Venus In Africa

Description

After acquiring his reputation in Europe as the self-proclaimed “bad boy of music” and causing numerous scandals with his avant-garde experiments, George Antheil took a dramatic turn upon returning to his native America. This change of direction led to a significant number of important compositions, including his later symphonies and a series of one-act stage works, in which Antheil dramatized a wide range of themes and situations. The last work in this series is Venus in Africa, a charming, touching, and very amusing piece for five characters, in which the ancient goddess of love helps an American couple forge a lasting relationship. The music, moving between operatic turbulence, impressionist refinement, and musical-style tunes, is further proof that Antheil had succeeded in shedding his early rebellious image.