It is written and performed for and by a chamber orchestra, albeit with some odd instrumentation thrown in for good measure.

His approach is as usual very poly-stylistic with an oboe melody opening the Prologue as a nod to Tchaikovsky and a violin passage in the elegy like movement that conjures up Prokofiev. Then we hear Bartok-like aggressive pieces mixed with hyper romantic melodies reminiscent of Satie set in a post minimalist soundscape that in spite of the varied ingredients still manages to retain a firm consistency as a whole.

His approach to telling the story progresses "backwards" with the death scene of the two Star Cross'd lovers opening the ballet and the rest of the story being told as a flashback focusing almost exclusively on the two main characters. All of the titles are culled from the play by Shakespeare and the people knowledgeable with the play will have no problems putting them in context of the story.

The instrumental (and vocal) performances are nothing short of heartbreaking and the work is performed by some of the finest classical musicians around today including Yana Reznik on the piano and Maksim Velichkin on cello just to name two. It is truly a remarkable and magic journey that concludes triumphantly as an homage to love, rather than the tragedy of two lovers unintended suicide.

1. Prologue star cross'd lovers
2. Do you quarrel sir
3. Sad hours seem long
4. Queen mab
5. Love's heavy burden
6. From my lips by yours
7. What love can do
8. A thousand times goodnight
9. Nothing except one of your nine lives
10. A plague on both your houses
11. I defy the stars
12. Harsh discords unpleasing sharps
13. Banished
14. This i drink to thee
15. I pay thy poverty not thy will
16. Thus with a kiss
17. Epilogue night's candles are burnt out

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 12/12/2011
SJ Pettersson lives in California USA

Tagged as: Classical, Opera, Contemporary, Instrumental Classical, Classical Piano, Flute, Harp, Oboe, Violin

1. Music of Fernando Sor by Daniel Estrem: colorful classical guitar
2. What We Whisper by Jeffrey Luck Lucas: darkly gorgeous, cinematic folk
3. A Celebration of Robert Burns by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
4. The Castle of the Holly King by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
5. A Harper's Holiday in Wales by Cheryl Ann Fulton: World-class performer and teacher of Medieval, Baroque, Welsh triple, Celtic and Concert harps.
6. Beethoven Piano and Cello Works by Tanya Tomkins and Eric Zivian: Beethoven Piano and Cello Works
7. Holiday Frost by Cari Live: thoughtful expressions through intelligent new age
8. Mistral by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
9. Wild Wood by Kammen and Swan: a bright edge to traditional Celtic tunes
10. When I Cross The River by Tom Bolton: contemporary folk
11. Kara Nomadica by Kara Nomadica: a fresh new sound driven by traditional Arabic and Turkish rhythms
12. The Once and Future Harp by Cheryl Ann Fulton: World-class performer and teacher of Medieval, Baroque, Welsh triple, Celtic and Concert harps.
13. Moments Musicaux by Elizabeth Wolff: 19th century classical piano
14. Mozart Klavier Trios by Streicher Trio: classical chamber music on period instruments
15. From the Lobby of the Cooper Arms by Robert F Trucios: classical piano
16. Under the Sacred Tree by Koshanin: Piano Tales, Ancient Dreams
17. Folk Rattle Roll by Conway Hambone: Multi-genre instrumental and vocal conquests made with love and fuzz
18. Dreamscapes by Rejuvenescence: soothing meditation music.
19. Music of Waters by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
20. Oasis by Ensemble Al Asdeka: spicy and hypnotic melding of Arabic and Jazz

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