The above translation of a stanza from the poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke is included in the booklet of Steve Hackett's Metamorpheus, to depict the duality of existence of the semi-titular protagonist Orpheus. It could also be a metaphor for the dual nature of Steve Hackett's recording career, split between rock and classical music and the part of him that is compelled to express himself in both realms. Metamorpheus is probably the finest classical album Steve Hackett has yet composed. It retains the chamber feel of some of his other work, such as A Midsummer Night's Dream and Bay of Kings, but shows the composer going deeper than he ever has before in terms of writing, performing and especially orchestral arranging.

Metamorpheus is a romantic song cycle told entirely through music, portraying the tragic love between Orpheus and Eurydice. Each song has a brief synopsis in the booklet, tracing Orpheus' journey from birth to death to immortality in the constellation of Lyra. Beginning with the melancholy "The Pool of Memory and The Pool of Forgetfulness" and ending with the triumphant lullaby of "Lyra", Metamorpheus is thoroughly sad in tone, but always manages to be moving and uplifting. Perhaps that is part of the duality of existence that Rilke speaks of in his Sonnets to Orpheus.

It's difficult to list favorite compositions, but I love the way in which the nylon guitar of the main theme from "The Pool of Memory" is recapitulated in "Charon's Call" by the principle violin player Christine Townsend. "Under the World" features a fantastic Bolero-like arrangement in which the main theme is given another variation and builds to a beautifully heartfelt conclusion. The overall effect almost reminds me of a Bernard Hermann film soundtrack. "Severance" is equally dramatic and builds on the theme established by "Orpheus Looks Back". The aching "Elegy" is followed by "Lyra", in which Orpheus is finally reunited with his love Eurydice while his music is immortalized in the heavens.

Steve Hackett has clearly outdone himself on Metamorpheus. Though it won't appeal to all fans across the board-I.E. it's not a progressive rock album-it has easily won me over. I can't imagine Metamorpheus not being in my top twenty of 2005. It is one of the most beautiful and deeply poetic albums I've ever heard.