MORAN: Arias, Interludes and Inventions from “Desert...

MORAN: Arias, Interludes and Inventions from “Desert of Roses”; “Ten Miles High Over Albania”; “Open Veins.” Jayne West, soprano; Alexander Balanescu, violin; Mario Falcao, harp; the Piano Circus Band, conducted by Craig Smith and Robert Moran. Argo 436 128-2. This disc makes a good sampling of Robert Moran’s post-minimalist efforts. West was the soaring soprano at the Houston premiere of “Desert of Roses” in February, and she lifts this suite of pretty, lushly scored excerpts as well, despite an exaggerated vibrato in the first aria. Balanescu drives the ominously glittering “Open Veins” with pointed verve, but the simplistic “Ten Miles High Over Albania” works only in the more edgy middle movement, despite the straightforward blandishments of Falcao’s overdubbed harp.