PEGGY GLANVILLE-HICKS (1912-1990): Sappho.

Description: Commissioned by the Ford Foundation for the San Francisco Opera, Glanville-Hicks' last stage work was rejected by Kurt Herbert Adler in 1963 for the reason which most of us will find its most attractive aspect: its "abundant use of modal tonality". The composer's life-long interest in, first, Indian and then, after her move to Greece in 1959, Greek musical systems and traditional melodic idioms finds here an attempt to capture her impression of the colors of ancient Greece with heroic brass fanfares and epic writing for chorus on the one hand and haunting woodwind solos and shimmering percussion (evoking the stillness of island waters) on the other. The work was never heard before this recording, finished just five months ago as I write, for which the complete score was edited from Glanville-Hicks' piano score and orchestral score - both handwritten. 2 CDs for the price of 1. Libretto included. Deborah Polaski (soprano), Martin Homrich, Scott MacAllister (tenors), Roman Trekel (baritone), John Tomlinson (bass), Coro Gulbenkian, Orquestra Gulbenkian; Jennifer Condon.