Competitions & Awards
NY Philomusica Opens 37th Season with Haydn Opera 'La i'sola disabitata'
New York Philomusica opens its 37th season under the artistic direction of A. Robert Johnson by boldly entering a new arena: opera. The program, a concert performance of Joseph Haydn's L'isola disabitata (The Uninhabited Island) will take place on Thursday, October 2, 2008, at 8:00 p.m., at the Broadway Presbyterian Church, Broadway at 114th Street, in New York City. Singers will be Nicole Franklin, soprano; Soon Cho, mezzo soprano; Scott Murphree, tenor; and Mischa Bouvier, baritone. Instrumentalists are: Karen Bogardus, flute; Carolyn Pollak, Peggy Wiltrout, oboe; Katrina Russell, bassoon; Andrew Clark, Heidi Lucas, horn; Yonah Zur, Ralph Allen, Erik Carlson, Keats Dieffenbach, Amie Weiss, violin; Junah Chung, Leslie Tomkins, viola; Gerald K. Appleman, 'cello; and Richard Sosinsky, contrabass. Mr. Johnson will host a free Meet-the-Artists interview of Elaine Sisman, Columbia University professor and noted scholar, preceding the concert at 7:30 p.m. A reception for audience and musicians will follow the performance.
Since its founding the group has explored the highly original work of Joseph Haydn in all musical realms of interest to him, except, until now, for his operas. In October the New York Philomusica proves that it is as versatile as the composer it honors, inviting some of the country's finest up-and-coming singers for an unforgettable season opener: Joseph Haydn's L'isola disabitata. The tale features a shipwreck, the apparent abandonment on an uninhabited island (the opera's title) of a woman and her young sister. The sister reaches her maturity during the long wait for rescue by her older sister's husband, who, unbeknownst to her, was held captive by pirates. She chisels her lament in stone during her long ordeal, the while decrying to her niece the perfidy of men. When her husband finally arrives on the island with a loyal, younger friend in tow, the aunt's version of what to expect of them is immediately overlooked due to the force of opposite attraction. The little sister falls immediately in love with the husband's friend.
L'isola disabitata, a 1754 text by the eminent poet Pietro Metastasio and a story set by no fewer than 30 composers, including its author, was premiered in December of 1779. This performance will be sung in English, using the Thomas Busse edition, with English version by Robert Hess. Program notes including a synopsis will be provided at the concert. Artistic Director A. Robert Johnson has brought together a cast of fine young singers from around the country to bring to life Metastasio's characters, accompanied by the excellent musicians of New York Philomusica's core ensemble. Given the importance to Haydn of opera, and of Haydn to New York Philomusica, Johnson felt it essential to include at least one offering of this genius work in the genre. No survey of the master would be complete without it.
The concert is preceded by a Meet-the-Artists interview with Elaine Sisman, a Columbia University professor and noted scholar. Due to her long-time interest and experience in the field of Haydn scholarship, her presence assures us of the most knowledgeable rendering of this overlooked masterpiece.
Live Recordings
Live recordings are available following subscription series concerts. Recordings of last season's programs are currently available for purchase through the ensemble and over the Internet at www.nyphilomusica.org and CD Baby, www.cdbaby.com. October 2nd's program will be available on CD later in the season. The ensemble is accepting pre-orders by phone and email.
Educational Seminars
A series of educational seminars will be presented in conjunction with concerts in both New York City and Rockland County. These will bring the performers before their audience of anyone aged nine years or older to describe the music, its form, the performance traditions and the story being narrated by the performers. The seminars will last 45 minutes each. Please contact the Educational Seminars Events Chair, Martha Liubicich, for more information or registration at 917-774-7123 or marvl917@aol.com.
Dates and times for the first set in the series are as follows:
Rockland County: Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Sickletown Road, Pearl River, NY: Friday, September 26, at 9 AM, 10 AM, and 11 AM. New York City: Broadway Presbyterian Church, Broadway at 114th Street. Friday, September 26, at 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM, and Tuesday, September 30 at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
Times are subject to change. Please call or check the ensemble's website for the most up-to-date information.
