Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Mechavich - Floyd: Wuthering Heights (2016) [Hi-Res]

Carlisle Floyd's operas are among the most frequently performed works by living American opera composers, but four of his seminal
operas have never been commercially released. "Wuthering Heights" was first performed by the Santa Fe Opera Company in 1958, but
has not been recorded to date. With the participation of the composer himself as an artistic consultant, this premiere recording of the Florence Opera was made in January.
2015 at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center for the Arts in Brookfield, Wisconsin. Conductor Joseph Mechavich and soprano Georgia Jarman participated in the recording.
(Katie), baritone Kelly Margrave (Heathcliff), soprano Heather Buck (Isabella), tenor Vale Rideout (Edgar), tenor Chad Shelton (Hindley), mezzo-soprano Suzanne Mentzer
(Nelly), tenor Frank Kelly (Joseph), Florence Opera Chorus and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Reference Recordings is proud to present
this exceptional recording.
CEO William Florescu states: "This is a unique and exciting recording of the Florence Opera. Carlisle Floyd's "Wuthering Heights," an undeservedly
forgotten American gem, made its world premiere recording debut in Florence. It was an honor to welcome Carlisle Floyd, who
led this exceptional creative team and shaped the concert and recording. Noel Stallmack (conductor), Joseph Mechavich (conductor
Florentine productions of La Traviata in 2013 and Carlisle Floyd's Susanna in 2012), Blanton Alspaug and John Newton, as well as all sound engineers and
recording specialists from SoundMirror, combined their talents to bring this premiere recording and concert to life — for a live audience and the whole world."
Carlisle Floyd, who turned 90 in June 2016, continues to create new operas (his latest, The Prince of Gamblers, was presented with great success
Houston Grand Opera in March 2016) and intends to release commercial recordings of all his operas during his lifetime. Describing the music of "Wuthering Heights" as
very dramatic and quite melodic, Floyd said he was thrilled to be able to record it. The Florentine composer announced plans
to release recordings of Floyd's operas "Willie Stark" and "Bilby the Doll" after "Wuthering Heights."
The Wuthering Heights album was recorded and mixed by the Soundmirror team, whose outstanding recordings of orchestral, solo, opera and chamber music have received more
70 Grammy Award nominations and awards.