| Thomas Adès CBE is a prodigious English composer, conductor and pianist, described by The New York Times in 2007 as ‘one of the most accomplished and complete musicians of his generation’.
This album features three orchestral suites adapted from their operas by the composer. Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face centres on an elderly Duchess (in all but name the notorious real-life Duchess of Argyll) on the brink of eviction from her hotel room, looking back over her salacious career. Five Spells from The Tempest is drawn from Adès’s 2003 opera based on Shakespeare’s play, while Inferno Suite, based on Dante’s The Divine Comedy, centres on the protagonist’s journey through the fires of hell.
01. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face I. Overture
02. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face II. Scene with Song
03. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face III. Wedding March
04. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face IV. Waltz
05. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face V. Ode
06. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face VI. Paperchase
07. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face VII. Hotel Manager’s Aria It is too late
08. Thomas Adès – Luxury Suite from Powder Her Face VIII. Finale
09. Thomas Adès – Five Spells from The Tempest I. Overture (Storm)
10. Thomas Adès – Five Spells from The Tempest II. Ariel and Prospero
11. Thomas Adès – Five Spells from The Tempest III. Ferdinand and Miranda
12. Thomas Adès – Five Spells from The Tempest IV. The Feast
13. Thomas Adès – Five Spells from The Tempest V. Prospero’s Farewell – Caliban
14. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite I. Abandon Hope
15. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite II. The Selfish – stung by wasps
16. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite III. The Ferryman
17. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite IV. Pavan of the Souls in Limbo
18. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite X. The Popes’ Adagio – heads first
19. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite XI. The Hypocrites – in coats of lead
20. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite XII. The Thieves – devoured by snakes
21. Thomas Adès – Inferno Suite XIII. Satan – in the lake of ice |