Upcoming New York City concerts: New York Philomusica presents four concerts at Broadway Presbyterian Church this season. The three remaining concerts will take place on the following Thursdays: December 11, 2008, and February 12 and April 9, 2009. Program details and subscription information can be found at www.nyphilomusica.org. New York Philomusica holds an additional annual concert series in Rockland County. October 2nd's program will be performed there on the preceding Saturday, September 27th, at 8 p.m., at the Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Pearl River, NY. For more information, call Orangetown Friends of Philomusica at (845) 359-5660.
NEW YORK PHILOMUSICA, founded in 1971 by A. Robert Johnson, presents a wide spectrum of chamber music, with the goal of creating an experience that is well rounded, informative and enjoyable. The centerpiece of all the ensemble's activities is its annual concert series in New York City. It performs the same programs in nearby Rockland County, NY. Its Festival of History and Music in the historic hamlet of Tappan, New York, the year of its founding led to its pioneering of the modern residency in 1973, when it provided music services to the community of Hanover, New Hampshire, during its seven-week stay at Dartmouth College. This was followed by its New York City Metropolitan Subscription Concerts in all five boroughs (1975-1979) and New York State Capitol Region Residency (1979-1981). The ensemble produced a Serenade to Beethoven from Saratoga Springs, NY, narrated by George Plimpton for television in 1982, and in 1987 was sent on a 9-concert tour of Latin America by the US Department of State. Praised by critics worldwide, the ensemble's range of programming includes its 1993 World Premiere of Stravinsky's A Soldier's Tale, with Kurt Vonnegut's new text, the 1999 American premiere of Beethoven's Concerto No. 4, for piano and string quintet, and numerous collaborations with renowned jazz pianist, the late Sir Roland Hanna. Through its Featured Composer initiative, the ensemble was an early exponent of providing sustained exposure to Iain Hamilton, Jacob Druckman, and John Harbison. Its newest Featured Composer is Michael Berkeley, whose work has already been featured on several programs.
The first American ensemble to record Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, New York Philomusica is also the first group ever to record the entire Mozart Divertimento catalogue. The Divertimento recordings were originally released by VoxBox Productions in 1975 and were followed by a release of Mozart Wind Serenades. Both titles were reissued in October 2002 on the ensemble's own label, New York Philomusica Records, established in 1992. New York Philomusica Records now has 27 titles, available in stores, online at Amazon.com or through the New York Philomusica at www.nyphilomusica.org.
TICKET PRICES for October 2nd are $30 ($25 seniors, $10 students). Four-concert subscriptions are also available for $110 ($90 seniors, $25 students). Tickets can also be purchased online through the ensemble's website using PayPal. For information or tickets, call New York Philomusica at (212) 580-9933, or visit www.nyphilomusica.org.
For press tickets, photographs, or further information, please contact: Kim Stanford, 347-416-6522, or A. Robert Johnson, 212-580-9933 ###
Since its founding the group has explored the highly original work of Joseph Haydn in all musical realms of interest to him, except, until now, for his operas. In October the New York Philomusica proves that it is as versatile as the composer it honors, inviting some of the country's finest up-and-coming singers for an unforgettable season opener: Joseph Haydn's L'isola disabitata. The tale features a shipwreck, the apparent abandonment on an uninhabited island (the opera's title) of a woman and her young sister. The sister reaches her maturity during the long wait for rescue by her older sister's husband, who, unbeknownst to her, was held captive by pirates. She chisels her lament in stone during her long ordeal, the while decrying to her niece the perfidy of men. When her husband finally arrives on the island with a loyal, younger friend in tow, the aunt's version of what to expect of them is immediately overlooked due to the force of opposite attraction. The little sister falls immediately in love with the husband's friend.
L'isola disabitata, a 1754 text by the eminent poet Pietro Metastasio and a story set by no fewer than 30 composers, including its author, was premiered in December of 1779. This performance will be sung in English, using the Thomas Busse edition, with English version by Robert Hess. Program notes including a synopsis will be provided at the concert. Artistic Director A. Robert Johnson has brought together a cast of fine young singers from around the country to bring to life Metastasio's characters, accompanied by the excellent musicians of New York Philomusica's core ensemble. Given the importance to Haydn of opera, and of Haydn to New York Philomusica, Johnson felt it essential to include at least one offering of this genius work in the genre. No survey of the master would be complete without it.
