Search - Charles Osborne, Bulgarian National Chorus, Joshua Jacobson :: Osborne: Souls on Fire / Jacobson, Osborne, Nimoy, et al

Souls On Fire by Charles Osborne Narrated by Leonard Nimoy Hailed at its premiere in December 1998 as "stunning, impassioned and beautifully conceived," Souls On Fire is a full-length oratorio that tells the story of the founders of European Hassidism. Based on the book by Elie Wiesel, adapted by Aryeh Finklestein, this exciting new work "combines the sweep of a musical saga with the thoughtfulness of a highly personal composition." Each musical movement of the work, describes the character in each movement. Charles Osborne has as a composer concentrated on Hassidic music and culture. Souls On Fire is the latest in a series of compositions that use Hassidic culture and folklore. As each musical story is told the listener becomes involved with original Hassidic prose, building a foundation of understanding and hopefully a sensation that will strengthen our lives. These Hassidic greats were truly "Souls On Fire". What makes the oratorio "particularly impressive", writes one critic, "is the care with which the composer and librettist have succinctly drawn each portrait, and smoothly made transitions from one master to the next." Souls On Fire burns brightly, "with the power of Wiesel?s insights, and the brilliance of a unique collaboration between composer and librettist." Narrated by world renowned actor and director Leonard Nimoy, this recording also features the Bulgarian National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and four outstanding soloists from the Metropolitan and New York City Opera companies. Written for orchestra, chorus, soloists, storyteller and narrators, the oratorio mingles the joy which is Hassidism with Wiesel?s memories of the Holocaust. The oratorio attempts to illumine the lives of the Hassidic movement, and thus Judaism, within the last two hundred and fifty years, in an effort to learn from their lives, thoughts, and times. In the oratorio, as in Dr. Wiesel?s book, the Holocaust becomes the gravitational lens through which we must necessarily view these lives, thoughts, and times. Composer Charles Osborne blends the concept of the Hassidic relationships, Man and the Lord, Man and his Master, and Man to his surroundings in nine movements. The piece begins with a flowing prelude that introduces the seven Hassidic characters and concludes with an epilogue. The seven Hassidic characters are introduced in the chronological order of Besht (Baal Shem Tov) Hassidus.