Commissioned by George Balanchine’s Ballet Society, The Minotaur is an exploration of the neo-classical style that marked the last traditional narrative Carter composed. It is joined on this album by settings of two poems by Robert Frost and the Piano Sonata, together illuminating the composer’s oft-overlooked early works; the details of these early pieces are at once complex, immediately graspable, and immensely powerful.
Commissioned by George Balanchine’s Ballet Society, The Minotaur is an exploration of the neo-classical style that marked the last traditional narrative Carter composed. It is joined on this album by settings of two poems by Robert Frost and the Piano Sonata, together illuminating the composer’s oft-overlooked early works; the details of these early pieces are at once complex, immediately graspable, and immensely powerful.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced and engineered by Max Wilcox
Recorded December 6, 1988 at the Manhattan Center, New York City
Tracks 18, 19 produced by Teresa Sterne
Engineering and musical production: Max Wilcox
Recorded December, 1987 at the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, New York City
Digital Engineering: MacDonald Moore
20, 21 produced and engineered by Max Wilcox
Recorded August, 1982 at RCA Studio A, New York City
Composed by Elliott Carter; texts (18, 19) by Robert Frost
Art direction and design: John William Costa
Photograph by Don Hunstein
Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz
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MUSICIANS
New York Chamber Symphony of the 92nd Street Y (1-17)
Gerard Schwarz, conductor
Jan DeGaetani, mezzo-soprano (18, 19)
Gilbert Kalish, piano (18, 19)
Paul Jacobs, piano (20, 21)
