Jeff Kaliss has a fantastic spotlight, feature, and review in San Francisco Classical Voice for the Florentine Opera’s world premiere recording of Carlisle Floyd: Prince of Players:
“Don’t ever suppose that Carlisle Floyd can’t learn and showcase new tricks, just because he’s the veteran dean of living American composers. Hearing the newly released recording (on San Francisco’s Reference Recordings) of his latest opera, completed in 2016 (when Floyd was 90), will divest you of any such assumption. It’s an enviably innovative and engaging work, with a story based in historical fact, but unlike anything you’re likely to have encountered on the operatic stage. …
Every scene and every aspect of this opera and production (by the Florentine Opera Company of Milwaukee) is worthy of applause, even in the private setting of your sheltered home. More so than most operas of any length — including some of Floyd’s own — both the music and the libretto (written by the composer in less than two weeks) sustain interest throughout, partly because of how confidently these two elements are conjoined.…
I found myself noticing and then anticipating Floyd’s positioning of interludes, both between and inside the two acts and nine scenes. With these, Floyd alluringly presages or reflects on the psychological elements and circumstantial settings of the plot, maintaining the listener’s attention, with particularly fine deployment of flute and woodwinds. The composer continues to manifest an infectious blend of lyricism and dissonance, showcased in his first and best-known opera, Susannah (1955) and in the seven decades since. Conductor William Boggs paces the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra artfully throughout Prince of Players. …
On experiencing the Florentine’s reimagining of his work late last year, Floyd declared, “My 93-year-old heart is filled with joy, and oh, so much gratitude!” I think we all can join in that.”
—Jeff Kaliss, San Francisco Classical Voice