The combination of contemporary music and contemporary poetry ought to create an exciting fusion for a contemporary audience. But we live in an age where neither is valued highly enough individually, and the combination seems even more daunting. But Carters vocal pieces are among his most profoundly complex, subtle, unpredictable emotional adventures. As more performers figure out how to make them work — how to make them "speak," seem "lived through" (which is what has happened with Carter's instrumental music, especially his string quartets) — they too may finally get the audiences they deserve.

from the attached booklet