July 24: American Composers Orchestra Releases New Album, America in Weimar: On the Margins, on Platoon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
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American Composers Orchestra
Announces New Album,
America in Weimar: On the Margins 

Featuring Works by George Antheil,
Duke Ellington, Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht,
John Glover & Kelley Rourke, Tonia Ko,
and Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, 
Conducted by Rei Hotoda

Album Out on All Digital Platforms
Friday, July 24, 2026 on Platoon

 

“The American Composers Orchestra…[is] dedicated to championing a segment of creators whose work is often on the front lines of evolving political thought and sonic exploration." – I Care If You Listen

www.americancomposers.org

 

New York, NY (July 1, 2026) – The American Composers Orchestra (ACO) releases its next album, America in Weimar: On the Margins, digitally via Platoon on Friday, July 24, 2026. America in Weimar: On the Margins was part of Carnegie Hall’s Fall of the Weimar Republic: Dancing on the Precipice, a citywide festival in 2024 exploring the thriving creative period in Germany between World War I and World War II. Led by conductor and pianist Rei Hotoda, the program features works by iconic American composers George Antheil, Duke Ellington, and Kurt Weill, alongside new works that reflected on parallels and re-directions of the past by John Glover & Kelley Rourke, Tonia Ko, and Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, with performances by mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams and accordionist Felipe Hostins. 

“We invite the audience to contemplate the American influence on the Weimar period and conversely trace Weimar’s enduring values in American art and music,” says ACO Artistic Director Curtis Stewart. “This century-long musical journey looks back to look forward – a moment for reflection – to discover possibilities of communal and individual determination in tumultuous times.”

George Antheil’s A Jazz Symphony, in its revised form from 1955, is a captivating blend of the spirited rhythms of jazz with the structural depth of symphonic music. Originally conceived in the jazz-infused era of the 1920s, this piece underwent thoughtful revision by Antheil, reflecting his growth as a composer and his nuanced understanding of both genres. The revision brings to the forefront a more polished orchestration and subtle melodic enhancements, maintaining the energetic essence of the original while making the piece more accessible to a wider audience. It invites listeners to explore a unique musical landscape, where the past and present merge in a harmonious blend of creativity and tradition.

Sophisticated Lady – a jewel in the crown of Duke Ellington’s vast repertoire – offers a rich, emotive exploration of elegance and loss. The song, with its intricate harmonies and melancholic melody, paints a portrait of a bygone era, evoking images of glamor tinged with a sense of nostalgia and longing. In this performance, Sophisticated Lady stands as a testament to Ellington’s genius in creating music that transcends the moment, offering a timeless reflection on beauty and melancholy. Through Sophisticated Lady, we are reminded of the power of music to evoke the most intricate of emotions, serving as a bridge between the past and the present.

In the pantheon of 20th-century musical theater, Kurt Weill’s Pirate Jenny remains a striking work, known for its powerful narrative and emotional intensity. Written for The Threepenny Opera in collaboration with playwright Bertolt Brecht and Elisabeth Hauptmann, the song reveals the revenge fantasies of a downtrodden maid who dreams of power and retribution. Weill’s haunting music and Brecht’s sharp lyrics create a piece that is both a social critique and a personal expression. This performance explores Weill’s vivid setting and reflects The Threepenny Opera’s focus on social inequality and the longing for justice and recognition. This version is a world premiere arrangement by Felipe Hostins.

John Glover and Kelley Rourke’s Right Now is a piece about being in conversation with other artists, themes, and ideas. “For us, creating collaborative spaces is as exciting as the art that comes out of them. Creating Right Now challenged us to be ‘in conversation’ with many streams of thought, beginning with the Weimar Republic and the work of composer Kurt Weill, particularly Pirate Jenny, the story of a marginalized woman waiting for the moment when the tables are turned,” says Glover and Rourke. “We are in conversation with Chrystal and Felipe’s Forrópera, a project built around dialogue through music, and with their ongoing exchange with the landscape they call home. We are also in conversation with you, the audience—parts of this piece only come to life through your presence and energy. These ideas led us to a meditation on time, linking individual lives with larger cycles of social history and the natural world.” This was the world premiere of this piece.

