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![DELLAIRA, M.: Arctic Explorations [Opera] (C. Levin, N. Haslett, Nuka Alice, Brittain, New Amsterdam Singers, The Harlem Chamber Players, Longstreth)](https://cdn.naxos.com/sharedfiles/images/cds/hires/8.669054.jpg "DELLAIRA, M.: Arctic Explorations [Opera] (C. Levin, N. Haslett, Nuka Alice, Brittain, New Amsterdam Singers, The Harlem Chamber Players, Longstreth)")
Composer(s): Dellaira, Michael
Lyricist(s): Dellaira, Michael
Conductor(s): Longstreth, Clara
Ensemble(s): Harlem Chamber Players, The
Choir(s): New Amsterdam Singers
Artist(s): Brittain, Erin; Celentano, Michael; Haslett, Nicole; Levin, Colin; Nuka Alice; Pietrzak, Robert
Label: Naxos
Series: American Opera Classics
Genre: Opera
Period: Contemporary
Catalogue No: 8.669054
Barcode: 730099905473
Release Date: 11/2025
DELLAIRA, M.: Arctic Explorations [Opera] (C. Levin, N. Haslett, Nuka Alice, Brittain, New Amsterdam Singers, The Harlem Chamber Players, Longstreth)
Michael Dellaira has become one of America’s leading opera composers, receiving acclaim and awards for compelling stage works including The Leopard (Naxos 8.669052–53). Based on Elisha Kent Kane’s expedition to find the Northwest Passage in the mid-19th century, Arctic Explorations is a study on the human desire to discover what lies beyond the boundaries of our experience. The effects of global warming and the plight of the Inuit in one of the most beautiful but endangered places on earth also forms part of the narrative.
Tracklist
Dellaira, Michael
Dellaira, Michael - Lyricist
Dellaira, Michael - Lyricist
Nuka Alice (narrator)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
Celentano, Michael (tenor)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
Nuka Alice (vocals)
Pietrzak, Robert (narrator)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
Celentano, Michael (tenor)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
Nuka Alice (vocals)
Pietrzak, Robert (narrator)
|  | 1 | Prelude, "Sullualuk" (The Northwest Passage): Qaagit, Ujartigut (Chorus, Siarnaq) | 03:42 |
Nuka Alice (narrator)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 2 | Scene 1, "Maggie Fox and the spirit circle": Margaret Fox Kane (that's me, though I was mostly known as Maggie) (Maggie, Chorus) | 04:55 |
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 3 | Scene 2, "Lady Jane": Message from the President of the United States (Chorus, President, Lady Jane) | 06:52 |
Celentano, Michael (tenor)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 4 | Scene 3, "The Expedition": In the month of December, 1852 (Kane, Chorus) | 03:16 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 5 | Scene 4, "Love Letters - Interlude 1": My dearest Maggie (Kane, Chorus, Maggie) | 02:31 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 6 | Scene 5, "In the Ice": Bay ice, drift-ice, field-ice, floe (Chorus, Kane) | 03:46 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 7 | Scene 6, "Love Letters - Interlude 2": My dearest Maggie (Kane, Maggie) | 01:34 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 8 | Scene 7, "Siarnaq": In Christ there is no East or West (Chorus, Siarnaq, Kane) | 07:55 |
Nuka Alice (vocals)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 9 | Scene 8, "Natural Laws": I am convinced (Kane, Maggie, Chorus) | 02:47 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 10 | Scene 9, "Christmas": December 25, Christmas, Monday (Kane, Chorus) | 02:35 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 11 | Scene 10, "Sir John: Died in Her Majesty's service": In Christ there is no East or West (Chorus, Reporter, Lady Jane, Siarnaq, Kane) | 05:01 |
Pietrzak, Robert (narrator)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
Nuka Alice (narrator)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
Nuka Alice (narrator)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 12 | Scene 11, "The Escape": The summer was wearing on (Kane, Chorus) | 05:27 |
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 13 | Scene 12, "New York": October 12th, 1855 (Chorus, Siarnaq) | 01:53 |
Nuka Alice (narrator)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 14 | Scene 13, "Spirit World": He died still a young man (Chorus, Maggie, Lady Jane, Siarnaq, Kane) | 11:32 |
Haslett, Nicole (soprano)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
Nuka Alice (narrator)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Brittain, Erin (soprano)
Nuka Alice (narrator)
Levin, Colin (baritone)
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
| | 15 | Postlude, "Sullualuk": We are the spirit of the Northwest Passage (Chorus) | 02:18 |
New Amsterdam Singers (Choir)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Harlem Chamber Players, The (Ensemble)
Longstreth, Clara (Conductor)
Total Playing Time: 01:06:04