John A. Carollo's fourth Navona Records release, and follow up to 2017's The Transfiguration of GIovanni Baudino, is a wondrous musical journey through the world of desire. With Music From the Ethereal Side of Paradise, Carollo makes an impassioned plea for the power of romance. From the opening tensions and mystery of "Awakenings for String Orchestra" through the surprising, amorous joy of "Romanzo!" "Splendido Affare," and "La Tortura dell' Amore," Carollo's compositions communicate what mere words cannot: the inner rapture, utter fulfillment, and yes, the torture, of being in love. Shifting slightly, and perhaps more into the ethereal, "Metamorphosis No. 3 for Solo Violin" introduces a newer, more contemplative element. With short notes and runs, the violin first cries out with unanswered questions followed by furrowed introspection. Two Guitar Etudes follow, demonstrating both intimacy and technique, while maintaining an inquisitive tone throughout. As the album continues, we arrive at a vocal suite with "Little Gems" to be discovered throughout. T.S. Eliot wrote "... The end of all our exploring/Will be to arrive where we started/And know the place for the first time." Musid From the Ethereal Side of Paradise does just that. Concluding as we began with a sumptuous string orchestra, we arrive where we started - enlightened and wise from our journey.

Tracklist:

Awakenings
Romantica Passione Suite (Arr. For Orchestra): III: Romanzo!
Romantica Passione Suite (Arr. For Orchestra): IV: Splendido Affare
Romantica Passione Suite (Arr. For Orchestra): V: La Tortura Dell' Amore
Romantica Passione Suite (Arr. For Orchestra): VIII: Un Giorno Teso
Metamorphosis No. 3 (Arr. For Orchestra)
9 Guitar Preludes (Arr. For Orchestra): No. 3, The Tai Chi Set
9 Guitar Preludes (Arr. For Orchestra): No. 7, The City Of 100 Spires
9 Guitar Preludes (Arr. For Orchestra): No. 9, What Now?
Crafted Stardust (Improvisations With Narrations) [Arr. For Orchestra]: Little Gems
Crafted Stardust (Improvisations With Narrations) [Arr. For Orchestra]: She Saw The Rainbow
Crafted Stardust (Improvisations With Narrations) [Arr. For Orchestra]: Moon Dust
Crafted Stardust (Improvisations With Narrations) [Arr. For Orchestra]: Crafted Stardust
Metamorphosis No. 13 (Arr. For Orchestra)
Bright Stillness (You Are My Desire)

UPC: 896931004480
Label: Navona
Release Date: 10.12.18
Format: CD

Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra - Music from the Ethereal Side of Paradise (CD)