“I have conducted over 1,700 concerts in my 43-year career. Few have excited me as much as the one I am conducting on May 15 — the world premiere of the two-piano/24-percussion instrument version of Roberto Sierra’s stunning Missa Latina, an untraditional setting of the liturgy which is simultaneously rollicking, sensual, and devout.” Harold […]
The reviews are in! On May 7, the Minnesota Opera premiered Paul Moravec’s opera The Shining to excited and enthusiastic cheers. Opening night played to a packed, standing-room only crowd filled with eager young opera-goers and seasoned opera-veterans alike. Based directly on author Stephen King’s 1977 best-selling novel, the opera featured a libretto by […]
“Bringing a new work into the world and contributing to the operatic repertoire is among the great thrills in my life. The team putting together [The Shining] — this fast-paced and dynamic project — bring the audience straight into the hearts and souls of these intriguing characters.” — Michael Christie, Minnesota Opera conductor It’s almost […]
“The Shining is a horror story, but it is also much more than that, because it is dimensional, psychological and, perhaps most importantly, believable.” Eric Simonson, stage director of the Minnesota Opera’s upcoming premiere of Paul Moravec’s new opera, shares some thoughts about bringing the story to life on stage. The Shining is based after […]
On April 24, pianist Rochelle Sennet premieres James Lee III’s new Concerto for Piano and Wind Ensemble with the Morgan State University Symphonic Band. Melvin N. Miles conducts. The four-movement, 22-minute work was written for both Sennet and the university ensemble, and is a continued collaboration with Sennet, who premiered the composers’ Piano Sonata No. […]
“For me, a libretto is just the architecture of the story.” As we move closer to the Minnesota Opera’s world premiere of Paul Moravec’s newest opera The Shining, librettist Mark Campbell offers his perspective on bringing Stephen King’s 1977 best-selling novel to life. Commissioned by the opera company, The Shining is based directly on King’s […]
“Music, Awake! will enjoy a permanent place in the repertoire of American orchestral and choral works.” Michael Murphy, Trustee Emeritus of the Bach Festival Society (Winter Park, FL), introduces us to Paul Moravec’s newest choral work which premieres on April 16 and 17. Music, Awake! was commissioned by the ensemble’s board of directors to celebrate […]
April 2016 brings three world premieres for Nancy Galbraith. On the 10th, the HoodleBug Brass ensemble joins the Pittsburgh Youth Philharmonic for the first performance of Galbraith’s Concerto for Brass Quintet and Orchestra. Commissioned by both organizations, the work is a tribute to the city of Pittsburgh and its historic standing in the American […]
It’s April 1st and it’s about a little over a month until the Minnesota Opera’s May 7th world premiere of Paul Moravec’s new work The Shining. Commissioned by the Minneosta Opera as part of its New Works Initiative, the opera is based on Stephen King’s 1977 best-selling novel and features a libretto by Mark […]
“James Lee III has one of the most distinctive and compelling voices in all of music.” On the eve of the Baltimore Choral Arts Society’s (BCA) March 20 world premiere of the composer’s new work Hallelu Yah!, music director Tom Hall offers some insight into the first performance. Hall continues. “In 2010, the Baltimore Choral […]
