Soliloquy

“True! – nervous – very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad?” Thus begins Edgar Allan Poe’s psychological portrait of a murderer in the short story “The Tell-Tale Heart”, as does Martín Letelier’s musical setting. In his composition, the focus is clearly on the text: Letelier presents a narrator to guide us through the action and ensure that the story is experienced as directly as possible. The choir/vocal ensemble comments on, illustrates and underlines the narrative – in a sense, you could say that a choral melodrama unfolds. With this captivating composition, Letelier has possibly created a new genre for the choral world, one that ought to be developed further. Musically and dramatically, the composer shows great sensitivity and audacious creativity. He has already won numerous prizes for his work. “Soliloquy” was awarded 2nd prize and the audience award at the “Nocturne” competition run by Voktett Hannover as part of the chor.com congress.