A Few Words about Chekhov: Songs and Cycles of Dominick Argento

Featuring

Adriana Zabala
Jesse Blumberg
Martin Katz
JJ Penna
Dominick Argento

Did you know?

1/7

Composer's Artistic Vision

A central theme in Dominick Argento's operas and song cycles is 'self-discovery,' drawing him to stories where characters learn something life-changing about themselves.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Dominick Argento, the composer, stated that vocal composition was his 'natural musical home' because it combined his love of literature and music.

Compositional Technique

For his Three Sonnets of Petrarch, Dominick Argento personally translated the sonnets into English and used melodic and harmonic themes to portray the poet's longing.

Composer Biography

Dominick Argento, a lifelong fan of Gershwin, believed that 'you don't really strive for wonderful poetry in pop music.'

Compositional Technique

Dominick Argento's Cabaret Songs, his last solo vocal works, were inspired by Tin Pan Alley and feature personal, sometimes cheeky, texts written by Argento himself.

Composition History

The song cycle A Few Words about Chekhov was commissioned by Margaret and Angus Wurtele for the Schubert Club to commemorate their 20th wedding anniversary in 1996.

Composer Biography

Dominick Argento included the exquisite Italian song 'Sai Tu Perchè' in his Cabaret Songs as an homage to his ancestors, a central and personal role throughout his life.