CD review: Glass & Ginsberg’s “Plutonian Ode”

jody — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:56:28 +0000

The late great gay poet Alan Ginsberg channeled a ferocious anger and fear over nuclear proliferation into his 1978 epic poem “Plutonian Ode.” Composer Philip Glass, who was a friend and East Village neighbor of Ginsberg, responds with a similar urgency in his Symphony No. 6 “Plutonian Ode,” a mercurial score that’s nearly an hour-long (Orange Mountain Music). Soprano Lauren Flanigan gives the searing vocal part a valiant effort, yet setting the English language to a gracious and intelligible vocal line has never been Glass’ forte. Still, Ginsberg’s cry for the earth and humanity does come through well in the chilling orchestral writing performed by the Bruckner Orchester Linz [cq] with conductor Dennis Russell Davies. The music is explosive, shattering and desolate.

A version of this story appeared in The Advocate (12/06)

My Big Gay Ears » minimalism

CD review: Glass & Ginsberg’s “Plutonian Ode”