Duke Ellington’s Solitude emerges as a poignant reflection on inner life, masterfully capturing the nuances of solitude with its evocative melodies. Composed in 1934, this piece has secured its place in the Ellington canon as a deeply introspective work, inviting listeners into a contemplative space shaped by its lyrical beauty and harmonic depth. Audiences are afforded a glimpse into the introspective side of Ellington’s genius. The piece stands as a delicate interplay of melody and mood, a musical meditation that speaks to the shared experiences of isolation and introspection.

Her Land, Expanded is composer Tonia Ko’s second collaboration with filmmaker Alexandra Cuesta. In their respective mediums, the artists share interests in the experimentation of form and the poetic fragmentation of materials. Despite being inspired by ideals and techniques of the European avant-garde, this piece presents an outsider’s perspective in multiple ways. For both artists, the concept behind Her Land, Expanded feels autobiographical. Cuesta’s Ecuadorian background and Ko’s roots in Hong Kong and Hawaii give them unique vantage points on the loss of nature and the complex effects of colonization. Both music and visuals contain the rhetoric of a litany, a repetitive prayer for lost landscapes. This piece is a lament on the expansion of human settlement over nature and indigenous ways of life. This was the world premiere of this piece, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall.

Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate’s Lowak Shoppala' (Fire and Light) is a work that expresses Chickasaw identity through modern classical music and theater. The entire work is in eight scenes and features orchestra, narration, children’s chorus, traditional Chickasaw and modern dancers, traditional Chickasaw and classical vocalists, and Chickasaw storytellers. Each scene depicts a part of Chickasaw culture and history; Clans is the fourth of eight scenes. In traditional Chickasaw culture, a family clan system was maintained through matrilineal descent. Each clan has an animal name. Clans focuses on seven of these family lines—Minko, Bird, Alligator, Squirrel, Skunk, Panther, and Raccoon—and incorporates numerous traditional Chickasaw melodies and rhythms. This was the NY Premiere of this piece.

America in Weimar: On the Margins marks ACO’s second release with Platoon, part of a two-year commitment to release commercial recordings of ACO’s innovative programming. The first release of the partnership featured the world premiere recording of Huang Ruo's An American Soldier, released on May 23, 2025 to critical acclaim, which was nominated for a GRAMMY® Award for Best Opera Performance.

America in Weimar: On the Margins Track Listing

1. George Antheil – A Jazz Symphony (1955 version) [07:53]
Rei Hotoda, piano 

2. Duke Ellington – Sophisticated Lady (arr. Morton Gould [03:18]

3. Kurt Weill & Bertolt Brecht (arr. Felipe Hostins) – Pirate Jenny from The Threepenny Opera (trans. Marc Blitzstein; arr. Felipe Hostins) [04:33] [World Premiere Arrangement] 
          Chrystal E. Williams, Mezzo-Soprano; Felipe Hostins, Accordion
 
4. John Glover & Kelley Rourke – Right Now [19:07] [World Premiere]
     I. grasshopper
     II. cotyledon
     III. petrichor
     IV. mycorrhiza
          Chrystal E. Williams, Mezzo-Soprano; Felipe Hostins, Accordion 

5. Duke Ellington – Solitude (arr. Morton Gould) [03:59] 

6. Tonia Ko – Her Land, Expanded [14:23] [World Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall]

7. Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate – Clans from Lowak Shoppala' [16:59] [NY Premiere]

Total Time: 01:10:12

Credits:
Recorded at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, New York, New York
March 13, 2024
Alfred Kan, Photographer
Wei Wang, Audio Engineer
Alexandra Cuesta, Video Design
Malcom Smith, Minko (Chief)
Travis John, Foshi' (Bird)
Jason Eyachabbe, Acho'chaba' (Alligator)
Steven Robertson, Fani' (Squirrel)
Nick Underwood, Koni (Skunk)
Nola Robertson, Kowishto' Losa' (Panther)
Shawn Langford, Shawi' (Raccoon)
Heloha Tate, Vocalist
Margaret Wheeler, Regalia
Stephanie Scott, Regalia Manager
Joanna John, Regalia Manager 

About American Composers Orchestra
In 1977, a collective of fearless New York City musicians came together to form the American Composers Orchestra (ACO), an ensemble dedicated to the creation, celebration, performance, and promotion of orchestral music by American composers. With nearly 50 years committed to artistry, creativity, community, and equity, ACO has blossomed into a national institution that not only cultivates and develops the careers of living composers but also provides composers a direct pipeline to partnerships with many of America’s major symphony orchestras.

