Keiser Classical

Laura Schwendinger's Opera ARTEMISIA Premieres and NY Times Review

May 13, 2019 -

Time’s Arrow Festival of New York presented a partly-staged premiere of Laura Schwendinger’s new opera, Artemisia. The New York Times review stated: "Artemisia…fits in big themes set to music of quivering intensity…idea and form, image and projection, sight and gaze also find nuanced and intelligent treatment." The Left Coast Chamber Ensemble of San Francisco premieres the complete, fully-staged opera on June 1st and 2nd of this year. Video and more about the opera are featured in this story.

Norwegian Academy of Music Hosts Donald Crockett as Resident Composer

May 13, 2019 -

Donald Crockett was in residence at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo from March 19 - 24 doing masterclasses, composition lessons and rehearsals. The residency culminated in a chamber music concert, featuring three of the composer’s works on March 24: Whistling in the Dark, Wet Ink, and mickey finn. Crockett also received a New Music USA commission for the SAKURA cello quintet to premiere a new major work during the 2019-20 season. The outstanding young ensemble will premiere the work (title TBA) on the Closing Gala concert of the Piatigorsky International Cello Festival in Disney Hall, Los Angeles on March 22, 2020. More performance, video, and recent publications news in this issue.

‘Sounds of Persia’ Series Brings 2 Reza Vali Pieces to Center Stage

May 13, 2019 -

Reza Vali’s works Ashoob: Calligraphy No. 14 for santoor (Persian hammer dulcimer) and string quartet, as well as Ormavi: String Quartet No. 4 were performed by the Persian santoor master Dr. Dariush Saghafi, and the Cuatro Puntos Ensemble during the concert events “Sounds of Persia” on April 10-15, 2019 in Hartford, Glastonbury, Enfield, and Willimantic, CT. These performances are an example of a very active concert season for the composer.

Stephen Hartke Gets 2nd Premiere Year Performance at Aspen Music Fest

May 13, 2019 -

Stephen Hartke’s cello concerto, Da Pacem, will be performed at Aspen Music Festival on July 17 under the baton of Robert Spano. The work is enjoying its second performance in its opening year. Hartke’s music is featured on several concert programs in the 2019 and 2020 seasons, including his double-GRAMMY^® winning composition, Meanwhile. Video, performances and recent publications in this issue.

Bruce Adolphe Receives Two 50th Anniversary Commissions

May 10, 2019 -

Bruce Adolphe’s Are there not a thousand forms of sorrow? for string quintet was commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. The World Premiere will take place on October 27 at Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Center, New York. The composer also received a commission from another venerable chamber music institution, the Da Capo Chamber Players, to celebrate the ensemble’s 50^th Anniversary in 2021. Full articles, new publications and performances in this Spring update.

Keiser Classical Welcomes Composer Laura Schwendinger

January 11, 2019 -

Keiser Southern Music is pleased to welcome Laura Schwendinger to its growing catalog of accomplished contemporary composers, which also includes the work of Stephen Hartke, William Bolcom, Peng-Peng Gong, George Walker, Kenneth Fuchs, Roger Sessions and many others. She is first composer to win the American Academy in Berlin Prize, and is Professor of Composition at UW Madison. In this issue, we present a few highlights from her considerable catalog spanning over 30 years.

Stephen Hartke Receives Premieres for Two Concerti

January 11, 2019 -

The Riverside Symphony and pianist Xak Bjerken, under the baton of George Rothman, gave the New York premiere of Stephen Hartke's Concerto for Piano and 20 players, Ship of State, on 11/16/2018, the fourth performance since the World Premiere. On December 12, 2018, his cello concerto Da Pacem received its premiere at Oberlin under the baton of Robert Spano with cellist Darrett Adkins. This issue includes these and other recent highlights for the composer.

At the Leading 'Edge' - Donald Crockett New Works and Performances

March 6, 2018 -

Los Angeles-based composer and conductor Donald Crockett has long been at the forefront of American chamber music. It is apparent that Crockett remains a leading force in new music as both champion and creator, as we explore his new works and performances in this issue.

Bruce Adolphe Puzzles Us for 15 Years...and more great news!

March 5, 2018 -

Celebrating 15 years of composer Bruce Adolphe’s show, Piano Puzzlers on public radio, he has launched a website with some fabulous pianists playing the puzzlers: Orli Shaham, Orion Weiss, Joseph Kalichstein, Fabio Luisi (the conductor), and Marija Stroke, plus Fred Child (host of Performance Today) and even some of the composer’s own performances. We invite you to delve into the rich offerings in our Spring 2018 update, including a world premiere in Milan, music inspired by a Buddhist myth, a tribute to a real life hero from World War Two Berlin, and yes, mysteries of the Piano Puzzlers revealed.

NY Times Praises Stephen Hartke Album and a Tale of Two Concertos

March 5, 2018 -

Stephen Hartke has been hailed as ”one of the most distinctive and important living composers” by The New York Times.

His album, "The Ascent of the Equestrian in a Balloon," recorded by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project with conductor Gil Rose, was voted one of the “Best Classical Music” recordings in 2017 by The New York Times.

Hear the title work here.

SHIP OF STATE, Chamber Concerto for Piano and 20 Instruments by Stephen Hartke will receive its premiere on March 9, with Xak Bjerken, piano and the Oberlin Sinfonietta, Tim Weiss, conductor. Additional performances will follow on April 11, with the University of Southern California Thornton Edge Ensemble, Donald Crockett, conductor; and on April 15, given by Ensemble X, led by Tim Weiss. This performance is the first of two concertos by Hartke to receive its premiere this year.

Keiser Classical

Pages