The Oresteia

A memory theatre (opera) in seven parts based on Aeschlus' drama. For soprano, contralto, contralto, male soprano, tenor, baritone, 11 instruments and dancer Music by Liza LIM, text devised by Liza LIM and Barrie KOSKY. Recorded by the original cast of the 1993 ELISION/Treason of Images production of The Oresteia. Dischi Ricordi CRMCD 1030 Total timing 48:52 Released 1994

Critical Acclaim

WINNER of the 1996 Sounds Australian Award Best CD by an Australian Ensemble

Using the most economical of performing forces--a mere six singers and 11 instrumentalists, Lim evokes the full horror of situation after grisly situation to immense effect. The aural fabric she weaves is fascinating for its slithery knack of traversing back and forth across the razor's edge between comprehensibly articulated text and purely musical means of expression. The wonderful thing about this piece, though, is its quite amazing clarity of expression: every syllable that is meant to be heard and comprehended can be; not a smidgin of sound is wasted.

 . . .  Carefully chosen words and phrases seep through to the surface to register their full measure of horror, anguish, or joy; the cumulative effect is to underscore the tragedy of the saga quite grippingly. In every sense of the word, this is a superlative team effort: Liza Lim's Oresteia is musically fascinating, dramatically gripping, and is captured with impeccable focus and great clarity on this CD release.

Anyone interested in experiencing state of the art music theatre as it exists in this country just now ought to acquire it post haste.

--David GYGER, OPERA AUSTRALASIA February 1996

Performers and Production

Jeannie van de VELDE soprano, Julie EDWARDSON mezzo soprano, Deborah KAYSER mezzo soprano, Andrew MUSCAT-CLARK male soprano, Tyrone LANDAU tenor, Grant SMITH baritone

Paula RAE piccolo/alto flute, Jane ROBERTSON clarinet/bass clarinet, Stephen ROBINSON oboe/cor anglais, Andrew EVANS trumpet/piccolo trumpet, Brett KELLY trombone, Cassandra AZZARO Turkish Baglama Saz, Daryl BUCKLEY electric guitar, Jennifer CURL viola/viola d'amore, Rosanne HUNT violoncello, Joan WRIGHT contrabass, Peter NEVILLE percussion

Sandro GORLI conductor

Richard BARRETT producer, Jim ATKINS engineer, Michael COSTA additional engineering, Peter McCALLUM cover note, G. RICORDI, Milano publisher

Recorded 31 May to 1 June 1993, Dallas Brooks Hall, Melbourne. Released by DISCHI RICORDI, Milano, 1994. CRMCD 1030. Total timing 48:52 (DDD).