Garfein / Slattery / Hall Mortality Mansions CD

In this unique Delos album, two-time Grammy Award-winning composer, librettist, and producer Herschel Garfein introduces Mortality Mansions: a stunning new song cycle setting poems by former U.S. poet laureate Donald Hall. Hall's plain-spoken, yet profound poetry reveals his candid perspectives on aging, with it's inevitable physical decline, fears, personal losses, and emotional trials. Yet he balances these negative aspects with such persisting joys and pleasures as loving companionship and physical intimacy. Garfein's music effectively envelops Hall's verses like a glove, illuminating their attendant moods, potent emotions, and stark verbal imagery. The album includes an interlude of Hall's readings of his poetry, and ends with a memorable epilogue: Garfein's pensive setting of a moving poem by Jane Kenyon, Hall's late wife. Tenor Michael Slattery performs the song cycle brilliantly, and soprano Marnie Breckenridge interprets the epilogue to devastating effect. Exceptional piano collaboration comes courtesy of Dimitri Dover.

1. When the Young Husband - Various Performers 2. When I Was Young - Various Performers 3. Woolworth's - Various Performers 4. The Green Shelf - Various Performers 5. F?te - Various Performers 6. The Young Watch Us - Various Performers 7. Summer Kitchen - Various Performers 8. Dying Is Simple, She Said - Various Performers 9. Deathwork - Various Performers 10. Freezes and Junes - Various Performers 11. Gold - Various Performers 12. When the Young Husband - Donald Hall 13. When I Was Young - Donald Hall 14. Woolworth's - Donald Hall 15. The Green Shelf - Donald Hall 16. F?te - Donald Hall 17. The Young Watch Us - Donald Hall 18. Summer Kitchen - Donald Hall 19. Dying Is Simple, She Said - Donald Hall 20. Deathwork - Donald Hall 21. Freezes and Junes - Donald Hall 22. Gold - Donald Hall 23. Otherwise - Donald Hall