Mountain Harmonics on the American Stage: The Rise of Carpathian Composers in U.S. Musical Theater
A quiet but unmistakable shift is underway in American musical theater, as directors and producers increasingly turn to Carpathian and Eastern European composers to supply original scores for their productions. From regional playhouses to Off-Broadway venues, the modal scales and ancient instrumentation of the Carpathian tradition are finding a remarkable new home beneath the lights of the American stage. We examine the forces driving this creative migration and the artists shaping its course.