Frankenstein (Ballet in Three Acts) for orchestra Op.130 (2016) c. 120'00"
(2d1.2d1.2d1.2+1/4.3.3.1/timp/perc(3)/hp/pno/cel/strings)
Commissioned by the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the San Francisco Ballet
Dedicated to David Del Tredici
First performed on May 4th, 2016 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, England by the Royal Opera House Orchestra conducted by Koen Kessels
Published by Theodore Presser Company
RECORDINGS
DVD and Blu-Ray
REVIEWS
“Lowell Liebermann’s symphonic score has a robust filmic quality etched with some memorable melodies for the main dances. These are set within descriptive music, illustrating the scènes d’action that dominate the story as well as distinctive themes to associate with each main character. It is an orchestral work that could stand alone in concert and was sensitively performed under the direction of Barry Wordsworth.” —Graham Watts, bachtrack.com
“There is much to like, including…Lowell Liebermann’s shrewd orchestral score - lyrically rich and dancey, with a touch of old Hollywood, yet hinting darkly of dangers to come.” —Debra Craine, The Times (UK)
“Lowell Liebermann’s grand score is atmospheric and moody, its ominous strings stridently marking the high points of horror.” —Teresa Guerriero, Culture Whisperer
”Lowell Lieberman's fine score (Barry Wordsworth conducting) is versatile and sustains every action, dance and mood…” —The Sunday Times (UK)
“Here is a proper, sweeping, rich orchestral score that is symphonic in its range of movements, melodies and motifs…a flowing score that manages to be both descriptive and illustrative of character and narrative purpose in a filmic way but also music that could (and should) have a life of its own in the concert hall.” —Graham Watts, London Dance
“A magnificent and exciting new ballet that will become a repertory staple.” —David DeBoor Canfield, Fanfare
“…a wonderful score by Lowell Liebermann…” —The Times (UK)
“…or Lowell Liebermann’s richly cinematic score, which does a lot of the emotional and narrative legwork.” —The Standard (UK)
“Liebermann’s music…comes alive with strafing strings and nervy percussion.” —The Guardian (UK)
“The original score by Lowell Liebermann is eloquent, punchy and dramatic…” —Paul Hertelendy, ArtsSF
“The sumptuous score by Lowell Liebermann has been specially commissioned…this is an accomplished work and the audience on the first night of its revival was ecstatic. Under Barry Wordsworth, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House gave a lucid, sumptuous account of Liebermann’s filmic music.” —Anna Selby, The Arbuturian
“This is unabashedly a grand, romantic, searching, emotionally wrenching, gothic retelling of a story that is all of those things…Liebermann is arguably the idea composer for this project…The music has a continuous, quasi-symphonic sense of direction, leading the audience through the lengthy, detailed narrative and compressing the subjective time it takes. The score is varied, within its tonal idiom…” —Records International
“No one will likely come away from Frankenstein regarding the score as anything but masterfully realized and an inspired rendering of the story into musical form.” —textura.org
“American composer Lowell Liebermann’s full-length ballet based on Marry Shelly’s classic horror novel is a dramatic delight, with atmospheric music that heightens the intensity of the whole monstrous saga” —— Kevin Filipski, The Flip Side
”(Liebermann) makes a compelling case for the humanist melodrama at the story’s core and commits fully to the long-form narrative. It all works well - and the music will just about sweep you off your feet.” —- American Record Guide
”The sumptuous score by Lowell Liebermann…, the set…and the special effects… - are spectacular.” —— The Arbuturian
“…it’s not hard to see why missing “Frankenstein” during its two-weekend run at the Lyric Opera House is not an option…provokingly thrilling…an example of ballet at its finest, with some of the world’s best artists coming together to make inconceivable theatrical magic.” ——-Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune
“The rich, atmospheric, almost cinematic score, with its evocative use of piano, celeste and vibraphone, was provided by American composer Lowell Liebermann.” —— Kyle MacMillan, Chicago Sun-Times
“…the sold-out opening night crowd stayed riveted to their seats…Frankenstein, with an original score by Lowell Liebermann…is one of the most innovative works of dance toiday, according to dance experts and enthusiasts. After seeing the Joffrey’s production, I couldn’t agree more.” ——Candace Jordan, Chicago Star
“Over the years there have been countless interpretations of “Frankenstein”…But the Joffrey Ballet’s production…set to a richly dramatic original score by Lowell Liebermann — might very well be its most stunning yet…This is a seamless masterwork of dance and music.” —- wttw.com