Press

"Shimmering, expressive... graceful elegance...new and vibrant... Beautiful rendition by tenor Michael Slattery and pianist Dimitri Dover."

"Powerful... glowing... radiant... Garfein demonstrates considerable versatility, imagination and subtlety in putting across [Donald] Hall's words... [He] keeps the vocal line simple and forthright, communicating the text naturally while allowing the piano part to provide harmonic freshness. Tenor Michael Slattery is a felicitous choice to perform these songs; his smooth, flexible, appealingly direct voice is a perfect match for the immediacy of expression that is a hallmark of both composer and poet... Soprano Marnie Breckenridge gives lovely voice to this dreamy meditation. The skilled and expressive pianist Dimitri Dover is an essential part of this recording's success."

"Mortality Mansions is one of the most deeply moving and impressive vocal works of the twenty-first century. Michael Slattery, a young, vibrant tenor… sings with unfailing grace and musicality…his singing is utterly superb. Dimitri Dover is everything one could want in a collaborative artist… What is most remarkable, however, is the flawless sense of rapport between singer and pianist. Garfein's meticulously crafted score… boasts a remarkable span of styles and colors… energetic and passionate music… a wrenching yet illuminating journey that cannot easily be forgotten. The same eleven poems as read by Donald Hall himself in the last audio recordings of his voice… [are]nothing short of mesmerizing. A final treasure… Garfein's setting of "Otherwise," a powerful poem by Hall's wife, Jane Kenyon… is perfect in its heartfelt simplicity and honesty, and soprano Marnie Breckenridge sings it beautifully. The liner notes include a detailed and insightful essay by David Hajdu. Delos is to be commended for sparing no expense in giving this recording the kind of beautiful frame that it deserves. This is a recording that belongs on the shelf of anybody who cares about great poetry, great music, and the miracle that occurs when they are combined this masterfully."

"The interpretations by Slattery and Dover are excellent, sometimes possessing a burning intensity but always sensitive to the tender moments."

"Slattery... [has] a chameleon's color palette coupled with an intense resonance with both text and music... [In] 'Otherwise'... the beauty of the poetry is fabulously realized both by Garfein's setting and by Breckenridge's purity of delivery."