"Resurrection" by Tod Machover with Joyce DiDonato. Act 1 Scene 3 - The Prison

Commissioned and premiered in 1999 by Houston Grand Opera, Tod Machover's Resurrection, called "a milestone and a noble achievement" (Lloyd Schwartz, National Public Radio), takes its inspiration from Tolstoy's last novel, written more than one hundred years ago. Video recorded at dress rehearsal.
Resurrection captures an unusual love story between Prince Nekhlyudov (Scott Hendricks) and the serving girl Maslova (Joyce DiDonato). Though divided by class, their fates become intertwined when the Prince sits on the jury that unjustly condemns the young woman to prison. Despite a merciless justice system that does not allow for second chances, an amazing story of courage and redemption emerges. Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times, in a review of the original production in Houston, said, "Machover has a gift for making music that is direct and complicated at the same time, for mixing popular and arcane elements. The vocal writing [of Resurrection] often dazzles with grand melismatic flourishes; jazz tumults through the brutish seduction scene; a gripping rhythmic pulse catapults through ever-changing meters." Another review, in BBC Music Magazine, said, "Machover's rich orchestral palette and high level of rhythmic inventiveness works especially well" (Heidi Waleson, Wall Street Journal critic).