Abels: Frederick’s Fables

“Fables are stories that contain a life lesson or a moral.” — Michael Abels On March 12, 2022, Michael Abels joins the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra for a performance of his work Frederick’s Fables, conducted by Stilian Kirov. Scored for narrator and orchestra, the 37-minute, four-movement piece showcases fours texts by celebrated children’s author and illustrator […]

Michael Abels

Abels: At War With Ourselves

“I’ve said before that I want to create bulletproof music.” And so, David Harrington, founder and artistic director of the San Francisco-based Kronos Quartet, shares his vision into the ensemble’s latest commissioned work — At War With Ourselves. Composed by Michael Abels, the evening-length work is scored for narrator, string quartet and chorus, and features […]

Abels: Emerge Premieres at NJ Symphony

“For our first public subscription concerts since the COVID-19 shut down, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra wanted to project a sense of catharsis, healing, joy, and wonder.” — Patrick Chamberlain As the 2021-22 performance season begins and the concert world returns to live music, Patrick Chamberlain — NJSO Vice President of Artistic Planning — comments […]

Michael Abels

Abels: “desert in” operabox.tv

“In a mysterious motor lodge…along a desolate stretch of highway in the American desert, customers pay for the usual amenities — a room, a pool, a lounge. But here, they also pay to be reunited with lost loves of all kinds…” June 2021 brings the premiere of “desert in,” a new, operatic television miniseries featuring […]

Abels: Composers Corner Q&A

Welcome to “Composers Corner,” Subito’s series of composer talks…a way to better get to know our composers. During this unsettling COVID-19 pandemic, they’ll share how — as creators — they’ve been affected by it, what projects they’ve been working on, along with some of their personal interests. They’ll offer a glimpse and some insight into […]

Abels: Falling Sky Premieres

February 5 brings the world premiere of Michael Abels’ first ballet Falling Sky, which features choreography by international dancer and choreographer Patrick de Bana. Commissioned by Butler University (Indianapolis, Indiana), the four-movement, 20-minute work is scored for concert band and will be performed by the Butler Ballet. Col. Michael Colburn conducts six spotlighted performances as […]

Abels: An Advocate for Liquify

“I am an advocate of Michael Abels’ music; and, I try to program and perform it whenever and wherever I can.” As the Richmond Symphony’s July 30 performance of Abels’ Liquify approaches, guest conductor Mark Russell Smith talks about Liquify and his long-standing relationship with the composer’s music. Smith — music director of the Quad […]

Abels: The Legacy of Dr. King

“It’s an intimidating assignment to write a piece on the legacy of Dr. King.” Michael Abels offers some insight into his popular work Dance for Martin’s Dream, which is featured on the Minnesota Orchestra’s July 13 Sommerfest concert, led by music director Osmo Vänskä. Co-commissioned by the Houston and Nashville Symphonies, Dance for Martin’s Dream is […]

Abels: A Great Job

“Global Warming does a great job of musically addressing the issues embedded within the title.” And so, conductor Tobin Stewart highlights the core of Michael Abels 8-minute orchestral work as Stewart joins the Montana State University Symphony for the orchestra’s May 2019 South American tour to Chile. Stewart will conduct concerts in Ovalle, Santiago, and […]

Abels: Eerie, Empathetic & Compelling

It’s April 2019, and award-wining composer Michael Abels has done it again – created an eerie, empathetic, and compelling film score for Oscar winning-director Jordan Peele’s second record-breaking film “Us.” Released back in March, “Us” premiered at SXSW to strong critical reviews. In its national release, it shattered box-office records raking in over $70 million […]