The concert is preceded by a Meet-the-Artists interview with Elaine Sisman, a Columbia University professor and noted scholar. Due to her long-time interest and experience in the field of Haydn scholarship, her presence assures us of the most knowledgeable rendering of this overlooked masterpiece.
Live Recordings
Live recordings are available following subscription series concerts. Recordings of last season's programs are currently available for purchase through the ensemble and over the Internet at www.nyphilomusica.org and CD Baby, www.cdbaby.com. October 2nd's program will be available on CD later in the season. The ensemble is accepting pre-orders by phone and email.
Educational Seminars
A series of educational seminars will be presented in conjunction with concerts in both New York City and Rockland County. These will bring the performers before their audience of anyone aged nine years or older to describe the music, its form, the performance traditions and the story being narrated by the performers. The seminars will last 45 minutes each. Please contact the Educational Seminars Events Chair, Martha Liubicich, for more information or registration at 917-774-7123 or marvl917@aol.com.
Dates and times for the first set in the series are as follows:
Rockland County: Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Sickletown Road, Pearl River, NY: Friday, September 26, at 9 AM, 10 AM, and 11 AM. New York City: Broadway Presbyterian Church, Broadway at 114th Street. Friday, September 26, at 1:30 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:30 PM, and Tuesday, September 30 at 1:00 PM, 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM.
Times are subject to change. Please call or check the ensemble's website for the most up-to-date information.
Upcoming New York City concerts: New York Philomusica presents four concerts at Broadway Presbyterian Church this season. The three remaining concerts will take place on the following Thursdays: December 11, 2008, and February 12 and April 9, 2009. Program details and subscription information can be found at www.nyphilomusica.org. New York Philomusica holds an additional annual concert series in Rockland County. October 2nd's program will be performed there on the preceding Saturday, September 27th, at 8 p.m., at the Nauraushaun Presbyterian Church, Pearl River, NY. For more information, call Orangetown Friends of Philomusica at (845) 359-5660.
NEW YORK PHILOMUSICA, founded in 1971 by A. Robert Johnson, presents a wide spectrum of chamber music, with the goal of creating an experience that is well rounded, informative and enjoyable. The centerpiece of all the ensemble's activities is its annual concert series in New York City. It performs the same programs in nearby Rockland County, NY. Its Festival of History and Music in the historic hamlet of Tappan, New York, the year of its founding led to its pioneering of the modern residency in 1973, when it provided music services to the community of Hanover, New Hampshire, during its seven-week stay at Dartmouth College. This was followed by its New York City Metropolitan Subscription Concerts in all five boroughs (1975-1979) and New York State Capitol Region Residency (1979-1981). The ensemble produced a Serenade to Beethoven from Saratoga Springs, NY, narrated by George Plimpton for television in 1982, and in 1987 was sent on a 9-concert tour of Latin America by the US Department of State. Praised by critics worldwide, the ensemble's range of programming includes its 1993 World Premiere of Stravinsky's A Soldier's Tale, with Kurt Vonnegut's new text, the 1999 American premiere of Beethoven's Concerto No. 4, for piano and string quintet, and numerous collaborations with renowned jazz pianist, the late Sir Roland Hanna. Through its Featured Composer initiative, the ensemble was an early exponent of providing sustained exposure to Iain Hamilton, Jacob Druckman, and John Harbison. Its newest Featured Composer is Michael Berkeley, whose work has already been featured on several programs.
The first American ensemble to record Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time, New York Philomusica is also the first group ever to record the entire Mozart Divertimento catalogue. The Divertimento recordings were originally released by VoxBox Productions in 1975 and were followed by a release of Mozart Wind Serenades. Both titles were reissued in October 2002 on the ensemble's own label, New York Philomusica Records, established in 1992. New York Philomusica Records now has 27 titles, available in stores, online at Amazon.com or through the New York Philomusica at www.nyphilomusica.org.
TICKET PRICES for October 2nd are $30 ($25 seniors, $10 students). Four-concert subscriptions are also available for $110 ($90 seniors, $25 students). Tickets can also be purchased online through the ensemble's website using PayPal. For information or tickets, call New York Philomusica at (212) 580-9933, or visit www.nyphilomusica.org.
For press tickets, photographs, or further information, please contact: Kim Stanford, 347-416-6522, or A. Robert Johnson, 212-580-9933 ###
FEATURED JOBS
RENT A PHOTO
