Miranda Cuckson, Violinist
Miranda Cuckson. Photo by John Rogers. download

Violinist Miranda Cuckson joins Colbert Artists

We are pleased to welcome the brilliant, contemporary violinist Miranda Cuckson to the Colbert Roster.

Employing a tremendous knowledge of the classical canon and a native fluency with music of the 21st century, Miranda Cuckson is a compelling advocate of a broad range of repertoire, particularly noted for her ability to illuminate new works with musicality that engages listeners of all stripes.

Georg Friedrich Haas wrote (and dedicated) his new violin concerto for her, which she premiered at the Suntory Festival with Ilan Volkov and the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra in September 2017. In July she returns to the work, offering the European premiere with Sylvain Cambreling and the Staatsorchester Stuttgart, and in December with the Orchestra of the Casa da Musica in Porto with Baldur Brönnimann.

Cuckson explains:
“I was enthralled with his music from the start, its great specificity and nuance but also its very direct communicative impact. His melodic/harmonic language – his use of micro-tonality – awakened my ears and imagination to these small intervals and their new dimensions of meaning, the astonishing richness of expression conveyed in distances between notes. I was excited by its profoundly moving impact and the deep psychological and emotional sources that he connects to with his music.”

Last week Miranda Cuckson performed at Spectrum in Brooklyn with pianist Ethan Iverson:




“On Sunday evening, the violinist Miranda Cuckson, a champion of new music, and the pianist Ethan Iverson, also a composer and best known for his acclaimed work in jazz, played an engrossing program of duos and solos, as part of Spectrum’s Modern Piano (+) Festival, running through Sunday.”

“Ms. Cuckson, who seeks out works that experiment with innovative sound possibilities on the violin and require intensely physical approaches to technique, began her solo set Donald Martino’s daunting “Romanza” (2002). This restless, fantastical music shifts from bursts of fidgety runs to fleeting passages of searching lyricism.”

LISTEN to a Miranda Cuckson INTERVIEW and PERFORMANCE, presented by SPCO/Liquid Music:

Miranda Cuckson harnesses the physicality and unique technicalities of her repertoire to “go organically with what the music needs” making her, as Downbeat Magazine notes, “one of the most sensitive and electric interpreters of new music.”

Zuill Bailey, cello
Zuill Bailey, cello. Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco. download

New American Works: Zuill Bailey

Michael Daugherty: Tales of Hemingway for cello and orchestra
World Premiere: April 17, 2015 with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, Giancarlo Guerrero, conductor
Commissioned by the Nashville Symphony, the Asheville Symphony, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the El Paso Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic, the Redwood Symphony, the South Florida Orchestra, and the Virginia Symphony
2016 GRAMMY for Best Classical Instrumental Solo

“Bailey — who gave the premiere of the concerto with the Nashville Symphony last year and recorded it for the Naxos label — was a charismatic soloist. He captured a breadth of color, texture, dynamics and feeling in the virtuoso solo writing.” 

Mark Stryker, Detroit Free Press, October 22, 2016

Cello Concerto by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich
To be premiered in December 2019 with the South Florida Symphony Orchestra.
​Interest in co-commissioning please contact us.

From Ellen Taaffe Zwilich:

“I’m happily engaged in writing a Cello Concerto, something that’s been on my “wish list” for a long time. I’ve written a piece for cello and piano and many chamber works that include cello. I have a Double Concerto for Violin and Cello and my Symphony #2, subtitled “Cello Symphony”, features the entire orchestral cello section (including a cadenza!).

One of the things I love about the cello is that it has virtually the entire range of the human voice (I particularly like its mezzo soprano). But I sometimes refer to string instruments as “singers on steroids” because of the power they give to the composer to explore virtuosity as well as expressivity.

I can hardly wait to hear Zuill Bailey (whose sound is in my ear as I’m writing) bring this new piece to life!”

Dashon Burton, bass-baritone. Photo by Tatiana Daubek.
Dashon Burton, bass-baritone. Photo by Tatiana Daubek. download

New American Works: Dashon Burton

Paul Moravec: Sanctuary Road
World Premiere: May 7, 2018 at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York

“Sanctuary Road” is an episodic journey through history, narrated by William Still, a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Still, played by bass-baritone Dashon Burton, ushers the audience through the historic and deeply heartfelt experience.
“The bass-baritone of Dashon Burton was filled with dignity as William Still, whose writings provided the source for the libretto and he provided a sure and solid sound to narrate the story–sad, worried but always moving forward.”

Richard Sasanow, BROADWAY WORLD, May 10, 2018

“Burton’s stalwart voice was never lost within the enormous choir even in climactic moments; it managed to equal, but never exceed it. While he never steps directly into the spotlight, Burton’s presence was felt from beginning to end, all of this fittingly concluded as… a joyful, revelatory quintet of the principal singers and the chorus; they all exulted in one unified cry of “Shout from every rooftop, loud as can be: Free.” 

