It is not the start of a bad joke. Elvis Costello being crossing genre genius that he is, wrote music with a quintet. No really, classically arranged and orchestrated, The Juliet Letters were a collaboration between Costello & The Brodsky Quartet. The concept, a series of letters written by the fictional Juliet Capulet. All members of the quartet & Costello were involved with composing and writing the lyrics.
The Rose Quintet is an ensemble here in Portland that has decided to tackle this piece of music. It's a remarkable thing to hear and watch. It's not often someone sings in the style of Elvis Costello with a string arrangement circling around them. And it just so happens one of those players is Caroline Cornish.
But don't take my word for it...
The Rose Quintet is playing The Juliet Letters at Space Gallery on June 9.