Les Enfants Terribles

Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
In January 1997 Michael Riesman and Kurt Munkacsi produced the stunning recording of Les Enfants Terribles. The piece was written for three pianos and four singers. Philip Glass, Nelson Padgett and Eleanor Sandresky played the pianos. The singers include Christine Arand, soprano, Philip Cutlip, bass-baritone, Hal Cazalet, tenor and Valerie Komar, mezzo soprano. The recording sessions were conducted by Karen Kemensek.

Album Description
Dancers and singers shared the stage in Les Enfants Terribles, the final installment of Philip Glass’ trilogy, was based on the work of Jean Cocteau. Articulating Cocteau’s belief in the transcendent power of imagination and creativity, Les Enfants is the story of Paul and Lise, two characters so caught up in a world of their own imaginings that they can no longer see a reality beyond their "game." The singers, along with eight dancers, alternately and, at times, together portrayed the action.

Tracks:

Scene 1 Les Enfants Terribles Overture
Scene 2 Paul Is Dying
Scene 3 A Snowball
Scene 4 Two Halves Of The Same Body
Scene 5 He Didn't Say Goodbye
Scene 6 The Somnambulist
Scene 7 She Slapped Me
Scene 8a They Lived Their Dream
Scene 8b And Then Leave
Scene 9 Call Me Elisabeth
Scene 10,11 Crisscross Pattern

Tracks:

Scene 11A Terrible Interlude
Scene 12 Unaware Of Its Taboos
Scene 13 One Wheel Spinning
Scene 14a,b Cocoon Of Shawls
Scene 15 Lost
Scene 16 He Wrote His Own Name
Scene 17 Are You In Love, Agathe?
Scene 18 From Dargelos
Scene 19 She Took The Path
Scene 20 Paul's End

Album Description

Dancers and singers shared the stage in Les Enfants Terribles, the final installment of Philip Glass' trilogy, was based on the work of Jean Cocteau. Articulating Cocteau's belief in the transcendent power of imagination and creativity, Les Enfants is the story of Paul and Lise, two characters so caught up in a world of their own imaginings that they can no longer see a reality beyond their "game." The singers, along with eight dancers, alternately and, at times, together portrayed the action.

Customer Reviews:

A hit - from a hit and miss composer.......2007-07-03

I've seen this piece three times and suffice it to say, walked away equally impressed every time. Philip Glass is no doubt a talented composer, but as is all too obvious, writes a great many compositions in which he phones in his efforts. This work is different and belongs in any serious music collection. Scored for piano only, the music soars above the ordinary to explore musical textures and rhythms in a changing and sonorous fashion. Story and sound fuse together and on whole, delight the listener in a work of art that is both entertaining and revelatory.

LOVE IT!.......2006-04-23

I LOVE this recording. It's very Romantic, revealing an aspect of Glass' music that is often overlooked. One of his finest works. And you must hear the 4 hand version with Dennis Russell Davies, just as superb!

exquisite.......2006-02-04

Quite possibly one of Glass's finest theater works ever. A near perfect blend of text and music-- the almost symphonic sounds he manages to achieve with just 3 pianos is mind boggling. This piece must have been thrilling to experience live; but this recording does it more than justice. (Side note: there is a piano suite of this available on "Music 4 Hands"-- a pale and sadly, almost amateur rendering of this music.)

The Perfect Marriage of Text and Music: Glass' Finest Opera to Date.......2005-10-27

Listening to this stunning recording of Philip Glass' chamber opera 'Les Infants Terribles' is not only a wholly satisfying musical and dramatic experience, it makes one long to see the opera in performance. This is the third work in the Jean Cocteau triptych ('La Belle et la Bete', 'Orphee', 'Les Infants Terribles') and if ever there was a perfect match between author/concept and music, this is it. Those familiar with the Cocteau films will remember the bizarre, surreal symbolism he managed to make visual and it is that same surreal atmosphere that Glass captures in this final work.

Scored for three pianos, four singers/speakers, and eight dancers, this opera has some of Glass' finest writing. The 'orchestra' of pianos (brilliantly played here by Philip Glass, Nelson Padgett and Eleanor Sandresky) is just the right counterpart for the small cast who recreate the strange tale of Paul and Lise, the characters who dwell in a world so imagined that the real world is far outside of their 'game'. Singers Christine Arand, soprano, Philip Cutlip, bass-baritone, Hal Cazalet, tenor and Valerie Komar, mezzo soprano both speak and sing, the spoken word is in English and serves as a Greek Chorus and the singing is in French: they are superb. Apparently in performance the dancers interact with the singers to create an action tableaux, but that of course is left to the imagination in a recording.

The fault some find with Glass' music is one of becoming tired because of the minimalist repetition of the music. That fault is simply not an issue in this brilliant piece; every note, every word both sung and spoken is so terse and correct with the beauty of the piano orchestra that the 100 minute opera seems to speed by. This is a brilliant little work. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, October 05

Astounding !.......2005-09-13

I had my doubts about buying this CD, I had to make a choice between Orion and Les Enfants Terribles. Finally I settled for this recording.

