Dello Joio, Justin: Blue Mountain (Bridge Audio CD)

•Premiered last year (2007) in Norway, American composer Justin Dello Joio's one act opera, Blue Mountain, was commissioned and written to commemorate the 100th year of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg's death.

•The opera is based on descriptions of Grieg's final days (September, 1907), and includes the roles of Grieg, his wife Nina, his physician, and his friend and champion, Percy Grainger. Dello Joio's colorful score weaves in references to a number of Grieg's works, including his Violin Sonata in C minor, one of his Lyric Pieces for piano, (Evening in the Mountains) a brief snatch of Peer Gynt, and references to his Piano Concerto.