A concept album that seamlessly moves from pristine art songs to string quartets and ambient sound design married to acoustic chamber music, composer Toni Lester's "Will The Time Ever Come? ~ Art Songs And Chamber Music Inspired By Nature" is a fresh and compelling take on how music can honor our connection to nature. Lyrics to songs are by Lester, as well as iconic writers Langston Hughes and Katherine Mansfield. The CD features Grammy award-winning baritone (for his collective work with "Room Full of Teeth"), Dashon Burton, Artist Presentation Society Winner Stephen Porter (piano), Carmel Bach Festival Adams Master Class winner Emily Marvosh (contralto), and talented performers like Jessica Petrus (soprano), Clare Iannota Nielsen (flute), and Reinmar Seidler (cello), among others. All song lyrics are by Toni Lester, except: "Earth Song" is from the Langston Hughes poem, "Earth Song" (used w/permission from L. Hughes' literary executor); and "Winter Song" is from the Katherine Mansfield poem, "Winter Poem" (used with permission from K. Mansfield's literary executor).
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