Jonathan Dove's "Flight" is a captivating opera that transcends the typical boundaries of classical music, offering a unique and engaging experience for both opera enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. This three-act opera, composed by Dove with a libretto by April De Angelis, premiered in 1998 and has since garnered widespread acclaim for its compelling narrative and innovative composition.
"Flight" is set entirely within the confines of a bustling airport terminal, where a diverse cast of characters finds themselves stranded over the course of 24 hours. The opera explores themes of displacement, longing, and the human condition through the interactions of these characters, each with their own unique stories and struggles. The icy, rule-bound controller, a pair of flight attendants, and a refugee are just a few of the vivid characters that bring this opera to life.
The album features a stellar cast, including Christopher Robson as the Refugee, Claron McFadden as the Controller, and Richard Coxon as Bill, among others. The London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by David Parry, provides a rich and dynamic musical backdrop, enhancing the opera's dramatic tension and emotional depth. The choral arrangements are particularly noteworthy, showcasing Dove's mastery of vocal composition and his ability to create a sense of unity and harmony among the diverse characters.
With a runtime of over two hours and nine minutes, "Flight" is a substantial and immersive listening experience. The opera is divided into three acts, each containing multiple scenes that build upon one another to create a cohesive and engaging narrative. The album's 46 tracks offer a detailed and nuanced exploration of the opera's themes and characters, making it an essential addition to any classical music collection.
Jonathan Dove's "Flight" is a testament to his skill as a composer and his ability to craft a compelling and thought-provoking narrative through music. Whether you're a seasoned opera aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, this album is sure to captivate and inspire. The intricate interplay of voices and instruments, combined with the opera's unique setting and themes, creates a listening experience that is both engaging and unforgettable.
2004 Chandos Records2004 Chandos Records
Tracks
Flight, Act I: Look! Up there (Refugee, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act I: Darling! (Bill, Tina, Refugee)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Christopher Robson
Flight, Act I: Excuse me. Have you any English money? (Refugee, Bill, Tina)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas
Flight, Act I: Welcome travellers. Thank you for travelling Tri-Star (Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act I: Do I look conspicuous? (Older Woman, Refugee, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nuala Willis, Christopher Robson, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act I: Welcome. We're always smiling as you can see (Steward, Stewardess, Refugee, Older Woman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Garry Magee, Ann Taylor, Christopher Robson, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act I: Down you go. Scurry down (Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act I: That's us. Is that us? (Minskman, Minskwoman, Controller, Older Woman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Steven Page, Anne Mason, Claron McFadden, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act I: No! I don't seem able to go (Minskwoman, Minskman, Controller, Refugee)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Steven Page, Anne Mason, Claron McFadden, Christopher Robson
Flight, Act I: What have I done? (Minskwoman, Steward, Stewardess, Bill, Tina, Older Woman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anne Mason, Garry Magee, Ann Taylor, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act I: What have I just done? Why couldn't I go? (Minskwoman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anne Mason
Flight, Act I: Excuse me. Have you a hat or a scarf? (Refugee, Older Woman, Stewardess, Steward, Tina, Bill, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Nuala Willis, Ann Taylor, Garry Magee, Mary Plazas, Richard Coxon
Flight, Act I: Look who's coming! (Controller, Refugee, Minskwoman, Bill, Tina, Older Woman, Steward, Stewardess)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Christopher Robson, Anne Mason, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act I: Gone. Time to be gone (Refugee, Tina, Controller, Bill, Minskwoman, Older Woman, Steward, Stewardess)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Mary Plazas, Claron McFadden, Richard Coxon, Anne Mason, Garry Magee
Flight, Act I: Disgusting. Record lusting (Controller, Bill, Older Woman, Minskwoman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Richard Coxon, Nuala Willis, Anne Mason
Flight, Act I: Due to circumstances beyond our control (Controller, Refugee)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Christopher Robson
Flight, Act II: The storm is getting worse (Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act II: It's quiet (Steward, Stewardess, Bill, Tina, Older Woman, Minskwoman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Garry Magee, Ann Taylor, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Nuala Willis, Anne Mason
Flight, Act II: I know. We could do the business with our trolleys (Stewardess, Older Woman, Minskwoman, Steward, Tina, Bill)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ann Taylor, Nuala Willis, Anne Mason, Garry Magee, Mary Plazas, Richard Coxon
Flight, Act II: Orchestral InterludeJonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra
