Decca Releases Seeing is Believing

Decca is proud to continue its association with American composer Nico Muhly with the release of their third album together, Seeing is Believing. Having previously concentrated on choral music and a complete ballet score, Decca and Muhly include four original compositions and three orchestral arrangements of vocal works originally by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons on this album. The Aurora Orchestra, the relatively new, young British ensemble, records this album under the direction of Nicholas Collon. The album will be released in the US on June 21, 2011 just days before the premiere of Muhly's opera, Two Boys, in London.

The centerpiece of the album is the concerto for electric violin, Seeing is Believing. This unique, six-string instrument makes available a variety of sounds that are both vaguely familiar and wholly new. The leader of the Aurora Orchestra, Thomas Gould, became acquainted with Muhly's work while in school and that eventually led to this composition. On his initial response to Gould's proposition of composing a work for electric violin, Muhly said: "Of course, it sounds like a kind of crazy idea. And also I liked it because it sort of sounded like a bad idea. And that's the best thing: take something that seems like a bad idea and make it into a good idea." In addition to Seeing is Believing, the album includes three more works for chamber orchestra: Motion, By All Means and Step Team.

Interspersed with Muhly's original compositions are three arrangements of vocal works by William Byrd and Orlando Gibbons. Early English choral music has always been an influence on Muhly's music and these arrangements highlight this connection. Renowned composer John Rutter worked on this recording project and lent his expertise. In Muhly's music, Rutter hears that the composer is, "somebody from one century and one continent commenting on the work of somebody from a previous century and a previous continent. It's really the old world and the new world interacting in a very exciting way." Muhly has orchestrated Byrd's Miserere Mei, Deus and Bow Thine Ear, O Lord and Gibbons's This is the Record of John.

The release of this album will coincide with the world-premiere of Muhly's new opera, Two Boys, at the English National Opera in London. Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater Opera/Theater Commissions Program, in a co-production with the English National Opera, the work features a libretto by Craig Lucas (Prelude to a Kiss and Reckless) and is directed by Tony® Award-winner Bartlett Sher. The opera is scheduled to be presented at the Met during the 2013-14 season.

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