John Musto
John Musto (Composer, Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt) is that all too rare exemplar, the classical composer whose work is both critically acclaimed and widely performed, who has also distinguished himself as an instrumental soloist and chamber musician. In particular, Musto has been hailed as the “leading vocal composer of his generation,” and “perhaps also the leading one of opera” by Fanfare magazine, and as a composer who “wraps [his] arms around many musical styles even as [the music] delivers on it s own appealing, colourful and moving terms” (Gramophone magazine), who “spins flaxen pop into golden art” (New York Newsday.) Each of his four operas has been produced multiple times, and each has been commercially recorded (for the Albany, Bridge and Wolf Trap Opera labels.) In the season just past, Bastianello (“…magical, heartbreaking” – Washington Post) was presented by Rochester Lyric Opera and also by SUNY Fredonia, while Later the Same Evening (“…magnificently rendered ensembles…” – Washington Post) was given at Central City Opera. This season, Later the Same Evening travels to Northwestern University, and The Inspector will have a new staging in Houston. In addition to Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt, 2017 will also see the premieres of a new song cycle by Musto for Philadelphia’s LyricFest, and of a major work for Chanticleer, San Francisco’s acclaimed male vocal ensemble.
