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Press Releases
Songs from the Heart - Melodia Women's Choir
Melodia Women's Choir of NYC – NY's premiere women's choir – presents an evening of music with a romantic flavor. The 32 trained singers of Melodia, with conductor Cynthia Powell, raise their voices in a program of music that speaks from the heart. Recognized for their beautiful blended tone, expansive repertoire and artistic excellence, Melodia's spring 2010 concert offers a special opportunity to hear some hidden musical treasures from the 19th century and more. Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director, says: "These quintessential romantic works are a feast for the ears and I can’t wait to share the music with our audience."
The concert is on Saturday May 22 at 8:30 pm at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Goodman House, 129 West 67th Street, NYC.
The centerpiece of the concert is a selection of part-songs by Robert Schumann, performed in celebration of his 200th birthday. Melodia will feature five songs drawn from two sets of Romances he composed for women's choir in 1849 - Op. 69, & 91. A sixth song, Spruch, Op. 114, was composed in 1853 and is one of Schumann's late works. Schumann’s luscious part-songs for women's voices deserve to be included in the celebration of his work this year.
The concert continues with four sweet miniatures by Johannes Brahms: Vier Lieder aus dem Jungbrunen (Four Songs from the Fountain of Youth), which evoke the joy and tears of young love.
The concert will also feature the New York premiere of three songs by Azerbaijani composer Tofig Gulijev: Arzular (Dreams), Oglum (My Son), and Axsham Mahnisi (Twilight Song). Azeri soprano Naila Aziz, Melodia's special guest soloist for this concert, blends Middle Eastern vocal techniques with Western choral singing in these seldom-heard pieces by Azerbaijan’s most beloved composer.
Additional concert highlights include Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn's (sister of the famed Felix) Three Heine Duets; Rachmaninoff'’s The Angel, from Six Choruses, Op. 14; two songs by Scottish composer Hamish MacCunn: On a Faded Violet, and O My Love, Leave Me Not!, and Mendelssohn's Lied Mit Chor (the Elf Chorus) from Midsummer Night's Dream. Taisiya Pushkar will perform a brief piano interlude featuring works by Robert Schumann and Clara Schumann.
Melodia Women's Choir is recognized as New York City’s premiere women's choir and a fresh voice in the choral arena. The choir has performed several world and New York premieres and has commissioned works by award-winning composer Christina Whitten Thomas, Chris Lastovicka, Allison Sniffin (Music Director, Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble) and Becca Schack.
Melodia has appeared at a wide variety of concert venues including Merkin Concert Hall, Symphony Space in its Wall to Wall series, Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in collaboration with the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space series, Queens Museum of Art, and as guest artists for the New York City Comptroller's Celebration of Women's History Month. Melodia is a recent recipient of NEA funds, among numerous grants.
The mission of Melodia Women's Choir is to create, explore and perform rarely heard women's choral music and to promote opportunities for women composers and musicians. Melodia was founded in 2003 by Jennifer Clarke, an arts management consultant who has worked with London’s Royal Festival Hall, London Sinfonietta, and organizations in New York including the American Music Center, Symphony Space and Dancing in the Streets.
Cynthia Powell, Melodia's Artistic Director and conductor since its inception, is an active conductor, pianist and organist in the New York area. Powell conducted a new choral version of Meredith Monk's Book of Days at Merkin Hall in 2007 and conducted choral portions of Monk’s Songs of Ascension at the BAM Next Wave Festival in 2009 and has toured with Monk's opera, Atlas and Celebration Service in Europe, at the Spoleto USA Festival, the Walker Arts Center and Lincoln Center Festival. Powell also serves as Music Director at West End Collegiate Church, NYC, and is Artistic Director of the Stonewall Chorale.
