Gormenghast

Irmin Schmidt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 22, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 22, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mute U.S.
• ASIN: B00004W5L3
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #623,942 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Overture

2. Gertrude's Aria: Touch

3. Swelter's Aria: Be a Happy Carnivore

4. Steerpike's Song: Oxygen

5. Fuchsia's Song: Rainbow Party

6. Ensemble: Joy

7. The Twin's Duet: Triumph

8. Barquentine's Aria: Posses Me, Chaos!

9. Sepulchrave's Aria: Behold the Night!

10. Duet Fuchsia & Stterkpike: The Birds Are Leaving for the South

11. Fuchsia's Aria: Fall, Friendly Rain

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Tries Too Hard To Be Clever, March 9, 2002

By 

Howie "tomas" (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gormenghast (Audio CD)

I bought this thinking it was the soundtrack to the excellent BBC production of the Gormenghast trilogy that aired on PBS.

It's not- it's an abbreviated opera. And while it has its moments, it's rather silly.

The music often goes nowhere - I suppose some would say that's the point, since the Gormenghast story is basically about people who are trapped. But, forsaking substance for style is usually the "solution" of someone who can't come up with the goods.

It's a passable effort, but it's not something that will live with you.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Listening for fans of CAN, May 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Gormenghast (Audio CD)

In the likely absence of further new works by CAN collectively, we listen to their work as individuals. Irmin Schmidt has brilliantly realized an operatic vision of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast. While showing the antecedents of Can and his studies with Stockhausen this, nevertheless, is a distinctive and breathtaking work that stands as a great triumph. The use of voice and the narrative structure of Opera lead to a greater unity and coherence of the work than in his improvisation based earlier work. The sweep of sounds that Schmidt elicits from the orchestra, instrumentalists and vocalists is stunning in its diversiy and consistency.

I love it to death.

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Kind of silly, November 25, 2003

By 

Leecifur (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gormenghast (Audio CD)

Personally, I don't like much opera that's sung in English, although I guess I don't care for opera that much either. Nor english opera with breakbeats and jungle beats. I was excited when I picked this CD up. A fantasy opera, based on Gormenghast, written by the guy from CAN? Sounded great, but fails in my opinion. It might have been fun to see it live, but listening is another thing. However, I let a couple of friends listen to it, and they loved it. So I guess you either love it or hate it.