The PARMA production team had no shortage of variety in its recording endeavors this month. From traditional string quartets to video productions and truly unique instrumentations for opera, this fall is proving to be one for the books. Read more in this production recap.
Back in Brno
The team kicked off this month’s productions with the Brno Contemporary Orchestra, a frequent flyer in PARMA’s Featured Recording Opportunities, to record a set of melodic works by composer Tyler White Goodrich. Titled The Four Elements, Goodrich’s work for strings was performed and recorded at Orlí Street Theatre in Brno. Goodrich attended the early-morning sessions via zoom to see his piece come to life.
Later in the month, the team synced back up with the Brno Contemporary Orchestra to record an unconventionally orchestrated piece by composer Carla Lucero, who attended the session in person with soprano Michelle Drever. Lucerno’s piece “Sin Voz” is comprised of two percussionists, Guitar, Harp, Harpsichord, String Quintet, Soprano, and Vihuela, a 15th-century Spanish string instrument.
“Sin Voz” is an aria from Lucero’s Juana, a Spanish baroque chamber opera about the great Mexican poet, nun and feminist icon, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz. Watch a preview of the opera here.
Video Sessions with Stuart Weber
Over in Opava, a video shoot was underway with the Benda Quartet and composer Stuart Weber. Featuring music from Weber’s 2023 Ravello Records release MISSOURI BREAKS, the video was filmed at Opava’s Church of St. Wenceslas.
Chamber Music at the Shalin Liu
The production team returned to the United States in the middle of the month to capture two new chamber works by composer Ferdinando DeSena at Rockport MA’s Shalin Liu Performance Center. Both to be included in his upcoming Navona Records release, DeSena’s Rest in Peace was recorded by the Juventas New Music Ensemble, and his Quixotic Coquetry was performed by flutist Cassandra Eisenreich.
Explore our current Featured Recording Opportunity for flute with Lindsey Goodman here.
Works for Wind Ensemble
The team concluded this month’s sessions in upstate New York with the Syracuse University Wind Ensemble, who were recording a number of works by composer and pianist Milton Laufer. Recorded in Syracuse NY’s Goldstein Auditorium, the project will commemorate the lives of those Syracuse students lost in the Lockerbie bombing in April 1990. Production on the future Navona Records release continues in February 2024.
