アースサイクル

デヴィッド・ゴードン参加!オーケストラ・オヴ・ザ・スワンと共に環境問題に焦点を当てる。

「タイムラプス」(SIGCD662)、「ラビリンス」(SIGCD694)とこれまでも古楽から現代音楽、ポップスを交えたジャンルレスなスタイルで幅広いリスナーに画期的な音楽を提供してきたオーケストラ・オヴ・ザ・スワン&デイヴィッド・ル・ページによる2024年の新作は、イギリスのハープシコード奏者兼ジャズ・ピアノ奏者、デヴィッド・ゴードンを迎えて行われたプロジェクト。ヴィヴァルディの《四季》を軸に、デヴィッド・ゴードンによるオリジナルの楽曲と季節のテーマに関連した伝承曲が組み合わされ、21世紀最大の関心事である私たちが自然に及ぼす影響や環境破壊について改めて考察します。
東京エムプラス

The Orchestra of the Swan has released innovative thematic albums in the past, and Earthcycle is one of its most ambitious. It entails not only this album but also a film, videos for schoolchildren, live performances with relevant sound design and lighting, and a podcast with environmental activist George Monbiot. That is probably to the good, for the music on the album by itself doesnt strongly connect with its stated theme of climate change. The pieces do relate to the seasons of the year, and the program is built around the most famous such piece of all the Four Seasons violin concertos of Vivaldi. These receive clean performances, with solo violinist and conductor David Le Page and an active harpsichord continuo from David Gordon. Framing the Four Seasons are folk songs arranged by Le Page and vocalist Jackie Oates and contemporary works by Gordon that also address the seasons and quote a variety of materials. The folk songs may be the strongest things here, with hauntingly deadpan performances by Oates and a chilly feel to the arrangements that comes closest to evoking the albums deeper, more disturbing themes. Certainly, listeners in search of a Four Seasons different from the common run should check this release out; it landed on classical best-seller lists in early 2024. ~ James Manheim