The Passion of Scrooge or a Christmas Carol
The Passion of Scrooge or a Christmas Carol
Washington, DC
Performed by the 20th Century Consort conducted by Christopher Kendall and featuring William Sharp, baritone, this recording presents Jon Deak's brilliantly inventive music, bringing Dickens' beloved masterpiece into vivid and delightful relief.
William Sharp's irresistible voice and astonishing ability to portray multiple characters create a portrait not only of Scrooge's crusty exterior, but also of his inner psychological turmoil. Already in live performance, this work has shown itself utterly engaging to children, teenagers and adults of all ages.
Conceived as a crossover of concert drama, opera and radio play, a distinctive feature of Deak's style is the dramatic role of the instrumentalists. All ten players step virtuosically to "stage front", actually embodying the story's characters such as Cratchit, Marley and the Christmas Ghosts.
An extraordinary dimension of this recording is the innovative conception of recording engineer and sound designer Curt Wittig. Recorded in surround sound and incorporating subtle, scene-suggestive sound effects, this recording will delight the audiophile as well as the music-loving public. Three-dimensional stereograms by artist Preston Wright are also included to bring Scrooge to life using Victorian technology.
WASHINGTON POST
"Deak's thorough retelling of 'A Christmas Carol' is a marvel of musical ingenuity...it was one of the most vivid and memorable concerts I have attended...." "Deak has taken up the story of Scrooge with zest, vigor and the kind of narrative skill that has won him a substantial and devoted audience in Washington." - Joseph McLellan
AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE
"The dramatic compositions of bassist Jon Deak inhabit an original world of their own. This is his longest piece to date. It is a sensitive retelling of the Dickens story, told by Scrooge himself, with assistance from Marley (also portrayed by the omnipresent Sharp) and the members of the orchestra whose musical lines comment on the action, and who also make some vocal contributions. This works well. Deak reports that it took a long time to come to the conclusion that other characters would inevitably be there to criticize Scrooge, while the change that takes place in him really comes from inside himself. Sharp performs his difficult role, part sung, part spoken, with total conviction and enthusiasm; and the orchestra, as usual in Deak's pieces, comments with commitment and clarity. There is something special about the blend of elements in Deak's compositions. He has taste and a gift for meaningful gestures worthy of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and infinitely superior to most other examples of the genre. This would make a fascinating Christmas gift. The notes, by the way, contain pictures of the action that one may see in 3D by crossing ones eyes sufficiently. I couldn't do it, but maybe you'll have better luck." - Moore
PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE
"Somewhere between a musical composition and an audio book, a tremendously engaging work of theater and music." - Andy Druckenbrod
MUSIC AND VISION
"William Sharp rose to the role of Scrooge with magnificent zest and skill." "... a kind of hi-tech radio play… the nine instruments of the excellent 20th Century Consort… Baritone William Sharp, in a skillful spoken and sung role, plays all the characters." - Keith Bramich
