Orfeo

By: Richard Powers

Narrated by: Christopher Hurt

In Orfeo, Powers tells the story of a man journeying into his past as he desperately flees the present. Composer Peter Els opens the door one evening to find the police on his doorstep. His home microbiology lab - the latest experiment in his lifelong attempt to find music in surprising patterns - has aroused the suspicions of Homeland Security. Panicked by the raid, Els turns fugitive. As an Internet-fueled hysteria erupts, Els - the "Bioterrorist Bach" - pays a final visit to the people he loves, those who shaped his musical journey. Through the help of his ex-wife, his daughter, and his longtime collaborator, Els hatches a plan to turn this disastrous collision with the security state into a work of art that will reawaken its audience to the sounds all around them.

©2014 Richard Powers (P)2014 Recorded Books

Music in Print

Orpheus plot line is a little stretched, but the re-telling of the story of Messiaen in WWII alone is worth the price of admission here. Other sections on music are equally insightful and evocative. Few if any written works have moved me more as an adult to delve into listening to multiple great works of music.

Narrative flow not best for audio

Somewhat different than I expected. A little disconnected for an audio book. Clever juxtaposition of music genetics and aging. Well narrated.

Surprising Richard Powers

the story had themes of the power of music, disconnection, aging, curiosity, creation and art. the characters were fresh and knowable, even the outrageous ones.

A new standard for a 5 star rating

What made the experience of listening to Orfeo the most enjoyable?

The words, the phrases, the sentences, the paragraphs, the chapters, the imagery---difficult to contain my review--so much beauty & depth

What other book might you compare Orfeo to and why?

A rare blend--Powers' knowledge of the musical and scientific rendered so masterfully that it is difficult to compare this brilliant literary contribution.

What about Christopher Hurt’s performance did you like?

I liked that his mispronunciations did not annoy me more.

Who was the most memorable character of Orfeo and why?

Peter Ells--professor extraordinaire—aware that in teaching others, one reveals his soul. Two warnings from the professor, that discovery leads to creation and fermatas reveal the beauty of the music remained with me and left me wondering what else he teaches.

Any additional comments?

The author’s generosity has helped me resurrect fond memories of Mahler, deepen my hopes in life’s mysteries and thank God for these glimpses of the divine.

Powers Delivers again

To me it started off a bit slow but crescendoed into a spectacular masterpiece. Richard Powers is the most cerebral author out there. His books always make you look at the world and the human species in a different way while challenging your intellect and narrating a gripping plot.