A startling yet balanced marriage of viola ensemble and digital audio, Hatzis's From the Vanishing Gardens of Eden features exquisite melodies and textures. Inspired by the rapidly disappearing rainforests, and by a much older memory of our mythical forests-those "Gardens of Eden" that were for many eons an integral and inseparable part of our psyche-the work features certain textural choices such as animal sounds, along with a particular kind of complex counterpoint within the context of the viola ensemble that is simple and fairly landscaped when heard in conjunction with the digital audio. The listener can either focus on the contrapuntal complexity of the viola forest or, alternatively, immerse themselves in the overall effect.
Born in Greece, educated in the United States and a Canadian citizen since 1985, composer Christos Hatzis (b.1953) is becoming widely known as a leading figure in contemporary classical music. His works are performed and broadcast throughout the world, and their frequent combination of a powerful spiritual foundation with an immediately accessible appeal has made a deep emotional impact upon audiences and performers alike.