Logan Martell, Opera Wire, May 9, 2018

Anthony Marwood, violin. Photo by Pia Johnson. download

New American Works: Anthony Marwood

Known for his searing performances of contemporary works, including Thomas Àdes’s Concentric Circles (written for and premiered by Marwood),  violinist Anthony Marwood is also a noted advocate of a number of American composers and new works, including:

Steven Mackey: Four Iconoclastic Episodes
Premiered October 2009 with Irish Chamber Orchestra

After Mackey and Marwood performed an electric guitar/violin duo work of Mackey’s (Physical Property) together at Marwood, they agreed that the combination should be further explored – and this resulted in this unique concerto for violin, electric guitar, and string orchestra.

READ this August 2017 interview with the Chautauqua Daily and Steven Mackey.

WATCH Steven Mackey speak about the work before a performance with Marwood and Les Violons du Roy (where Marwood is Principal Artistic Partner).

Samuel Carl Adams: Violin Concerto
Premiered in February 2014 with the Berkeley Symphony
Commissioned by the Berkeley Symphony

LISTEN to excerpts of the concerto.

 

“The impeccable violinist Anthony Marwood, for whom the piece was written, confers on the third movement such intensity at such a wide range of dynamics that he seems to breathe with the players.“  

Allan Ulrich, Financial Times, February 10, 2014

“Marwood, the British artist who has become one of our leading interpreters of contemporary violin music, gave as radiant a performance as anyone could ask. His tone was full-voiced and fluid, even in the concerto‘s most abrasive passages, and he brought to the score a combination of urgency and serenity that was endlessly inviting.“  

Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle, February 7, 2014

Paul Jacobs, organ
Paul Jacobs, organ. Photo by Ficarri. download

New American Works: Paul Jacobs

John Harbison: What Do We Make of Bach? for Orchestra and Obbligato Organ
World Premiere: Friday, October 12, 2018 with the Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänska, conductor

Wayne Oquin: Resilience
World Premiere: October 6, 2017 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
LISTEN to an excerpt of the Oquin premiere on New Music USA.

“Organ soloist Paul Jacobs showed great taste and precision in accentuating and contrasting the instrument with the orchestra. Even though the cadenza is one of the quietest you’re likely to encounter, Jacobs made it speak with clarity.”

David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 7, 2017

Christopher Rouse: Concerto for Organ and Orchestra
World Premiere: November 16, 2016 with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, conductor
Co-commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic

Paul Jacobs performs the final movement of the Christopher Rouse Organ Concerto with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra.

Yolanda Kondonassis, Harpist
Yolanda Kondonassis with Jennifer Higdon. Photo by Amanda Sachs. download

New American Works: Yolanda Kondonassis

Jennifer Higdon: Concerto for Harp and Orchestra
Premiered on May 10, 2018 with the Rochester Philharmonic led by Ward Stare, Commissioned by

The premiere series of performances will continue with Yolanda Kondonassis as soloist throughout 2018 and 2019 with consortium members the Harrisburg Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Lansing Symphony, Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, and Baton Rouge Symphony.

“…there was something prayerful about Kondonassis’s playing, particularly in the quieter moments… …Sonically, the presence of Kondonassis’s harp seemed to signify magic at work, in the throes of a hectic and sobering reality, as played by the orchestra… Kondonassis’s mystical harp began a gorgeous dialogue with solo viola, before flute, cello, melodic percussion, and additional woodwinds joined the interplay.”

Daniel J. Kushner, Rochester City Newspaper, May 11, 2018

LISTEN to an interview with Kondonassis and Higdon and Stare, speaking with Julia Figueras on WXXI Classical 91.5 on the world premiere of Higdon’s Harp Concerto.

LISTEN to an interview with Harp Column Podcast host Kristina Finch on Yolanda’s collaboration with Jennifer Higdon

CONTACT US to learn more about this thrilling new work!

Zuill Bailey, cello
Zuill Bailey, cello. Photo by Lisa Marie Mazzucco. download

Zuill Bailey Celebrates His Prokofiev CD Release and Looks Forward to Orchestral and Recital Engagements

This month, cellist Zuill Bailey released a Prokofiev CD of the Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125 with the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra led by conductor Grant Llewellyn and the Cello Sonata in C Major, Op. 199 with pianist Natasha Paremski. The release has been met with great acclaim:

“Bailey’s mesmerizing, deeply committed performance puts this recording at the top, especially because of his warm, rounded tone and jaw-dropping clarity in lightning-speed runs.”

Roy C. Dicks, The News & Observer, May 7, 2016

The CD is available on iTunes and Amazon.

Zuill has already released a CD of Britten’s Symphony for Cello and Orchestra, Op. 68 with Llewellyn and the North Carolina Symphony and, last month, performed and recorded with them again – this time in the Brahms Double Concerto with violinist Philippe Quint.

