Short bio Carlisle Floyd
Full biography Carlisle Floyd
Carlisle Sessions Floyd was an American composer who primarily wrote operas. Born on June 11, 1926, Floyd passed away on September 30, 2021, at the age of 95. He was known for his ability to spin fables of the American South into his operas, with many of their plots being derived from Southern folklore and literature.
Floyd's most famous opera is "Susannah," which has been performed numerous times in the United States and Europe. He also wrote his own libretti for his operas. Despite being known for his operas, Floyd also composed other works, including choral music, song cycles, and instrumental pieces.
In interviews, Floyd spoke about the joys and challenges of composing for the human voice, mentioning that he was drawn to opera because he believed it was the perfect art form to express the full range of human emotions.
He was a recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the National Medal of Arts, and is considered to be one of the most important American opera composers of all time. His works are still performed regularly by opera companies around the world.
Floyd's legacy in the world of music will be remembered for his unique ability to bring the stories of the American South to life on the operatic stage, and for his contributions to the canon of American classical music.
Albums featuring Carlisle Floyd
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Phares, Royal, Dobson, Shelton, Kelley, Rideout, Harms, Eddy, The Florentine Opera, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, William Boggs – Prince Of Players: An Opera In Two Acts(2×CD, HDCD, Album) | 2020 | Reference Recordings |
| 2 |  |
Susannah(DVD, DVD-Video, NTSC, Stereo) | 2017 | Naxos |
| 3 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Florentine Opera Company, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Joseph Mechavich – Wuthering Heights: An Opera In Three Acts(2×SACD, Hybrid, Album) | 2016 | Reference Recordings |
| 4 |  |
Susanne Mentzer, Carlisle Floyd – Letter To The World(CD, Album) | 2013 | GPR Records |
| 5 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, John Keene, LSU Opera – Willie Stark(DVD, DVD-Video) | 2008 | Newport Classic Ltd. |
| 6 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Patrick Summers, Houston Grand Opera – Of Mice And Men(2×CD, Album) | 2003 | Albany Records |
| 7 |  |
The Sojourner And Mollie Sinclair(CD, ) | 1999 | VAI Audio |
| 8 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Norman Treigle, Alan Crofoot, Orchestra And Chorus Of The New Orleans Opera – Markheim: Opera In One Act(CD, Album) | 1995 | VAI Audio |
| 9 |  |
Carlisle Floyd - Phyllis Curtin, Norman Treigle, Orchestra And Chorus Of The New Orleans Opera, Knud Andersson – Susannah(2×CD, Stereo) | 1995 | VAI Audio |
| 10 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Opera De Lyon, Kent Nagano – Susannah(CD, Promo, Sampler) | 1994 | Virgin Classics |
| 11 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Cheryl Studer, Samuel Ramey, Jerry Hadley, Orchestre De L'Opéra De Lyon, Kent Nagano – Susannah | 1994 | Virgin Classics |
| 12 |  |
The New Orleans Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, Werner Torkanowsky, Norman Treigle, Gordon O. Brown - Floyd / Hovhaness / Colgrass / Rorem – Pilgrimage / Fra Angelico / The Earth's / Lions(LP, Album, Test Pressing) | 1972 | Orion |
| 13 |  |
Susannah(2×LP, Album, Stereo, Box Set, ) | 1972 | Not On Label |
| 14 |  |
Morton Gould / Carlisle Floyd - The Louisville Orchestra, Jorge Mester – Soundings / Columbia / In Celebration: An Overture For Orchestra | 1972 | First Edition Records |
| 15 |  |
The New Orleans Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, Werner Torkanowsky, Norman Treigle, Gordon O. Brown - Floyd / Hovhaness / Colgrass / Rorem – Pilgrimage / Fra Angelico / The Earth's / Lions(LP, Album) | 1972 | Orion |
| 16 |  |
The Louisville Orchestra, Carlisle Floyd, Robert Sanders (2) – The Mystery / Little Symphony No. 1 In G(LP) | 1963 | First Edition Records |
| 17 |  |
Carlisle Floyd, Patrick Summers, Houston Grand Opera – Cold Sassy Tree(2×CD, Album) | - | Albany Records |
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