Wuthering Heights (2022)

Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975) — Wuthering Heights (2022) for organ

0:00 | 1. Nature
4:06 | 2. Revenge
4:47 | 3. Love

“Wuthering Heights” (2022) is a symphonic poem inspired by the 1847 novel by English author Emily Brontë (1818–1848). The composer has written: “The three movements of the symphonic poem are inspired by elements in the book. ‘Nature’ is the house itself and the moor, elements that find a reflection in Catherine’s passionate and wild personality. ‘Revenge’ represents Heathcliff, whose absolute desire prevents him from finding peace away from Catherine. ‘Love’ is actually death: the two lovers can be together only in death, hence the hypnotic last movement. As for the formal layout, the composition features two main themes: Catherine's, and Heathcliff's, which meet in double counterpoint at the end of the piece after being heard in the first and second sections respectively. The dissonant second is intended as a gothic element, evoking ghosts and life after death.”

Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975) is an Italian composer. Educated at the Conservatory in Milan, she has composed in many genres, developing a personal language that is concerned with the blend of past and present. Her compositions have been performed frequently around the world. Ferrari’s music appears on several CD recordings, including eight all-Ferrari organ CDs: four recorded by Carson Cooman (2014/16/18), three by Peter Clark (2015/16/18), and one by Luca Massaglia (2021). She served as chair of music composition at Hebei Normal University in Shijiazhuang, China and is currently professor of music composition at the European School of Economics in Florence, Italy.