Summer in the studio

An intriguing note in the Foothill College newsletter about music instructor Paul Davies. As if teaching today's sprightly youths about music theory, composition and the Beatles weren't enough, Dr. Davies was recently in the studio recording scenes from his new opera.

Titled "Carlota," the opera is about Charlotte of Belgium, who was a princess of Belgium and also Empress Carlota of Mexico. According to the college newsletter, Davies' music is so complex that it would be tough for musicians to play it live flawlessly, so he worked with Foothill music-technology instructor Ed Goldfarb to assemble a "virtual orchestra."

Sounds like a departure from some of Davies' past works, which have included pieces for solo harp and a cappella choral voices. And here he is at the piano playing the Warsaw Concerto.

Pictured: Paul Davies. Photo from foothill.edu.