It's truly amazing how Philip Glass can create such incredible works in between his more mediocre compositions.
Although it might sound lame, 3 pianos and 4 voices, the opera is just as complete and compelling as any of his previous great works (Akhnaten or Satyagraha). It is easier to listen and much more creative.

The piano composition is just SUPERB, with delicious themes and incredible coherence of music and voices. It is NEVER boring and always new. This is not your typical minimalistic stuff.

I really can't understand the story correctly, even with the booklet. Problably I should get the movie, it should explain a lot of things. Yet, this is a opera that you will treasure and will like to hear over and over again.

One of Philip Glass's best CDs. Get it ! You won't regret it !

Philip Glass; Seteve Reich Music 4 Hands

Average customer rating:

ADORE IT!
Another Great CD
Glass on piano is always good

Philip Glass; Seteve Reich Music 4 Hands

Manufacturer: Orange Mountain Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Philip Glass : Symphony No. 8
Symphony No. 6, Plutonian Ode
Philip Glass : The Voyage: An Opera in Three Acts
Philip Glass: The Concerto Project, Vol. 2
The Illusionist

ASIN: B000BIT9XK
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

Piano Phase
Overture
The bedroom
Paul Sleepwalking
Snow Falling in the Playground
Elizabeth Choose a Career
Death of the Twins/Finale

Album Description

The Orange Mountain Music release "Music 4 Hands" is a collection of new recordings on dual pianos performed by Dennis Russell Davies and Maki Namekawa. The compositions are "Six Scenes from Les Enfants Terribles" for two pianos based on the original opera by Philip Glass as well as a Steve Reich's "Piano Phase". "Music 4 Hands" debuts these new arrangements by Dennis Russell Davies and Maki Namekawa.

Philip and Steve Reich were leaders of a new music revolution in New York City in the 1960´s and 70´s that included Terry Riley, Lamonte Young, and Meredith Monk. In the years since then their careers and music have greatly diverged, and it is rewarding to find a new record that celebrates them both.

Maki Namekawa is one of the young musicians who is introducing new works into the mainstream of German concert activity. As a soloist and a chamber musician equally at home in classical music and contemporary repertoire, Ms. Namekawa appears regularly at major concert venues in Japan and Europe.

Dennis Russell Davies is the chief conductor of the Bruckner Orchestra Linz and the Landestheater Linz, as well as chief conductor of the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra. His range of activities include conductor, pianist, and chamber musician. All Davies' talents are characterized by a very broad repertoire ranging from Baroque to very modern, all with an intense commitment to the composers of our time.

Customer Reviews:

ADORE IT!.......2006-04-23

I LOVE the opera recording, so I was afraid that the 2 piano arrangement might be a little too sparse...but I ADORE this version. All the inner voices of Glass' music are brought out and in the end, just like with the opera, I am very moved. Glass is a Romatic at heart, and this version like the opera recording shows it. .

Another Great CD.......2006-02-02

I disagree with the previous reviewers comments in that there are NO STRINGS on this CD.
It features two seminal works by two important composers of our day: Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
This recording of Reich's Piano Phase is poignant! The performances are flawless and the recording is wonderful.

The transcription of a suite of instrumental music from Glass' LES ENFANTS TERRIBLES is wonderful. Davies and Namekawa, the pianists, have made an effective transcription of the original 3 piano-part Glass opera, to 2 piano/4 hand instrumental suite.
It's really wonderful, especially the Sleepwalking music.

Just FANTASTIC!

Glass on piano is always good.......2005-11-28

If you like Philip Glass and the sound of pure piano then this recording is worth listening to - its that simple. Davies is a well known conductor and pianist in most classical music circles, and he plays with the central pianist in his own orchestra - so they both understand each other very well.
This makes the dual piano approach work out in the end, and Reichs piano phase gets the treatment it demands and frankly deserves.

Average customer rating:

Ferrat (63-64)

Manufacturer: Disques Temey
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00004UOXE

Tracks:

Nuit Et Brouillard
A Brassens
Les Enfants Terribles
Toujours La Meme G
Saint Canaille
C'est Beau La Vie
Quatre Cents Enfants Noirs
De Nogent Jusqu'a La Mer
Horizontalement
Nous Dormirons Ensemble
La Montagne
Autant D'amour Autant De Fleurs
Tu Ne M'as Jamais Quitte
Les Beaux Jours
Le Jour Ou Je Deviendrai Gros
Que Serais-Je Sans Toi
La Jeunnesse
Berceuse
Hourrah
Au Bout De Mon Age

Album Details

Second Part of the Compilation of this Controversial French Singers Output of the Early 60's. Includes 'nuit Et Brouillard', 'la Montagne' and Many Others...