Recordings
The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs
Composed by Mason Bates
Libretto by Mark Campbell
Conducted by Michael Christie
The Santa Fe Opera
Released June 1, 2019 by PENTATONE
2019 GRAMMY® Award Winner - Best Opera Recording
In their astounding new opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, composer Mason Bates and librettist Mark Campbell explore the spiritual evolution of one of the most influential men of modern times as he creates a revolutionary new world of technological empowerment, then discovers a larger world within himself.
In 2017, conductor Michael Christie led the world premiere performances of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at The Santa Fe Opera, “with suave assurance” as praised by the San Francisco Chronicle, with “precision and pizzazz” by the Santa Fe New Mexican, and “preside[d] over an expertly executed performance,” according to The Financial Times. PENTATONE released The Santa Fe Opera’s world premiere recording on June 1, 2018.
The role of Steve Jobs is sung by baritone Edward Parks, joined by mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke as his wife Laurene Powell, baritone Kelly Markgraf as his father Paul Jobs, bass Wei Wu as Kôbun Chino Otogawa, Jobs’ spiritual advisor, and tenor Garrett Sorenson as Woz, his friend and business partner.
Twenty-Seven, An Opera in Five Acts by Ricky Ian Gordon
St. Louis Symphony & Michael Christie
Released February 1, 2015 by Albany Records
Available on Amazon and iTunes
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’s ground-breaking world premiere 27 was the second in its New Works, Bold Voices cycle of new American operas by American artists on American themes. The world premiere recording, released by Albany Records, is the first recording of a world premiere commissioned by OTSL in the company’s 40-year history.
27 was composed by Ricky Ian Gordon with libretto by Royce Vavrek. The recording features the St. Louis Opera House Orchestra conducted by Michael Christie, Theo Lebow (Tenor), Stephanie Blythe (Mezzo Soprano), Elizabeth Futral (Soprano), Tobias Greenhalgh (Baritone), and Daniel Brevik (Baritone).
CD Review: Gordon's "27": "Gordon has indisputable assets in the nimble conducting of Michael Christie (leading a lean, lithe band)…” Opera News, June 2015
CD Review: Operatic fantasy on Gertrude Stein: "Michael Christie conducts the company orchestra with vigor." Bay Area Reporter, 7/2/15
CD Review: Great classical music with a local touch, from Spanish song to Brahms: "Michael Christie conducts members of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra with style, panache and clarity." St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/27/15
Manon Lescaut - a Minnesota Operacast
Silent Night (Minnesota Public Radio recording; text by Tom Huizenga: National Public Radio)
Silent Night
by Kevin Puts
Libretto by Mark Campbell
Directed by Eric Simonson
Conducted by Michael Christie
A Minnesota Opera New Works Initiative Production
World Premiere: Nov. 12, 15, 17, 19 and 20, 2011
Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio
Available on Amazon and iTunes
For baritone, full chorus and large orchestra
Premiered February 2008, The Phoenix Symphony
Mark Grey, composer
Michael Christie, conductor
Scott Hendricks, baritone
"Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio does speak to things I've been trying to do, which are melding in very tasteful ways multimedia into the concerts and also just trying to make the case for new music: that new music can be very relevant culturally, that it can sound beautiful and that it can tell a story in an easily discernible way the first time through."
~Michael Christie
Songs of Sea and Sky
Available on iTunes and Spotify
For baritone, full chorus and large orchestra
Premiered February 2008, The Phoenix Symphony
Mark Grey, composer
Michael Christie, conductor
Scott Hendricks, baritone
In celebration of his 75th birthday, ABC Classics release Songs of Sea and Sky, which features some of Australian composer Peter Sculthorpe's finest music heard in a very new way.
For the new collection Songs of Sea and Sky, Sculthorpe has rearranged some of his most well-known and important works—Mangrove, Kakadu, Earth Cry, Songs of Sea and Sky and From Ubirr—especially for didjeridu player, William Barton.
Barton was artist-in-residence with the The Queensland Orchestra. Songs of Sea and Sky is The Queensland Orchestra's first recording with Chief Conductor Michael Christie.
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