David Del Tredici: An Alice Symphony in Helsinki
(July 2000)
David Del Tredici travelled to Finland in March for the first complete European performance of An Alice Symphony, part of a major feature on American music at the Helsinki Musica Nova festival. Soprano Anu Komsi spectacularly navigated the demanding solo role, accompanied by the Finnish Radio Orchestra conducted by Ernest Martinez Izquierdo.
Del Tredici composed An Alice Symphony in 1969, launching a 15-year period in which the works of Lewis Caroll provided a central focus to his output. However the technical demands meant that no orchestra took up the gauntlet to perform the symphony at that time, prompting the composer to divide the symphony into a number of constituent works. It was with Oliver Knussen’s revival and first performance of the complete work at the Tanglewood Festival in 1991 that the rediscovered viability of the complete 40-minute version was proven. A recording conducted by Knussen was released in 1995 (CRI 688), attracting glowing reviews and claims for the work’s classic status within American 20th century music. The recent performance in Helsinki was enthusiastically received by press and public alike, affirming An Alice Symphony as one of Del Tredici’s finest achievements.
"Del Trecidi creates the fantasy world not only by colourful orchestration but also by elements unusual in the symphony orchestra. The soprano soloist sings and shouts through a megaphone, and her voice is projected by electronic means. Sometimes sirens are heard, sometimes the Theremin, in a way which seems to refer more to the home city of the composer, the urban New York, than to the Wonderland of Alice. The magical atmosphere was mainly created by a group of folk instruments including two saxophones, mandolin, banjo and accordion. The soundworld changes from market noises to lullabies, from a limping folk dance and waltz to grand orchestral clamour, from the soprano’s shouts to the roars of tubas and double basses. Yet, despite the high volume levels, the overall effect of the work is luminous." Helsingin Sanomat
"The work includes delightful and rare tone combinations for symphony orchestra (including accordion, mandolin and saxophone), with plenty of wild, rhythmical action but also delightful parts referring to the dream world. The role of the commentator representing various characters holds a central role in the work. Anu Komsi is an expert vocally and in terms of characterisation. It was glorious to follow her wild repetitions, tone colours and sheer joy in performing. In this symphony the road to victory does not go through shadowlands." Aamulehti, Helsinki
Recent works by Del Tredici include his toothsome tale of seduction, Dracula, for soprano/narrator and ensemble, which received its Canadian premiere in Winnipeg in March. Ongoing projects include the completion of Gay Life, an orchestral song-cycle to be premiered in 2001 by the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas.
> Further information on Work: An Alice Symphony
Photo: © Marjori
> News Search
Mailing List
Sign up for news updates and offers via email
SIGN UPFeatured Publication
Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Mussorgsky's famous work in Ravel's technicolour orchestration is included in the Masterworks Library of full scores, ideal for conductors, students and music lovers.
READ MORECompetitions
