A Fine Agitation
Strong convictions make for strong emotion, and in Michael J. Evans’ case, emotion transforms into operatic scenes. A FINE AGITATION is an eight-part stage work based on Susan B. Anthony’s letters during her infamous voting trial, which sheds light on the beloved social reformer from a personal, intimate, and profoundly charming angle.
Both biographies and political subjects are notoriously difficult to set to music without becoming either dry tragedies or kitschy pastiches, but Evans circumvents this pitfall with a compositional style that is subtly, tastefully shaded, and at times almost light-footed. It shows Anthony, an American social justice icon, from a perspective that might have been disregarded for the better part of a century – the perspective of being human.
Track Listing
01 Scene 1: Letter to Elizabeth Cady Stanton, November 5, 1872 15:53
02 Scene 2: Letter to Sarah Huntington, November 11, 1872 3:32
03 Scene 3: Burlesque, November 18, 1872 3:06
04 Scene 4: Diary Entries, January 21-23, 1873 2:58
05 Scene 5: Indictment 9:38
06 Scene 6: Diary Entry, January 24, 18733:07
07 Scene 7: Letter to Martha Coffin Wright in Auburn, New York after her indictment for illegal voting 7:06
08 Scene 8: Diary Entry, March 4, 1873 5:01
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a big-hearted orchestral fairy tale of warmth and imagination
– American Record Guide
The Adventures of Florian
On his seventh release on Navona Records, THE ADVENTURES OF FLORIAN, Michael J. Evans presents an epic, modern adaptation of Henry Beston’s fairytale of the same name. Over the course of four orchestral acts, Evans reframes the story as a tale of trans heroship, with Prince Florizel marrying Florian himself presenting as a boy, rather than revealing Florian as Isabella.
Track Listing
Act I
01 Opening 1:55
02 Isabella 4:31
03 Death 2:44
04 Transformation 2:26
05 The Adventure Begins 5:09
Act II
06 Black Rock Castle 14:04
07 No Fear 6:17
08 Gifts 4:28
09 Into the Unknown 1:43
Act III
10 Prince Florizel 7:58
11 The Royal Family 1:27
12 Gossip1:26
13 Loving You 2:31
14 Flowers and Daggers and Demons 4:54
Act IV
15 Only a Mother Could Love 5:26
16 I Got You 3:06
17 You’re Gone 5:39
18 I’m Coming for You 3:12
19 Love and Hate 2:43
20 The Great Escape 5:39
21 Transfiguration and Happily Ever Afters 16:01
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As I listened the piece became more and more impressive and effective
– Reber Clark, The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
String Quartet No. 1 The Music of Erich Zann
Composer Michael J. Evans’ THE MUSIC OF ERICH ZANN is a startling and surreal musical interpretation of H.P. Lovecraft’s 1922 tale of the eponymous violist – a mysterious old man who seemingly protects himself from dark, magical forces by playing the viol.
Track Listing
01 Scene 1 2:06
02 Scene 2 4:49
03 Scene 3 9:42
04 Scene 4 18:08
05 Scene 5 5:10
06 Scene 6 7:24
07 Scene 7 8:44
08 Scene 8 11:53
09 Scene 9 1:14
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One feels the joy in storytelling itself, and in bringing to life Chekhov’s story. A remarkable idea, beautifully realized
– Colin Clarke, Fanfare Magazine
Misery
Fusing together the areas of visual art, music, literature, and history, composer Michael J. Evans presents his multimedia project, MISERY, on Navona Records. Taking inspiration, text, and imagery from Russian author Anton Chekhov’s (1860-1904) tale of the same name, the composer’s work can serve multiple functions: an anti-concerto for bassoon, the soundtrack for an illustrated graphic novel or silent film, the music for a stage work (dance, pantomime, shadow, or puppet theater), or any combination of the aforementioned.
Track Listing
01 Misery 40:12
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Evans explores artistic fidelity, taking Mendelssohn’s text […] and music […] through an eclectic series of variations.
– La Folia
Cipher
Oftentimes in our technology-driven global society, words can become obscured in meanings and associations depending on how they are interpreted or translated. On the other hand, music in its abstraction often can prompt more concrete interpretations. Composer Michael J. Evans explores the relationships between words, music, and meaning on his latest release on Navona Records, CIPHER.
