“Understated and acutely sensitive work from Areyazga and Deas, and expert musicianship from the chorus and orchestra. Dona Nobis Pacem is music that’s hard to forget -…. This recording is a fine and most welcome revival.” —Jon Sobel – Seattle Pi, Nov 19, 2018
Richmond Symphony’s first commercial recording, on the highly respected Reference Recordings label. The recording pairs the world premiere of Mason Bates’ Children of Adam (commissioned by the Richmond Symphony for its 60th anniversary) and Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, where Areyzaga can be heard. Both works utilize poetry of Walt Whitman (among others), appropriate in this bicentennial of his birth, and also feature the Richmond Symphony Chorus.
Michelle Areyzaga, soprano, Kevin Deas, bass-baritone,
with the Richmond Symphony Chorus, Erin R. Freeman, choral director, and Steven Smith, conductor.
CHILDREN OF ADAM (Mason Bates)
1 I. “From Pent-Up Aching Rivers” (from Children of Adam, Walt Whitman)
2 II. Psalms 144 & 128
3 III. “I Sing the Body Electric” (from Children of Adam, Walt Whitman)
4 IV. Tolepe Menenak (“Turtle Island,” from the Algonquian) (Mataponi Indians of Virginia, as told by Sharon Sun Eagle, dictated by Hope Armstrong Erb)
5 V. “Prayers of Steel” & “Smoke and Steel” (Carl Sandburg)
6 VI. from The Book of Genesis
7. VII. from “To the Garden, the World” (from Children of Adam, Walt Whitman)
DONA NOBIS PACEM (Ralph Vaughan Williams)
8 I. Agnus Dei
9 II. Beat! beat! drums! (Walt Whitman)
10 III. Reconciliation (Walt Whitman)
11 IV. Dirge for Two Veterans (Walt Whitman)
12 V. The Angel of Death (John Bright)
13 VI. ‘O man greatly beloved‘
Michelle Areyzaga, soprano
Kevin Deas, bass-baritone
Richmond Symphony & Chorus
Choral Director: Erin R. Freeman
Conductor: Steven Smith
Producers: Ed Thompson, Victor, and Marina A. Ledin
Engineer: Ed Thompson
Recorded live at the Carpenter Theatre, Dominion Energy Center, Richmond Virginia