Release

Shadowtime - Brian Ferneyhough

NMC D123

Brian Ferneyhough's vision of a philosopher in the Underworld

Described as a "thought opera", Brian Ferneyhough's Shadowtime sets Charles Bernstein's inventive and complex libretto based on the work, life and imagined death of philosopher and cultural critic Walter Benjamin: it includes a movement for a speaking pianist - Opus contra naturam, the opera's fourth scene - a guitar concerto (Scene II) and ends in an ethereal haze of voices and electronics, Stelae for Failed Time. The performers, all internationally known for their commitment to contemporary music, are:

Nicolas Hodges piano/ reciter
Mats Scheidegger guitar
Jurjen Hempel conductor
Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart
Nieuw Ensemble

More about Shadowtime

Shadowtime was recorded in collaboration with BBC Radio 3 and English National Opera at the London Coliseum production in July 2005; this release has been made possible by funding from Stanford University and the Holst Foundation.

"Listening on disc reveals unsuspected beauty in the unparalleled stylistic complexity." - Paul Driver, The Sunday Times

"This performance is certainly a success — as is NMC’s presentation" Gramophone

"This inventive score, vividly performed under Jurjen Hempel, amply rewards exploration" The Observer

"This is the best possible recording of Shadowtime" that one could wish for and with a clarity of detail within all aspects of the performance that aids understanding more of the libretto than anticipated: not just the fantastic rhythmic narration of that extraordinary pianist Nicolas Hodges, but the complex vocal settings."
Classical Source 2006

Released: 2006
Total Time: 2'06'44

Tracklist
Composers on this Release

Tracklist

Disc 1

1	Nicolas Hodges, piano/ Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Jurjen Hempel, conductor	Scene I: New Angels/ Transient Failures (Prologue)	20'39
2	Mats Scheidegger, guitar/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Jurjen Hempel, conductor	Scene II: Les Froissements d'Ailes de Gabriel (First Barrier)	17'23
3	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: The Doctrine of Similarity (13 Canons): Amphibolies I (Walk Slowly)	2'12
4	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Dust to Dusk	1'25
5	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Cannot Cross	2'45
6	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Indissolubility (Motetus absconditus)	2'10
7	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Amphibolies II (Noon)	4'30
8	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: In the Dark (But Even Fire Is Light)	2'07
9	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Sometimes	2'32
10	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Anagrammatica	0'34
11	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: dew and die	1'40
12	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Schein	1'20
13	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Dusts to Dusks	2'21
14	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Amphibolies III (Pricks)	1'25
15	NVS/ Nieuw Ens./ Hempel	Scene III: Salute	1'31

Disc 2

1	Nicolas Hodges, piano & narration	Scene IV: Opus Contra Naturam (Descent of Benjamin into the Underworld): I - Untitled	2'27
2	Nicolas Hodges	Scene IV: Opus Contra Naturam: II - Katabasis	11'26
3	Nicolas Hodges	Scene IV: Opus Contra Naturam: III - Kataplexy	2'53
4	Nieuw Ensemble/ Jurjen Hempel, conductor	Scene V: Pools of Darkness (11 Interrogations): Three Giant Mouths	2'14
5	Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Headless Ghoul	1'40
6	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Karl Marx and Groucho Marx, with Kerberus	2'07
7	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Pope Pius XII	1'03
8	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Joan of Arc	1'32
9	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Baal Shem Tov Disguised as Vampire	2'21
10	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Adolf Hitler	1'22
11	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Albert Einstein	1'37
12	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Border Guard	0'56
13	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Four Furies	1'30
14	NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene V: Golem	1'42
15	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: Seven Tableaux Vivants Representing the Angel of History as Melancholia (Second Barrier): Laurel's Eyes (after Heine's	1'31
16	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: Tensions	1'08
17	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: Hashish in Marseilles	1'22
18	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: After Heine's	1'27
19	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: One and a Half Truths	1'42
20	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: Can'ts	1'01
21	Hodges/ NVS/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Hempel	Scene VI: Madame Moiselle and Mr. Moiselle	5'06
22	Neue Vocalsolisten Stuttgart/ Nieuw Ensemble/ Jurjen Hempel, conductor	22 Scene VII: Stelae for Failed Time (Solo for Melancholia as the	13'43

Composers on this Release

• Ferneyhough, Brian