POPMATTERS: Steven Mackey and Jason Treuting: Orpheus Unsung
POPMATTERS: Steven Mackey and Jason Treuting: Orpheus Unsung
BY ANDY JURIK
"Composing an opera based on the myth of Orpheus is an unquestionably ambitious project. What makes Orpheus Unsung work so well is what, on the surface, some might consider its limitation: the constricted instrumentation of guitar and percussion. Mackey and Treuting work so well together, and their communication as soloists and bandmates make the record sound much grander than a duo collaboration would imply. While the opera-as-instrumental nature of Orpheus Unsung may scare off casual listeners, it’s their loss. Consider it another success for New Amsterdam, another recording as rich in ambition as it is in a payoff."