FLESH and STONE: Songs by Jake Heggie a new CD for the benefit of CLASSICAL ACTION

SOME AUDIO EXCERPTS from "FLESH and STONE":
I. from WINTER ROSES (Tracks 1-3): a cycle of seven songs based on poems (by CHARLENE BALDRIDGE, RAYMOND CARVER, EMILY DICKINSON, and FREDERICA VON STADE) that recall a winter's journed to overcome the loss of loved one who has died too young and too soon; commissioned by RICHARD and LUCI JANSSEN for mezzo-soprano FREDERICA VON STADE.	"To My Dad" - track 1 - sung by FREDERICA VON STADE with lyrics written by herself, a reconciliation addressed to her own father who was killed during World War II before she was born.
II. from STATUESQUE (Tracks 4-8): a cycle of five songs with poetry by GENE SCHEER; commissioned the UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS at LAWRENCE for mezzo-soprano JOYCE CASTLE. The idea for the cycle came about when HEGGIE friend, the "statuesque" JANICE MAYER, asked him to write a song for her. The cycle is HEGGIE's first creative collaboration with SCHEER.  Their songs breathe life into the five great statues that inspired SCHEER's poetry: HENRY MOORE's "Reclining Figure in Elmwood", PABLO PICASSO's "Bust of Marie-Thérèse", the Egyptian Hatshepsut, ALBERTO GIACOMETTI's "Standing Woman", and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.	"Henry Moore: Reclining Figure in Elmwood" - track 4 - sung by JOYCE CASTLE inspired by HENRY MOORE's sculpture (middle sculpture in collage above). "Picasso: Head of a Woman 1932" - track 5 - sung by JOYCE CASTLE inspired by PABLO PICASSO 's bust of his mistress Marie-Thérèse (rightmost image in collage above).
III. from THE DEEPEST DESIRE (Tracks 9-14): a cycle of songs with lyrics by HEGGIE friend and collaborator, SISTER HELEN PREJEAN, comprised of a series of reflections that traces her own internal, spiritual journey; composed in 2002 for mezzo-soprano SUSAN GRAHAM and flutist EUGENIA ZUKERMAN on commission by BRAVO! VAIL VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL.	"Love" - track 11 - sung by ZHENG CAO, with EUGENIA ZUKERMAN (flute) a song about friendship, "the best love of all". [Also recorded by mezzo-soprano JOYCE DIDONATO, image of the CD album "THE DEEPEST DESIRE" shown in collage above.]
IV. from THE STARRY NIGHT (Tracks 15-18): a cycle of seven songs inspired by VINCENT VAN GOGH's painting of the same title (background image in collage above), and commissioned by EVOLUTIONS IN SONG for mezzo-soprano KRISTINE JEPSON and pianist JOHN CHURCHWELL. The painting holds special significance for HEGGIE because his father painted a copy of it shortly before he took his own life in 1972 when HEGGIE was 10 years old. Today the copy hangs above HEGGIE's piano. He was inspired to write the song cycle when he discovered a poem by ANNE SEXTON that was inspired by the same painting at the same time that he was reading VAN GOGH's letters.	"The Starry Night" - track 15 - sung by MARY PHILLIPS, with JAKE HEGGIE (piano) The musical language of this first song in the cycle that is essentially "an internal discussion of life and death" serves as the foundation for the rest of the songs.

CLICK HERE to BUY the CD - available for purchase only at the CLASSICAL ACTION store.

On Sunday, February 17 mezzo-soprano FREDERICA VON STADE and composer JAKE HEGGIE will perform in a private house concert in Houston, Texas to benefit Bering Omega Community Services and Classical Action.

ON COMPOSING     MOBY DICK     3 DECEMBERS    FLESH AND STONE     STATUE OF VENUS    DISCOGRAPHY

    DEAD MAN WALKING:     PREMIERE      THE MAKING OF     ON CD       ON SISTER PREJEAN

VIDEO: SEEKING HIGHER GROUND      TO HELL AND BACK      MASTER TEACHER-SONGFEST     DREAMWORKS

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