 as mentioned in my previous post, I had two electroacoustic performances in the last 11 days. In this photo I'm singing now our grief is put away by Rob McClure. you can read the promo article here you can read a review of the concert here I like the white lighting by one of the most prolific photographers I know-my Mom (Julie Ann Caselli)! on this recital I sang two pieces I'd never programmed before-the aforementioned now our grief is put away, and Kaija Saariaho's Lonh. The outfit and jewels (thank you Angela Laurio and Marilyn Jordan!) were making their debut as well. I chose this pic so you could get a good view of the dress; got it in Pittsburgh (while shopping with my cousin Teresa) at a cute boutique called figleaf. Definitely worth visiting one of their locations if you're in the area! Like summer, it appears fall is eager to arrive. This is somewhat analogous to my move to New York less than two weeks ago. I'm so happy to be here, and have already heard some wonderful concerts-Respect Sextet/Loadbang, Dave Douglas' Be Still record release, Novus NY, and ICE; tonight I'll hear Talea Ensemble.
In October I'll give two electroacoustic recitals. I'm in Milwaukee on October 18, as the opening performance at Unruly Music Festival. I'll sing works by Andrew Seager Cole, Robert McClure, Kaija Saariaho, and Allan Schindler. October 27 I'm back in New York performing two sets at SPECTRUM, Glenn Cornett's lower east side venue. I am so lucky to have David Friend collaborating with me on this recital! I'll be posting more details soon. In November I'm working with Bob McCormick and the University of South Florida percussion ensemble. We'll be rehearsing, recording and performing Barraqué's Chant aprês chant, the third and final piece for our album of works for voice and percussion. More news and details down the pike-not to mention my website will be getting a facelift over the next couple of weeks. Summer is off to a great start-or spring is going out with a bang...
I just sang Louis Andriessen's La Passione with the phenomenal Ensemble Signal. For those who don't know this tremendous piece, it comprises six songs for amplified soprano/solo violin [played by rockstar Courtney Orlando]. We performed last Saturday at the new music festival June in Buffalo. It was incredible to be ensconced in the sound of the ensemble; the gig was one of the highlights of my career thus far. Andriessen extracted the texts from Canti Orfici, Dino Campana's large collection of poems that date from the early 20th century. Campana [1885-1932] is thought to be one of the greatest Italian poets of the 20th century. A voracious reader (to say the least) who had a bit of wanderlust, his behavior was erratic; he spent much of his adult life in mental institutions. Despite his emotional obstacles, Canti Orfici is deemed a masterpiece by many critics. In mid-July I'll make a trip to the Bang on a Can Summer Institute to perform Rob Honstein's We choose to go to the moon, for voice and cello. I look very forward to collaborating with the lovely and talented Liz Lee. I'll sing at the Detroit Institute of Arts in early August, with Amphion Percussion and clarinetist Lisa Raschiatore. Check my calendar for more information; programing details to be listed mid-July. Spring is full of exciting performances! On March 21 I gave a recital of acoustic/electroacoustic works for voice at SUNY Fredonia. Thank you to Rob Deemer and Paul Coleman for bringing me back to your lovely school. March 23 was the premiere of Jung Sun Kang's Mad Gardener's Song with Eastman Composers' Sinfonietta. I was the soloist (text by Lewis Carroll), with Jerry Hou conducting magnificently, as usual. On April 5 I got to sing Feist's "Lonely Lonely" with the super talented, all-around wonderful Sean Connors on his faculty recital at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. TOMORROW (April 11) I get to sing Steve Reich's brilliant work Tehillim, with the outstanding Brad Lubman conducting. What a thrill!!! It's so nice to be back in Rochester, and to sing in such a great hall. Later this month I get to work with Dr. Julie Hobbs, (Wonder Woman) and Rosalie Gilbert-two excellent musicians who happen to live in Stevens Point (lucky me!). We will perform George Crumb's Federico's Little Songs for Children at both Lawrence University and University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. The last concert in April is a piece by the extremely talented composer Baljinder Sekhon II, who happens to be a good friend. On April 25 I will sing Twelve Virtues with UWSPercussion Ensemble. I will also sing this piece at the University of Maryland in May, with Lee Hinkle and his ensemble. Visit my calendar page for details of upcoming performances at Eastman, University of Maryland and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. I was fortunate to be a guest at my alma mater (Eastman School of Music), where I sang Allan Schindler's Shattered Glaciers.
