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Press Releases
New York Choral Society Presents Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms (New York Premiere)
Who: New York Choral Society and Orchestra | David Hayes, Music Director and Conductor
With guest violinist Jennifer Koh
When: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Hall | 881 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019
Program: Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms, NEW YORK PREMIERE Gustav Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus
Tickets: $30–$80. Tickets may be purchased online at www.nychoral.org or www.carnegiehall.org, by phone from CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or in person at the Carnegie Call box office: 57th Street & 7th Avenue.
Press Contact: Dan Dutcher, 917-566-8413, dan@dandutcherpr.com
New York, NY. March 10, 2014 –The New York Choral Society (NYCS) returns to Carnegie Hall under the baton of David Hayes on Tuesday, April 29th at 8pm to perform the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms in Carnegie Hall with a special appearance by acclaimed violinist Jennifer Koh.
Composer Jennifer Higdon has been described as a “hot commodity” (NY Times) and is one of the most performed living composers today. Originally commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra and premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2008, The Singing Rooms, for chorus, orchestra and solo violin has been described as “one of Higdon’s best” (Philadelphia Inquirer). ConcertoNet.com says, “The emotional spectrum is almost staggering - from pastoral to cataclysmic.”
Ms. Higdon describes The Singing Rooms as a house where the violin sings, the choir sings and the orchestra sings. Every room is its own sound world.
The program will also include a performance of Gustav Holst’s seldom-performed The Hymn of Jesus, which uses Gnostic texts from the apocryphal Acts of St. John that Holst translated himself. A work of great depth and beauty, it is the first major piece Holst composed after completing The Planets. First performed in 1920, The Hymn of Jesus is not a “sacred” piece, but a response to great suffering—Holst’s artistic and philosophical response to the Battle of the Somme, during which, in 1916, over two million people were slaughtered.
“I'm a huge champion of Jennifer Higdon's work and am excited to bring The Singing Rooms to Carnegie Hall for its New York premiere with the New York Choral Society and the fabulous violinist Jennifer Koh,” said Mr. Hayes. “The program will also include Gustav Holst's deeply moving piece, The Hymn of Jesus. The exceptional acoustics of Carnegie Hall and the 180 talented voices of the New York Choral Society will combine to bring these magnificent works to life. I'm thrilled to be bringing both of these masterpieces to the New York audience.”
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
David Hayes, Music Director of the New York Choral Society David Hayes is a conductor with an unusually broad range of repertory, spanning the symphonic, oratorio/choral and operatic genres. His new role as Music Director of the New York Choral Society complements his existing roles as Music Director of The Philadelphia Singers; Music Director of the Mannes Orchestra; and, Staff Conductor of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Hayes has served on the conducting staff of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 2001–2011. He has also served as a cover conductor for the New York Philharmonic as well as for Sir Andre Previn on the Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s 1999 European Tour with Anne-Sophie Mutter.
Recent guest-conducting engagements have included a production of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore for Opera Memphis, conducting Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and the East Coast Premiere performances of Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul for the Opera Company of Philadelphia as well as conducting the finals of the Fulbright Piano Competition with the Artosphere Festival Orchestra.
Past seasons have included concerts with such significant ensembles as The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra 2001, Curtis Opera Theatre, European Center for Opera and Vocal Art, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Washington Chorus, Louisiana Philharmonic, Berkshire Choral Festival and the Verbier Festival.
Trained as a violinist and violist, Hayes received his Bachelor of Music in musicology from the University of Hartford and a diploma in Orchestral Conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Otto- Werner Mueller. He also studied with Charles Bruck at the Pierre Monteux School. He served on the Board of Directors of Chorus America from 2000-2009.
Jennifer Higdon, Composer Jennifer Higdon was born in Brooklyn in 1962 and is one of the most performed and sought after American composers today. The New York Times says “Jennifer Higdon’s vivid, attractive works have made her a hot commodity lately.” The Times of London says, “Higdon’s work is traditionally rooted yet imbued with integrity, freshness and a desire to entertain. A promising mixture. More, please.” Her musical style has been described as using elements of traditional tonality and emphasizes interesting color combinations. Ms. Higdon teaches composition at the Curtis Institute of Music and is the recipient of a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for her Percussion Concerto and was awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in music for her Violin Concerto. The citation from the Pulitzer committee described the piece as “a deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity.” Ms. Higdon is currently writing an opera based on Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain. The piece is co-commissioned by Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia and will be premiered at Santa Fe Opera in 2015.
