra located in the heart of Music City, with its abundance of musicians, songwriters and recording professionals, we’re able to tap into that energy to cross musical boundaries, lending a distinctly American — and a distinctly Nashvillian — nuance to our music.”

Lured by dynamic concert programming that spotlights such composers as John Adams, John Corigliano and Terry Riley, the Nashville Symphony’s growing audience ranges from hip young rockers and die-hard country fans to avid classical music listeners who’ve memorized every note of Beethoven’s Fifth. All anticipate hearing new music presented in eclectic combinations at Schermerhorn Symphony Center, such as this month’s pairing of Danielpour with Rachmaninoff’s legendary Third Piano Concerto.

Music City’s unique synergy has also yielded a fertile partnership between the Nashville Symphony and Naxos, the world’s leading classical music label, which is headquartered in the nearby town of Franklin, Tennessee. That relationship has resulted in nearly 20 recordings over the past 12 years, which together have earned seven GRAMMY® Awards and 14 GRAMMY® nominations.

'The Symphony’s commitment to performing and recording new works is key to energizing new audiences, and it’s an integral part of the culture here in Nashville,” says Nashville Symphony Music Director Giancarlo Guerrero.

Hila Plitmann, soprano
Nashville Symphony
Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor

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Booklet for Danielpour: Darkness in the Ancient Valley, Lacrimae Beati A Woman's Life