DANAE XANTHE VLASSE, Mythologies II

To better understand the truly epic, musically and spiritually transcendent recording projects of the extraordinarily gifted musical visionary Danae Xanthe Vlasse, it’s important to understand her ever-evolving creative mission. The multiple award winning, French born contemporary classical composer/pianist says, “My need to create is so profound that I would keep writing even if no one ever heard a note of my music, but my creative goals are very precise in what I hope to bring to listeners: Beauty, Truth & Elevation!”

She’s achieved this emphatically and with great emotional impact on her 2021 masterwork Mythologies, a Grammy winner for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album) and once again on Mythologies II, a 2024 nominee in another category (Best Classical Compendium) and which this reviewer predicts will take home the award. These two works are the musical equivalent of the first two Oscar winning Godfather films, with both being essential to fully understanding the creator’s thematic intent and expansive storytelling skills.

The comparison makes perfect sense because, in envisioning and executing her further explorations of and our contemporary to Greek mythological figures - this time, Medusa & Perseus and a sweeping six-chapter retelling of Andromeda, Princess of Aethiopia – she says she had a very cinematic scope in mind, “almost like a filmmaker imagining storyboarding.” As on the first volume, Danae’s vocal stars are surreally talented sopranos Hila Plitmann and Sangeeta Kaur, who each have glorious solo segments but also interact and intertwine majestically on the 11-minute multi-movement “Medusa & Perseus” and the second Andromeda chapter “Cassiopela’s Lament.”

Making his debut in Danae’s mythomusical universe is the extraordinary tenor Omar Najmi, who brings his emotional power to “Medusa & Perseus” and four later tracks, starting with the dramatic, tension filled “Cetus,” which also features Kaur. Also noteworthy is pianist Robert Thies, who appeared on one track of the first volume and plays a very substantial role here. And speaking of elevating, Mythologies II also has the cache of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra caressing and empowering every track, as well as all the magic associated with recording the sessions at the historic Abbey Road Studios.

Let’s be grateful that Greek mythology is so deeply populated and that Danae’s father grew up on the Island of Ithaca – two factors that should make this a dynamic ongoing series for some time to come.