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

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4. Classic Giuliani by AlmaNova: lively flute/guitar duo
5. Dreaming by Emma Wallace: angst-free modern ragtime
6. Secret Songs by Lisa Lynne: Inspirational, uplifting, gentle, and soothing Celtic harp, World flutes, guitar and more.
7. Lisa Lynne and the Elfin Love Tribe, Instrumental Songs of Good Cheer by Lisa Lynne: Inspirational, uplifting, gentle, and soothing Celtic harp, World flutes, guitar and more.
8. The Dawn of Joy by Shira Kammen: early folk and celtic music.
9. Canarios by James Edwards: baroque guitar music
10. A Christmas with Magnatune by Magnatune Compilation: the best music from Magnatune
11. The Hymns Album by Jeff Wahl: acoustic new age and jazz guitar.
12. Christmas Through the Gateway by Osamu Kitajima and Chris Mancinelli: pan pacific ambient dance masters
13. Farewell II by Poeticall Musicke: Late Renaissance and Early Baroque music, historically performed
14. The Twisting of the Rope by Aryeh Frankfurter: Timeless and enchanting folk music for the soul
15. In Their Footsteps by Aryeh Frankfurter: Timeless and enchanting folk music for the soul
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18. A Little More Love by Cary Kanno: Uptempo, happy, banjo-driven acoustic folk pop
19. Wonderland by Cary Kanno: Uptempo, happy, banjo-driven acoustic folk pop
20. Forget Me Not by Gerard Satamian: Exquisite original melodic pieces

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