Zuill Bailey Prokofiev CD

Bailey returned last weekend to the Asheville Symphony Orchestra to perform Michael Daugherty’s Tales of Hemingway for cello and orchestra in performances led byDaniel Meyer, and this week, plays a recital at the Piatigorsky Festival (Boccherini/Stravinsky/Piatigorsky’s Paganini Variations/Chopin/Foss’s Capriccio) at USC. He opens the Sitka Music Festival in Alaska where he is Artistic Director on June 1, and stays in the State of the Midnight Sun until July 24, when he plays the Elgar Concerto at Interlochen, of which he is an alumnus. Zuill closes out the summer season with an August 23 recital at Ravinia with Natasha Paremski in an all-Russian program of Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Rachmaninoff.

Daniel Meyer, conductor. Photo by Kristi Hedberg. download

Daniel Meyer with the Pittsburgh Symphony

This week, as much of the world feels the inexorable pull of the Force, Maestro Daniel Meyer leads the Pittsburgh Symphony in a special live performance of John Williams’s iconic scores for the Star Wars films, Episodes 1-6.

This special concert is not Meyer’s only Pittsburgh Symphony date this December; he leads holiday programs with the PSO throughout the month.

These dates follow a return to Europe for concerts with the Tonkünstler Orchestra (Austria) and Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen, with programs featuring works by Copland and Jennifer Higdon, Osvaldo Golijov, Schumann and others.

Paul Jacobs, organ
Paul Jacobs, organ. Photo by Ficarri. download

Paul Jacobs with the Cleveland Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and on tour with the Philadelphia Orchestra

This week Paul Jacobs returns to the Chicago Symphony for Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 led by Emmanuel Krivine.

Two weekends ago Paul was the featured soloist at the final concert of the Cleveland Orchestra’s weeklong festival exploring ecstasy in music playing Liszt’s “Ad nos, ad salutarem undam” Fantasy and Fugue — his second engagement with Cleveland this season, following a subscription week in November for performances of Stephen Paulus’ “Grand Concerto” for Organ and Orchestra (2004) with Giancarlo Guererro.

“Still, if anything pushed Saturday over the top, near the “ecstatic” realm, it was the presence at night’s end of organist Paul Jacobs. Playing the Norton Memorial Organ (with pipes partially exposed by the set of “Tristan and Isolde”), the virtuoso held the house in the palm of his hand with an epic Fantasy and Fugue by Liszt.”
– 
Zachary Lewis, THE PLAIN DEALER, April 30, 2018

“Masterfully mixing the registers of the E.M. Skinner organ and making subtle stop changes as the piece went on, Jacobs finally shifted into overdrive, and flicking a fingernail across the organ’s row of coupler tabs to command its full power, brought Liszt’s fantasy to an exultant conclusion.”
– Daniel Hathaway, CLEVELAND CLASSICAL, May 1, 2018

Jacobs closes out this season when he joins forces once again with the Philadelphia Orchestra and Yannick Nézet-Séguin on tour to LuxembourgBrussels and Hamburg’s recently opened Elbphilharmonie playing Wayne Oquin’s Resilience — a work they performed together in Philadelphia to open the season, followed by a subscription week in January when Paul played the mammoth, witty, challenging Scotch Bestiary by Sir James Macmillan as part of the Philadelphia Orchestra’s British Isles Festival.

Coming up next season, Pau plays the world premiere of John Harbison’s What Do We Make of Bach? for Orchestra and Obbligato Organ with the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä; returns for a week to the Cleveland Orchestra with Franz Welser-Möst for the US premiere of Okeanos by Bernd Richard Deutsch, and performs and records Barber’s Toccata Festiva with the Lucerne Symphony led by James Gaffigan.  He also performs the Barber for the opening night of Phoenix Symphony‘s 18/19 season and with the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, as well as numerous recitals, including a return to  the Walt Disney Concert Hall to play the “Hurricane Mama” organ presented by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Tafelmusik
Tafelmusik - photo by Sian Richards. download

Tafelmusik’s Safe Haven

US Touring Period: March 4 – 15, 2020

In March 2020, Tafelmusik will bring their latest multimedia project on tour to the U.S.:

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, refugee communities such as French Huguenots in London, Scottish Catholics in Warsaw, and Sephardic Jews in Amsterdam changed and enriched the economy and culture of their host cities.

This concert of masterworks by Vivaldi, Corelli, Lully and Bach portrays the influence of migration on the musical life of the cities of Europe.  In song, images and narration, the concert also celebrates the ancient music and culture of West Africa and its influence in North America today.  A multimedia tale of the musical ideas of Baroque Europe’s refugee artists.

Program includes works by: Lully, Bach, Purcell, Telemann, and featuring Vivaldi’s “Winter” from The Four Seasons.

“…go for the excellent music, or for the compelling story about loss of homeland and redemption in the welcoming arms of strangers. Or you can go just so you can leave the concert with a big smile on your face.”

John Terauds, The Toronto Star, January 19, 2018

An invitation from Maryem Tollar, narrator and vocalist for Tafelmusik’s presentation of Safe Haven, below: