Netherlands-based international music label, Pentatone, has recently announced the world premiere recording of 'The Shining' opera by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Mark Campbell.
The recording is based on the critically acclaimed stage performances of Lyric Opera of Kansas City's 2023 production of the two-act 2016 opera of the same name.
Grammy nominee Gerard Schwarz reprises his role as a conductor from the Kansas City-run show in the forthcoming recording and will lead the Kansas City Symphony and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City Chorus for it.
The stage masterpiece is set to grace all major streaming platforms, while also being available as a 2-CD set, by April 12.
'The Shining' Opera Recording's Cast and Other Info
Similarly, baritone Edward Parks also returns from the stage opera to sing as Jack Torrance, the main lead of the production based on Stephen King's best-selling and classic novel. Performing opposite Parks are soprano Kelly Kaduce as Wendy, and Tristan Hallett as Danny.
"The Shining" opera was the first joint project between Moravec and Campbell, that said, they have since been working together and have produced three oratorios as partners, namely: "All Shall Rise," "A Nation of Others," and "Sanctuary Road."
Of his work on "The Shining" oratorio, Moravec said: "Much of the music takes us inside Jack Torrance's mind and central nervous system so that we can feel and follow the transformation of this basically decent guy trying to do the right thing as he is overwhelmed by madness and evil."
Moravec also explained his thought process while composing for the horror-mystery production, saying that he created a set of "distinctive leitmotivs," or a recurring compositional theme, for "evolution" and "interaction" that occurred in the drama.
"The two realms of the "natural" and the "supernatural" are reflected in contrasting musical sound worlds that periodically converge as the drama requires," he said.
The to-be-released project was recorded live in March of last year at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas and was balanced, mixed, and mastered by Mark Donahue. Blanton Alspaugh served as the recording producer.
For more information on the recording, visit PentatoneMusic.com
