Dan Locklair: Remarkably Prolific

“Dan Locklair is a remarkably prolific composer.” And so, as the Central City Chorus prepares for its March 16 New York premiere of the composer’s Requiem, music director Bryan Zaros shares some insight into the ensemble’s choral composer portrait concert, at St. Malachy’s Church. Locklair’s nine-movement, 45-minute Requiem is set in English and uses elements […]

Paul Moravec: Sanctuary Road – Shout from Every Rooftop

“Shout from every rooftop. Loud as can be: free.’” – Mark Campbell, librettist, Sanctuary Road On January 26 and 28, 2024, the Virginia Opera presents a staged version of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Paul Moravec and fellow Pulitzer-winner librettist Mark Campell’s acclaimed oratorio Sanctuary Road. Kimille Howard directs, and Everett McCorvey conducts both performances at the […]

Abels: Omar goes to Boston

“Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) has been eager for New England audiences to encounter Omar since we became a partner in creating this extraordinary new opera.” – Bradley Vernatter On the eve of the BLO’s New England premiere of co-composers Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels’ work Omar, General Director & CEO Bradley Vernatter shares some thoughts […]

Kander: Wonderfully Technical & Performative

“I am spectacularly grateful to Katy for premiering Rahassya!” — Susan Kander On April 9, 2022, Susan Kander’s newest vocal work Rahassya will be premiered by mezzo-soprano Katherine Pracht-Phares at Bowling Green State University’s Bryan Hall (Ohio). Joining Pracht-Phares are percussionists Nick Fox on vibraphone and David Esselburn on marimba. The 20-minute work is based […]

James Lee III

Lee: Times We’re Living In

“I wanted to commission works that would speak to the times we’re living in.” So notes, Kenneth Kiesler – University of Michigan’s director of orchestras — on the eve of the University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra’s April 6, 2022 world premiere of James Lee III’s newest orchestral work Tethered Voices, narrated by Myah Paden. The […]

Walker: Deep Beauty

“…There is deep beauty in George Walker’s music that speaks directly and movingly to an orchestra and an audience.” And so, Edward Gardner – principal conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra – introduces the ensemble’s upcoming UK premiere of George Walker’s Sinfonia No. 5, “Visions.” The performance takes place on March 30, 2022 at Royal […]

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 […]

Moravec: The Shining Comes to Colorado

“It is such an honor to finally present Paul Moravec and Mark Campbell’s [opera] The Shining.” On the eve of Opera Colorado’s regional premiere of the work, Greg Carpenter — General & Artistic Director — invites us to learn more about the company’s upcoming production which runs from February 26 through March 6 at the […]

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 […]

Lee: “Amer’ican” Premieres

On October 29, 2021, the Detroit Symphony presents the world premiere of James Lee III’s orchestral work Amer’ican, conducted by Eric Jacobsen. Commissioned by the orchestra, Amer’ican was originally scheduled to premiere in April 2020; but due to the Covid pandemic it was postponed until this season. The 13-minute work was inspired by Dvorak’s celebrated […]