Oliver Davis: Arcadia

Oliver Davis’ music bursts with invention and color, and *Arcadia* is a captivating overview of this talented composer’s rare gift for writing orchestral works that possess both integrity and instant appeal. The joyful opening movement of *Infinite Ocean*, written for the San Francisco Ballet, effortlessly combines the bravado of Italian Baroque with a modern, pulsing energy, while *Gemini*, for solo violin and orchestra, blends pure Romance and raw folk. The *Suite for Piano and Orchestra* harks back to both Debussy and Bach, its final movement a nod to Shostakovich at his most lyrical. The best, however, is saved for last: *The Elements* is a spellbinding suite for tuba, viola, recorder, and piano—an unusual combination that proves utterly beguiling and great fun.