Description: 'Chemistry opera' (chamber opera) by composer Julian Wagstaff, produced in association with Scottish Opera and University of Edinburgh
piano (5567) contemporary (4520) university (3752) opera (2155) edinburgh (1850) cello (1296) clarinet (546) chamber opera (12) julian wagstaff (8) school of chemistry (1)
The CD includes a 68-page full colour booklet, including photographs from the 2013 production, biographies, notes and the complete text of the opera in English and German (translation by Julius Seyfarth). The performers are Laura Margaret Smith (mezzo-soprano), Paul Curievici (tenor), Phil Gault (baritone), Pete Furniss (clarinet), Mark Bailey (cello) and Andrew Johnston (piano). The conductor is Derek Clark.
The work is approximately 40 minutes in duration and was commissioned by the University of Edinburgh to celebrate the 300th anniversary of its School of Chemistry in 2013. The new opera is set in Edinburgh in the closing stages of the Second World War, and takes its name from a book of the same name written by Professor James Kendall in 1938 on the subject of poison gas, and its likely effects if used in a future war.
A video clip is embedded below (or click here to view on the Vimeo site):