For more information see www.melodiawomenschoir.org or contact Jenny Clarke at womenschoir@mindspring.com. 212-757-2945
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CONCERT DETAILS
Melodia Women's Choir Songs from the Heart Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 8:30 pm Merkin Concert Hall Kaufman Center, Goodman House 129 West 67th Street, NYC Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Students/seniors $15 in advance (with ID). Visit www.melodiawomenschoir.org or call Brown Paper Tickets: 800-838-3006 Information: 212-252-4134
The concert is on Saturday May 22 at 8:30 pm at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Goodman House, 129 West 67th Street, NYC.
The centerpiece of the concert is a selection of part-songs by Robert Schumann, performed in celebration of his 200th birthday. Melodia will feature five songs drawn from two sets of Romances he composed for women's choir in 1849 - Op. 69, & 91. A sixth song, Spruch, Op. 114, was composed in 1853 and is one of Schumann's late works. Schumann’s luscious part-songs for women's voices deserve to be included in the celebration of his work this year.
The concert continues with four sweet miniatures by Johannes Brahms: Vier Lieder aus dem Jungbrunen (Four Songs from the Fountain of Youth), which evoke the joy and tears of young love.
The concert will also feature the New York premiere of three songs by Azerbaijani composer Tofig Gulijev: Arzular (Dreams), Oglum (My Son), and Axsham Mahnisi (Twilight Song). Azeri soprano Naila Aziz, Melodia's special guest soloist for this concert, blends Middle Eastern vocal techniques with Western choral singing in these seldom-heard pieces by Azerbaijan’s most beloved composer.
Additional concert highlights include Fanny Hensel Mendelssohn's (sister of the famed Felix) Three Heine Duets; Rachmaninoff'’s The Angel, from Six Choruses, Op. 14; two songs by Scottish composer Hamish MacCunn: On a Faded Violet, and O My Love, Leave Me Not!, and Mendelssohn's Lied Mit Chor (the Elf Chorus) from Midsummer Night's Dream. Taisiya Pushkar will perform a brief piano interlude featuring works by Robert Schumann and Clara Schumann.
Melodia Women's Choir is recognized as New York City’s premiere women's choir and a fresh voice in the choral arena. The choir has performed several world and New York premieres and has commissioned works by award-winning composer Christina Whitten Thomas, Chris Lastovicka, Allison Sniffin (Music Director, Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble) and Becca Schack.
Melodia has appeared at a wide variety of concert venues including Merkin Concert Hall, Symphony Space in its Wall to Wall series, Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in collaboration with the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space series, Queens Museum of Art, and as guest artists for the New York City Comptroller's Celebration of Women's History Month. Melodia is a recent recipient of NEA funds, among numerous grants.
The mission of Melodia Women's Choir is to create, explore and perform rarely heard women's choral music and to promote opportunities for women composers and musicians. Melodia was founded in 2003 by Jennifer Clarke, an arts management consultant who has worked with London’s Royal Festival Hall, London Sinfonietta, and organizations in New York including the American Music Center, Symphony Space and Dancing in the Streets.
Cynthia Powell, Melodia's Artistic Director and conductor since its inception, is an active conductor, pianist and organist in the New York area. Powell conducted a new choral version of Meredith Monk's Book of Days at Merkin Hall in 2007 and conducted choral portions of Monk’s Songs of Ascension at the BAM Next Wave Festival in 2009 and has toured with Monk's opera, Atlas and Celebration Service in Europe, at the Spoleto USA Festival, the Walker Arts Center and Lincoln Center Festival. Powell also serves as Music Director at West End Collegiate Church, NYC, and is Artistic Director of the Stonewall Chorale.
For more information see www.melodiawomenschoir.org or contact Jenny Clarke at womenschoir@mindspring.com. 212-757-2945
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CONCERT DETAILS
Melodia Women's Choir Songs from the Heart Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 8:30 pm Merkin Concert Hall Kaufman Center, Goodman House 129 West 67th Street, NYC Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Students/seniors $15 in advance (with ID). Visit www.melodiawomenschoir.org or call Brown Paper Tickets: 800-838-3006 Information: 212-252-4134
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