Mary of Egypt

John Tavener (Composer), Patricia Rozario (Performer), Stephen Varcoe (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Patricia Rozario, Stephen Varcoe
• Composer: John Tavener
• Audio CD (August 23, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Collins Classics
• ASIN: B000003W1B
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #375,397 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1. Prologue.: With unearthly stillness

2. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'The ways to salvation...'

3. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Here I sit, and beat my brain...'

4. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Grunt and groan.../ We bring our wa

5. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Let me consider, yet once more'

6. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Grunt and groan.../ Come and buy...

7. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Never raised a thieving arm...'

8. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'We see the cross before us...'

9. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Take me!'

10. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 1.: 'Zossima! The ways to salvation...'

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: Prologue. With unearthly stillness

2. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'Why run from me,...'

3. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'I pray you,...'

4. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'Zossima I beg you,...'

5. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'Monk-priest Zossima,...'

6. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'Holy, Holy,...'

7. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'In Egypt I lived,....'

8. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 3.: 'But here, my Lady,...'

9. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 4.: The Angels' Song

10. Mary of Egypt, opera (ikon in music & dance) sor soloists, choruses, orchestra and tape: Act 4. Episode 1: Zossima searches for Mary

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tavener's First Opera, June 15, 2000

By 

David Gottner - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mary of Egypt (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful opera by Tavener, though like most of his works it can seem a bit tedious at first. For me I had to listen to Act I and come back later for Acts II, III, IV, and V.

This work is similiar in style to his other vocal works - it's in the style of an Ikon, and does not sound like what we typically think of as "opera".

This is my favorite of tavener's long works, due to some really spectacular moments - the "bless" duet in Act III, the totally instrumental (tone poem) of Act IV, and all of Act V. Throughout the opera there is an overtone singer who periodically chants the primary message of the opera ("The ways to salvation are more than one.") Throughout the opera the strings are sounding a major triad, which reminded me on first hearing of the cosmic "OM". (The CD also includes a commentary by Tavener where he confirms that I was essentially correct.)

The one major flaw of this work is that Act I seems far too long and it's in a very tedious ABABABAB... structure. However, once you get past the first act, the music becomes more interesting.