In addition to its annual season, presented by Carnegie Hall since 1987, the ACO serves as a New York City hub where the most forward-thinking experimental American musicians come together to hone and realize new art by developing talent, established composers, and underrepresented voices, increasing the regional, national, and international awareness of the infinite variety of American orchestral music. 

ACO produces national educational programs for all ages, and composer advancement programs to foster a community of creators, audiences, performers, collaborators, and funders – all dedicated to American composition. 

To date, ACO has performed music by 800 American composers, including over 350 world premieres and newly commissioned works. Recent and notable commissioned composers include John Luther Adams, Andy Akiho, Clarice Assad, Carlos Bandera, Courtney Bryan, Valerie Coleman, Dai Wei, Du Yun, inti figgis-vizueta, Marcus Gilmore, Vijay Iyer, Yvette Janine Jackson, Joan La Barbara, Steve Lehman, Tania León, Paula Matthusen, Trevor New, Mendi Keith Obadike, Ellen Reid, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Carlos Simon, Henry Threadgill, and many more. 

Now encompassing all of ACO’s composer advancement initiatives, EarShot is the first ongoing, systematic program for developing relationships between composers and orchestras on the national level. Through orchestral readings, CoLABoratory fellowships, consortium commissions, publishing, and professional development, EarShot ensures a vibrant musical future by investing in creativity today. Serving over 390 composers since its inception, ACO Readings in NYC began in 1991, and since 2008, national Readings have been offered in partnership with orchestras across the country in collaboration with American Composers Forum, the League of American Orchestras, and New Music USA. EarShot Readings composers have gone on to win every major composition award, including the Pulitzer, GRAMMY®, Grawemeyer, American Academy of Arts and Letters, and Rome Prizes.

ACO has received numerous awards for its work, including those from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and from BMI Foundation, Inc., recognizing the orchestra’s outstanding contribution to American music. ASCAP has awarded ACO its annual prize for adventurous programming 35 times, singling out ACO as “the orchestra that has done the most for new American music in the United States.” ACO received the inaugural MetLife Award for Excellence in Audience Engagement and a proclamation from the New York City Council. Learn more at www.americancomposers.org.

About Platoon Classical
Platoon Classical is home to a new generation of classical artists, recordings and creative partnerships. Part of Platoon, Apple’s boutique artist services company, the multi-award and GRAMMY® winning label works with exceptional artists and institutions, releasing music that speaks to both devoted classical listeners and new audiences.

Rooted in Platoon’s artist-first approach, and with a commitment to artistic excellence, premium sound, and bold storytelling, Platoon Classical brings outstanding classical music to listeners around the world. Its growing roster brings together world-class musicians, composers, orchestras, and ensembles, and includes conductors Gustavo Dudamel and Dalia Stasevska, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, violinists Anne Akiko Meyers and Pekka Kuusisto, pianist Kirill Gerstein, and composers Oliver Leith and Gabriela Ortiz. The Swedish label BIS Records was acquired by Platoon/Apple in September 2023, Together, they are redefining what classical music can look and sound like in the streaming era. 

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This recording was made possible with generous support from the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University Recording Projects program.

American Composers Orchestra is grateful to the many organizations that make its programs possible, including the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, Altman Foundation, Amphion Foundation, Arthur F. & Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, BNY Mellon, BMI Foundation, BMI, Inc., CANVAS, Cheswatyr Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Edward T. Cone Foundation, Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Ford Foundation’s Good Neighbor Committee, Francis B. Goelet Charitable Trust, Frederick Loewe Foundation, Fromm Music Foundation, G. Schirmer/Wise Music Foundation, Give Lively Foundation, Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation,Hearst Foundation, Howard Gilman Foundation, Jephson Educational Trusts, Jerome Foundation, Koret Foundation, League of American Orchestras, MacMillan Family Foundation, Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Mellon Foundation, New Music USA’s Organization Fund, New York Community Trust (Musical Arts Fund, Clara Lewisohn Rossin Trust, and Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund), Pacific Harmony Foundation, PayPal Giving Fund, Sphinx Venture Fund, TD Charitable Foundation, Turrell Fund, and the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation.

Public funds are provided by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council,the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, Office of Brooklyn Borough President Reynoso, and the National Endowment for the Arts.