Flight, Act II: Fierce night. Jagged light (Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act II: I bought this suitcase in New York (Minskwoman, Steward, Stewardess, Bill, Refugee, Older Woman, Tina)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anne Mason, Garry Magee, Ann Taylor, Richard Coxon, Christopher Robson, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act II: The thing about people is (Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act II: About this stone. Is it true? (Older Woman, Refugee, Tina, Bill, Minskwoman, Steward, Stewardess, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nuala Willis, Christopher Robson, Mary Plazas, Richard Coxon, Anne Mason, Garry Magee
Flight, Act II: A wish for me. I'm wishing for my brother (Refugee, Bill, Steward)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Richard Coxon, Garry Magee
Flight, Act II: Excuse me, can I trouble you for some advice? (Older Woman, Tina, Minskwoman, Stewardess, Bill)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nuala Willis, Mary Plazas, Anne Mason, Ann Taylor, Richard Coxon
Flight, Act II: What's this for? Let's see… (Bill, Steward, Older Woman, Tina, Stewardess, Minskwoman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Coxon, Garry Magee, Nuala Willis, Mary Plazas, Ann Taylor, Anne Mason
Flight, Act II: He's lucky (Women, Refugee, Older Woman, Controller, Tina, Stewardess, Minskwoman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Nuala Willis, Claron McFadden, Mary Plazas, Ann Taylor, Anne Mason
Flight, Act II: You have a stone? (Women, Refugee)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
Flight, Act II: I believed in miracles (Older Woman, Minskwoman, Stewardess, Tina, Refugee, Controller, Bill, Steward)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Nuala Willis, Anne Mason, Ann Taylor, Mary Plazas, Christopher Robson, Claron McFadden
Flight, Act III: What a dreadful night (Women, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
Flight, Act III: A plane is coming! (Controller, Older Woman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act III: I flew back immediately. I'm not angry (Minskman, Minskwoman, Tina, Bill, Steward)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Steven Page, Anne Mason, Mary Plazas, Richard Coxon, Garry Magee
Flight, Act III: Oh my goodness! (Bill, Tina, Steward, Stewardess)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Ann Taylor
Flight, Act III: Oh look, he isn't moving (Stewardess, Older Woman, Minskman, Steward)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ann Taylor, Nuala Willis, Steven Page, Garry Magee
Flight, Act III: Ow! What is it? (Minskwoman, All)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anne Mason, Claron McFadden, Christopher Robson, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act III: It's so small (All, Minskwoman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Anne Mason, Claron McFadden, Christopher Robson, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Nuala Willis
Flight, Act III: New, wondrous, nothing so new as you (Refugee, Tina, Stewardess, Older Woman, Controller, Minskwoman, Bill, MinskJonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Mary Plazas, Ann Taylor, Nuala Willis, Claron McFadden, Anne Mason
Flight, Act III: He's coming back! Get in the trunk! (Controller, Refugee, Immigration Officer, Women, Men)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Christopher Robson, Richard van Allan, Glyndebourne Festival Chorus
Flight, Act III: Surely you can be magnanimous on such a day as this (Minskman, Minskwoman, Immigration Officer, Tina, Steward, StJonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Steven Page, Anne Mason, Richard van Allan, Mary Plazas, Garry Magee, Ann Taylor
Flight, Act III: You can't fool rules (Immigration Officer, Older Woman, Bill, Steward, Tina, Refugee, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard van Allan, Nuala Willis, Richard Coxon, Garry Magee, Mary Plazas, Christopher Robson
Flight, Act III: Dawn, still darkness… (Refugee)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson
Flight, Act III: But look at me now (Refugee, Immigration Officer, Stewardess, Older Woman, Minskwoman, Minskman)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Richard van Allan, Ann Taylor, Nuala Willis, Anne Mason, Steven Page
Flight, Act III: …I can't do much for you… (Immigration Officer, Older Woman, Steward, Bill, Tina, Stewardess)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard van Allan, Nuala Willis, Garry Magee, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Ann Taylor
Flight, Act III: …Flights to Minsk and places smarter… (Controller, Older Woman, Minskman, Minskwoman, Bill, Tina, Steward, StewarJonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Claron McFadden, Nuala Willis, Anne Mason, Richard Coxon, Mary Plazas, Garry Magee
Flight, Act III: A frozen man falling like a frozen star (Refugee, Controller)Jonathan Dove, David Parry, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Christopher Robson, Claron McFadden
Jonathan Dove is a renowned British composer whose music spans a wide range of genres, with a particular emphasis on choral and operatic works. Born in London in 1959, Dove's compositions are celebrated for their accessibility and emotional depth, appealing to both classical music enthusiasts and those new to the genre. His notable works include 'The Adventures of Pinocchio,' a delightful reimagining of Carlo Collodi's classic tale, and 'The Orchestral Music of Jonathan Dove,' an album that showcases his orchestral prowess. Dove's approach to composition is uniquely personal, often drawing from his extensive experience in theatre and his love for storytelling. His operas, such as those based on Italo Calvino's works, are known for their engaging narratives and innovative librettos, many of which he adapts himself. Dove's music is a testament to his belief that classical music should be approachable and enjoyable for all, making him a standout figure in contemporary classical composition.
Vinylscout
Jonathan Dove
