Orpheus

Dominic Inferrera, baritone
Washington Square Contemporary Music Society Players

While Albany’s new disc devoted to the music of Louis Karchin, all of which was composed in the 21st century, primarily consists of art songs for solo voice and piano accompaniment, the high point here for me is a nearly 30-minute masque for baritone, dancers, and ensemble based on the legend of Orpheus. Karchin’s music is especially sensitive to timbre, so it’s always exciting to hear what he does when he has a whole ensemble at his disposal, in this case the de rigeur Pierrot plus percussion and a harp, which adds some unusual textures.

—FJO