Jennifer Koh, Violin Violinist Jennifer Koh is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, delivered with dazzling virtuosity and technical assurance. The New York Times says, “She asserted her authority instantly, playing with flawless technique and an unerring sense of contrast and continuity.” Born in Chicago of Korean parents, Ms. Koh made her debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 11. Ms. Koh is dedicated to performing the violin repertoire of all eras believing that the past and the present form a continuum. The exploration of Bach’s music and its influence in today’s musical landscape has played an important part in Ms. Koh’s work. In 2009, she introduced Bach and Beyond, a series of three recitals that explore the history of the solo violin repertoire from Bach to contemporary works including commissions. Ms. Koh premiered The Singing Rooms in 2007 with the commissioning orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra led by Robert Spano. She recorded the piece in 2010 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Robert Spano.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK CHORAL SOCIETY
The New York Choral Society (NYCS), founded in 1958, has become known by audiences and critics for the quality of its performances and the diversity of its repertoire, which encompasses well-known choral masterworks as well as many compositions rarely heard in concert halls. The 180-voice symphonic chorus has been widely recognized for its outstanding performances at prestigious music venues around the world.
For more than half a century, NYCS has enriched the cultural life of New York City by performing a rich variety of choral music from classic to contemporary pieces, including newly commissioned works, to some 10,000 people per year; and by fostering interest and participation in choral music through education and community outreach, especially to children. Since 1984, the singers of the NYCS have also served as “ambassadors of music” abroad, with many concert tours to Italy, Austria, China, France, Israel, Mexico, Croatia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
TICKET INFORMATION
$30–$80. To purchase tickets, please call CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Tickets may also be purchased at www.nychoral.org or www.carnegiehall.org, or at the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th Street & 7th Avenue.
PROGRAM
APRIL 29, 2013, 8:00 p.m. CARNEGIE HALL, Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms, New York Premiere Gustav Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus New York Choral Society and Orchestra David Hayes, Music Director and Conductor
Soloist: Jennifer Koh, violin
When: Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Carnegie Hall | 881 Seventh Avenue New York, NY 10019
Program: Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms, NEW YORK PREMIERE Gustav Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus
Tickets: $30–$80. Tickets may be purchased online at www.nychoral.org or www.carnegiehall.org, by phone from CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or in person at the Carnegie Call box office: 57th Street & 7th Avenue.
Press Contact: Dan Dutcher, 917-566-8413, dan@dandutcherpr.com
New York, NY. March 10, 2014 –The New York Choral Society (NYCS) returns to Carnegie Hall under the baton of David Hayes on Tuesday, April 29th at 8pm to perform the New York premiere of Pulitzer Prize winning composer Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms in Carnegie Hall with a special appearance by acclaimed violinist Jennifer Koh.
Composer Jennifer Higdon has been described as a “hot commodity” (NY Times) and is one of the most performed living composers today. Originally commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra and premiered by the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2008, The Singing Rooms, for chorus, orchestra and solo violin has been described as “one of Higdon’s best” (Philadelphia Inquirer). ConcertoNet.com says, “The emotional spectrum is almost staggering - from pastoral to cataclysmic.”
Ms. Higdon describes The Singing Rooms as a house where the violin sings, the choir sings and the orchestra sings. Every room is its own sound world.
The program will also include a performance of Gustav Holst’s seldom-performed The Hymn of Jesus, which uses Gnostic texts from the apocryphal Acts of St. John that Holst translated himself. A work of great depth and beauty, it is the first major piece Holst composed after completing The Planets. First performed in 1920, The Hymn of Jesus is not a “sacred” piece, but a response to great suffering—Holst’s artistic and philosophical response to the Battle of the Somme, during which, in 1916, over two million people were slaughtered.
“I'm a huge champion of Jennifer Higdon's work and am excited to bring The Singing Rooms to Carnegie Hall for its New York premiere with the New York Choral Society and the fabulous violinist Jennifer Koh,” said Mr. Hayes. “The program will also include Gustav Holst's deeply moving piece, The Hymn of Jesus. The exceptional acoustics of Carnegie Hall and the 180 talented voices of the New York Choral Society will combine to bring these magnificent works to life. I'm thrilled to be bringing both of these masterpieces to the New York audience.”
