It had been a long time since I’d written music for the theater when I embarked on Tools. I decided from the start that I was going to trust my instincts and my experience, and simply have fun, letting the characters, the story and the rich poetry of Luigi’s libretto shape the musical path. As a result, the work is both energetic and lyrical, and often funny. Silly and serious moments transpire in quick succession, as do the music’s eclectic points of stylistic reference.

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Jed Distler