A 2010 opera based on Moby-Dick has spawned an orchestral suite
this latest incarnation of the classic tale was fueled by the passion of conductor Cristian M?celaru
<a   href="https://www.wrti.org/post/philadelphia-orchestra-wrti-901-distinctive-american-program-pianist-garrick-ohlsson" class="Link"  target="_blank" data-cms-ai="0"   >On Sunday, February 23rd at 1 PM on WRTI 90.1, Cristian M?celaru leads The Philadelphia Orchestra in a program that features the Moby-Dick Orchestral Suite.</a>
obsession and revenge; a story of whale hunting and life on the sea
The novel by Herman Melville was out of print when its author died
but surged back in the 20th century to become hailed as a classic
Jake Heggie's opera Moby Dick premiered in 2010 with the Dallas Opera
where then assistant conductor Cristian M?celaru was enthralled.&nbsp; "I was so moved by the colors and the harmonic language and the dramatic feel for the story
would you please make an orchestral suite?"
M?celaru asked if he could write the suite.&nbsp; "[Heggie] said
and faced the challenge - and fun - of giving vocal lines to instruments
there's a whole aria that the double bass section plays
M?celaru does not think the orchestral suite should necessarily tell the story of the opera
it should be a journey through the music.&nbsp; "My goal was to be able to represent the purely musical language that Jake uses to be able to tell this story."
The Moby Dick Suite premiered in 2017 at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
where M?celaru was in his first season as Music Director.