Track Listing
01 Original Words 0:23
02 Translation 1 0:19
03 Translation 2 0:21
04 Translation 3 0:22
05 Translation 4 0:24
06 Translation 5 0:22
07 Translation 6 0:24
08 Translation 7 0:25
09 Translation 8 0:19
10 Translation 9 0:21
11 Translation 10 0:18
12 Translation 11 0:16
13 Translation 12 0:17
14 Translation 13 0:15
15 Translation 14 0:52
16 Variation 1 0:48
17 Variation 2 0:55
18 Variation 3 1:09
19 Variation 4 0:50
20 Variation 5 0:41
21 Variation 6 1:54
22 Variation 7 0:56
23 Variation 8 2:12
24 Variation 9 0:29
25 Variation 10 1:23
26 Variation 11 2:27
27 Variation 12 1:26
28 Variation 13 1:34
29 Variation 14 1:06
30 Variation 15 2:34
31 Variation 16 1:19
32 Variation 17 1:28
33 Variation 18 1:15
34 Variation 19 1:24
34 Variation 20 1:38
36 Variation 21 3:15
37 Variation 22 4:38
38 Variation 232:40
39 Variation 24 1:51
40 Fugue 11:15
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Eidola
EIDOLA is the latest Navona release from Washington, DC-based composer Michael J. Evans featuring four of his orchestral works. This release showcases Evans’ wide range of compositional abilities; we hear calypso in the Concerto, woodwind night music in Nocturne with Sunrise, ballet and folk tunes in Dance and a musical interpretation of Poe’s poetry in The Haunted Palace.
Track Listing
01 The Haunted Palace: I. Opening 7:16
02 The Haunted Palace: II. Marche Funebre 8:17
03 The Haunted Palace: III. Valse Grotesque 7:40
04 Piano Concerto: I. Allegro 9:49
05 Piano Concerto: II. Andante 11:00
06 Piano Concerto: III. Allegro con moto 5:52
07 Nocturne with Sunrise 7:33
08 Deirdre: Dance 2:03
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Bloom
Oftentimes in our technology-driven global society, words can become obscured in meanings and associations depending on how they are interpreted or translated. On the other hand, music in its abstraction often can prompt more concrete interpretations. Composer Michael J. Evans explores the relationships between words, music, and meaning on his latest release on Navona Records, CIPHER.
Track Listing
01 5 Variations for Piano on Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier 4:02
02 Piano Sonata in D-Flat Major 3:47
03 Piano Sonata in C Major 4:14
04 Flute Trio: I. 6:43
05 Flute Trio: II. 6:11
06 Flute Trio: III. 3:42
7 Flute Trio: IV. 2:58
7 Variations on an Original Theme 9:50
7 Flying Away 2:19
7 Sunshower 2:14
7 Merci Sophie 0:55
7 Piano Sonata in E-Flat Major 6:03
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The PARMA Sessions
THE PARMA SESSIONS: KAROLINA ROJAHN presents a series of recordings featuring longtime PARMA collaborator and pianist Karolina Rojahn. Showcasing the artist’s skill, adaptability, and dedication, this digital compilation features Rojahn performing works by a diverse set of composers with myriad influences and styles.
Track Listing
05 The Haunted Palace: I. Opening 8:17
06 The Haunted Palace: II. 7:40
07 The Haunted Palace: III. Valse Grotesque 3:26
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Dances of Eternity
DANCES OF ETERNITY presents a group of orchestral works by composers who explore music’s potential to capture the more overlooked aspects of human experience. Ranging from representations of optimism and energy to the surging power of nostalgia, to lighthearted frolics and the eternality of life, DANCES OF ETERNITY asks the listener to ponder life, death, and everything in between.
Featured on DANCES OF ETERNITY are the works of Hans Bakker, Mark Dal Porto, Michael J. Evans, Margaret Fairlie-Kennedy, and Anthony Iannaccone, with performances by the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra (Jan Kucera, Petr Vronsky, conductors) and the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra (Vladimir Lande, conductor).
Track Listing
04 Into the Woods 6:22
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Fine Music, Vol. 2
FINE MUSIC, VOL. II is the second compilation of the Navona Records Fine Music digital series. This installment features the works of Marinescu, Barber, Evans, Elizondo, Zaimont, Nagorcka, Hofmeyr, Wilenski, Stölzel, Bakker and Sackman. This collection both highlights some of Navona’s choicest tracks and offers a preview of things to come.
Track Listing
02 Piano Concerto: III. Allegro con moto 5:45
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PARMA Music Festival Live 2014
14 concerts, 12 venues, 4 days. The 2014 PARMA Music Festival featured a diverse range of events, from concert performances of orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, and jazz groups, to an outdoor presentation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and panel discussions about music licensing and multimedia composition, as well as improvised collaborations between indie rockers and classical instrumentalists.
Track Listing
02 2014 PARMA Music Festival Theme 1:29