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
David Hayes, Music Director of the New York Choral Society David Hayes is a conductor with an unusually broad range of repertory, spanning the symphonic, oratorio/choral and operatic genres. His new role as Music Director of the New York Choral Society complements his existing roles as Music Director of The Philadelphia Singers; Music Director of the Mannes Orchestra; and, Staff Conductor of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Hayes has served on the conducting staff of The Philadelphia Orchestra from 2001–2011. He has also served as a cover conductor for the New York Philharmonic as well as for Sir Andre Previn on the Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s 1999 European Tour with Anne-Sophie Mutter.
Recent guest-conducting engagements have included a production of Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore for Opera Memphis, conducting Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia and the East Coast Premiere performances of Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul for the Opera Company of Philadelphia as well as conducting the finals of the Fulbright Piano Competition with the Artosphere Festival Orchestra.
Past seasons have included concerts with such significant ensembles as The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra 2001, Curtis Opera Theatre, European Center for Opera and Vocal Art, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Washington Chorus, Louisiana Philharmonic, Berkshire Choral Festival and the Verbier Festival.
Trained as a violinist and violist, Hayes received his Bachelor of Music in musicology from the University of Hartford and a diploma in Orchestral Conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Otto- Werner Mueller. He also studied with Charles Bruck at the Pierre Monteux School. He served on the Board of Directors of Chorus America from 2000-2009.
Jennifer Higdon, Composer Jennifer Higdon was born in Brooklyn in 1962 and is one of the most performed and sought after American composers today. The New York Times says “Jennifer Higdon’s vivid, attractive works have made her a hot commodity lately.” The Times of London says, “Higdon’s work is traditionally rooted yet imbued with integrity, freshness and a desire to entertain. A promising mixture. More, please.” Her musical style has been described as using elements of traditional tonality and emphasizes interesting color combinations. Ms. Higdon teaches composition at the Curtis Institute of Music and is the recipient of a 2010 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for her Percussion Concerto and was awarded the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in music for her Violin Concerto. The citation from the Pulitzer committee described the piece as “a deeply engaging piece that combines flowing lyricism with dazzling virtuosity.” Ms. Higdon is currently writing an opera based on Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain. The piece is co-commissioned by Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia and will be premiered at Santa Fe Opera in 2015.
Jennifer Koh, Violin Violinist Jennifer Koh is recognized for her intense, commanding performances, delivered with dazzling virtuosity and technical assurance. The New York Times says, “She asserted her authority instantly, playing with flawless technique and an unerring sense of contrast and continuity.” Born in Chicago of Korean parents, Ms. Koh made her debut with the Chicago Symphony at age 11. Ms. Koh is dedicated to performing the violin repertoire of all eras believing that the past and the present form a continuum. The exploration of Bach’s music and its influence in today’s musical landscape has played an important part in Ms. Koh’s work. In 2009, she introduced Bach and Beyond, a series of three recitals that explore the history of the solo violin repertoire from Bach to contemporary works including commissions. Ms. Koh premiered The Singing Rooms in 2007 with the commissioning orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra led by Robert Spano. She recorded the piece in 2010 with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Robert Spano.
ABOUT THE NEW YORK CHORAL SOCIETY
The New York Choral Society (NYCS), founded in 1958, has become known by audiences and critics for the quality of its performances and the diversity of its repertoire, which encompasses well-known choral masterworks as well as many compositions rarely heard in concert halls. The 180-voice symphonic chorus has been widely recognized for its outstanding performances at prestigious music venues around the world.
For more than half a century, NYCS has enriched the cultural life of New York City by performing a rich variety of choral music from classic to contemporary pieces, including newly commissioned works, to some 10,000 people per year; and by fostering interest and participation in choral music through education and community outreach, especially to children. Since 1984, the singers of the NYCS have also served as “ambassadors of music” abroad, with many concert tours to Italy, Austria, China, France, Israel, Mexico, Croatia, Greece, and the Czech Republic.
TICKET INFORMATION
$30–$80. To purchase tickets, please call CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Tickets may also be purchased at www.nychoral.org or www.carnegiehall.org, or at the Carnegie Hall box office at 57th Street & 7th Avenue.
PROGRAM
APRIL 29, 2013, 8:00 p.m. CARNEGIE HALL, Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage
Jennifer Higdon’s The Singing Rooms, New York Premiere Gustav Holst’s The Hymn of Jesus New York Choral Society and Orchestra David Hayes, Music Director and Conductor
Soloist: Jennifer Koh, violin
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