Also on the program were tremendous works by Matt Barber and John Chowning, with great performances given by Maureen Chowning, Zuza Szewczyk Kwon, and David Leung. Earlier this month I gave two performances with some tremendous percussionists-Bob Becker, Yurika Kimura, Chris Norton, Bill Cahn and Gordon Stout. It was a very inspiring and meaningful collaboration for me. The concerts featured the music of Bob Becker, & took place at Ithaca College and PASIC in Indianapolis, October 31 & November 10.
I was a guest artist at University of South Florida from November 16-21, premiering/recording new works by Matt Barber and Baljinder Sekhon. It was an absolute pleasure to work with these extraordinary composers, who happen to super fun guys!! Bob McCormick is a wonderful collaborator, and I look forward to working with him again in the future. Thank you to Baljinder and Bob for hosting us, and to the students of the USF percussion studio for all of your hard work! I was a fellow at the 10th annual Bang on a Can Festival at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (July 11-30). During these three weeks I met and worked with many wonderful musicians and composers from around the world.
I sang twelve works on seven programs-music of John Adams, (Luciano) Berio, (John) Cage, David Dramm, Osvaldo Golijov, & (Charles) Ives-plus works by BoaC fellows Alejandro Acierto, Elizabeth Kennedy Bayer, & Lachlan Skipworth. April brought an eclectic mix of performances-
Bob Becker's Never in Word with the composer and Eastman Percussion Ensemble, Two performances of Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon's Flores del Viento III : on Hochstein School of Music/Monroe Community College faculty concerts with violinist Pia Liptak, flutist Joanna Bassett and percussionist Matthew Witten, Collaboration with Amphion Percussion at Central New York Day of Percussion, & Jesse Jones' Through the veil -a new work for three sopranos and wind ensemble, with esteemed sopranos Judith Kellock, Patrice Pastore & the Cornell Wind Ensemble, conducted by Dr. Cynthia Johnston-Turner. Click on the link below to view/listen to the webcast of Through the Veil : http://cornellmediasite.cit.cornell.edu/mediasite/SilverlightPlayer/Default.aspx? peid=19af8dc09b7747fa9c0bae2c03e021b41d ■jesse jones speaks about his composition beginning at ~38:06. ■the three voices are amplified with decay; ■you won't see us, as we sang the piece from offstage left/the camera did not capture our bow (sopranos should be heard and not seen?)! I was able to give three premieres in just a months time, which made for a very fulfilling winter. February 16 (the birthday of one of the greatest singers/teachers I'll ever know) was the premiere of David Liptak's beautiful The Eye that Directs a Needle, with Pia Liptak, violin, and Sean Connors, percussion. I then took off for a 2 and a half week jaunt to Germany, the Netherlands, and Spain. It was a terrific trip!!!! In Munich I heard a wonderful rendition of Mahler's Seventh Symphony, with Bernard Haitink conducting the Bayerischer Rundfunk, as well as rehearsals at the Staatsoper (thanks to Kevin Conners!). In Berlin I visited the lovely and very talented Jennifer Lindshield and Priya Palekar-what a wonderful reunion (we all attended graduate school together at Arizona State)!!! In the Netherlands I got to visit/stay with my friend, composer Elizabeth Kelly. I got to take a lesson with Christiane Oelze, one of my favorite singers. I also got to hear her sing Mahler's Fourth Symphony, visit the Escher museum in the Hague (incredible), and wander around Amsterdam with the outstanding cellist Paul Dwyer. Finally an AWESOME visit with my sister Leslie, who I adore!!!!! Seville was many degrees warmer than northern Europe (understandably-but I'm talking about being FREEZING in a wool coat in Berlin, and wearing a tank top in the south of Spain just days later. I only wore tee shirts a couple of days, don't get too jealous). I got to hear Les play with one of her bands, Coraje, at a festival celebrating the independence of Andalucia. It was also great to spend time with Nacho, her 'novio' of many years. I really couldn't have had any more fun on my visit. We even got to go to Cordoba, and I got to go the magnificent Alcazar in downtown Seville. OK-back to music-but I couldn't resist telling you about my first ever trips to Germany/the Netherlands, and my wonderful visit with my sis. 6 planes, 4 cancelled flights and an extra day of travel later, I returned to Rochester (at least I had a good book with me!). I gave back-to-back premieres of electro acoustic works by John Liberatore and Allan Schindler on March 14 and 15. Both pieces are fantastic and so much fun to learn; I hope to sing them again! |
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