Orfeo Audiobook By Richard Powers cover art

Orfeo

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Orfeo

By: Richard Powers
Narrated by: Christopher Hurt
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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 Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Inspiring
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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.

Music in Print

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

Narrative flow not best for audio

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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.

Powers Delivers again

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Richard Powers is a wonder and a joy to take in. Makes me want to go out and read more of his ....

Wonder Meditation on the Power of Music and Prose

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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.

Surprising Richard Powers

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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.

A new standard for a 5 star rating

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I really loved this! The way Powers translates music into words is just amazing! Bravo, Meastro!

Gorgeous Language & Wonderful Performance

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What was most disappointing about Richard Powers’s story?

I'm almost 6 hours into this novel and I still don't really know what's at stake or where we're going. I'm cheap, so I'll keep listening, but I may not make it to the end. The first chapter is probably the worst, as an old man, a composer, buries his dead dog. Now we're following the young composer's intellectual development. Lots of Music 101, some of which is interesting, some less so. But the drama, if there is one, has yet to announce itself.

Would you be willing to try another one of Christopher Hurt’s performances?

No. He's monotonous. I was listening in the car yesterday and nearly drove off the road as I fell into a stupor. Some of that might be that the book, which has very little dialog. So it's lots and lots of omniscient narration with little opportunity for varied voices.

Plot very slow to develop

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And Richard "atthepeakofhis" Powers did! As a dilettante music lover, which I am, he brings even to me and to any thus beset, the artistry of a composer. And a hero for the times, one who aspires not to be a big noise but a beautiful phrase. Sometimes it seems RP is thwarted by his own exceptional skills, and his powerful beliefs, which sometimes seem a tad strident. However worthy (very). But not in this work. One believes throughout and never thinks a fiction-prestidigitator is duping one. Authentic and human. And now I listen to all the musical works referenced and experience a richness my poor ear would not otherwise have found.

Let's make something beautiful!

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Self indulgent and only a meh storyline. Entertaining writing with great word pictures but otherwise just okay.

Self indulgent and only a meh storyline.

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