Special offer. Joseph Phibbs: Juliana
Zoe Drummond (soprano), Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone), Nova Music Opera Ensemble, George Vass
The score is brilliantly written, with a spaciousness and sure sense of timing that encourages Zoe Drummond ( Juliana) and Felix Kemp ( Juan) to fully vocally and dramatically inhabit their...
Special offer. Joseph Phibbs: Juliana
Zoe Drummond (soprano), Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone), Nova Music Opera Ensemble, George Vass
Purchase product
The score is brilliantly written, with a spaciousness and sure sense of timing that encourages Zoe Drummond ( Juliana) and Felix Kemp ( Juan) to fully vocally and dramatically inhabit their...
About
Based on August Strindberg’s celebrated 1888 play Miss Julie, chamber opera Juliana (2018) unites composer Joseph Phibbs and librettist Laurie Slade in a modern tale about the power of money, immigration politics, drugs and the blurring of sexual boundaries. In confronting these issues head-on, the power of aristocracy is replaced by that of plutocracy. Strindberg’s Count, an unseen but malevolent presence, becomes the Boss, a multi-millionaire businessman. Julie becomes Juliana, a spoilt little rich girl in thrall to her father. Jean becomes Juan, an immigrant servant, his status insecure. Juliana and Juan live on the edge emotionally. Kerstin, the housekeeper, is caught in a triangular conflict with them both. Conductor George Vass and the Nova Music Opera Ensemble, are joined by soprano Zoe Drummond (Juliana), mezzo-soprano Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (Kerstin) and baritone Felix Kemp (Juan) in the world premiere recording of this major new work.
Contents and tracklist
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Zoe Drummond (soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
- Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (mezzo-soprano), Felix Kemp (baritone)
- Nova Music Opera Ensemble
- George Vass
Awards and reviews
March 2022
The score is brilliantly written, with a spaciousness and sure sense of timing that encourages Zoe Drummond ( Juliana) and Felix Kemp ( Juan) to fully vocally and dramatically inhabit their characters; at the same time allowing the equally excellent Rebecca Afonwy-Jones (Kerstin) to rise above the limitations of her witness role, and the Nova Music Opera Ensemble to shine under conductor George Vass.
April 2022
The performance is as sharp as the updated scenario. Zoe Drummond is suitably flighty and capricious in the first half as Juliana, but more fragile later.
July 2022
There is much to recommend…As befits the tightly-wrought drama, the score is crisp, economical and finely focused. But it is also beautifully imagined—sumptuous, evocative and replete with sonorities that reverberate with meaning…The recording displays young singers of exceptional accomplishment who are a delight to listen to.