Mr. Spears, a young, New York-based postminimalist composer, matches the spareness of Ms. Moshiri's text with luminous, pointillistic writing for his five-piece chamber orchestra.

WSJ: The Bricklayer | Houston Grand Opera | A Glimpse Behind the Wall | Opera Review by Heidi Waleson

Arborea is a bit melodramatic at times (the recurring rain stick could have been left out of the mix), and the spareness can leave listeners wanting something meatier.

NPR: Arborea: 'Black Mountain Road'