The Last Days of Socrates
(2012)3(I,III=picc,II=afl).3(III=corA).4(II=Ebcl,III=bcl,IV=dbcl).3(III=dbn)–6.3.3.1–timp.perc(5)–harp–pft(=cel)–accordion-elec.gtr–6 solo vln–strings
Abbreviations (PDF)
Bote & Bock
"Dean succeeds in achieving something which cannot be valued too highly: integrity. We sense a deep contemplation of the ultimate questions about the meaning of life and death... From the chorus we realise that the crowd is not merely guileless and blind, but is also deeply moved by the greatness of the philosopher, and yet at the same time afraid. A great success."
Clemens Goldberg, RBB Kulturradio, 26 Apr 2013
"Brett Dean's latest coup: a large-scale oratorio about the judgement and death of the Greek philosopher and at the same time a committed cry for freedom of speech. Atmospheric, onomatopoeic, pregnant with allusions..."
Berliner Morgenpost
"...classical antiquity penetrates into the present... [The choir's] noble art blossoms in the invocation to the Goddess Athena, in the dialogues with the crowd talking with forked tongues in the trial, and in the mourning of Phaidon while Socrates empties the cup of hemlock..."
Der Tagesspiegel