“Seeing what occurred — the rise of the Black Lives Matter motion and the next public response — we on the NSO and the Kennedy Heart requested ourselves what function we might play on this watershed second for the nation,” stated Gary Ginstling, Govt Director of the NSO. “The NSO and WNO additionally noticed this undertaking as a chance to deal with an extended battle with variety on- and off-stage in our discipline. Moreover, we see this as a springboard for different organizations within the discipline to consider up to date art-makers who’re consciously partaking social pathology and creating work in that space.”
The eight new commissions are:
1. The Street Forward
Carlos Simon, composer; Marc Bamuthi Joseph, libretto and spoken phrase
With Katerina Burton, soprano; Karen Lowry-Tucker, violin; Amy Frost Baumgarten, cello; Robert Ainsley, piano
2. Anthem for GO
Jessica Mays, composer
With Heather LeDoux Inexperienced and Jane Bowyer Stewart, violins; Eric deWaardt, viola; David Teie, cello; Jeffrey Weisner, double bass; Scott Christian, percussion
3. Forward of Time
Nathaniel Heyder, composer
With Paul Cigan, clarinet; Robert Rearden, horn; Jennifer Mondie, viola; Britton Riley, cello; Scott Christian, percussion
4. Breonna’s Lullaby
Derek Douglas Carter, composer
With Paul Cigan, clarinet; Ruth Wicker, viola; Paul DeNola, bass; Jiyoung Oh, piano
5. Mo(u)rning
B.E. Boykin, composer; Brittny Ray Crowell, libretto
With Martin Bakari, tenor; Amy Frost Baumgarten, cello; Dana Scott, piano
6. The Burning Bush
Jasmine Barnes, composer; Joshua Banbury, libretto
With Suzannah Waddington, soprano; Daniel J. Smith, baritone; Roderick Demmings, Jr.; Raymond O. Caldwell, director
7. Progeny of Perpetual Independence
Liz Gre, composer; Junauda Petrus-Nasah, libretto
With Amber R. Monroe, soprano; Karen Lowry-Tucker, violin; Amy Frost Baumgarten, violoncello; Christian Grey, double bass; Dana Scott, piano
8. Fairly Woman
Jens Ibsen, composer; Yasmina Ibsen, libretto
With Katerina Burton, soprano; Amber R. Monroe, soprano; Robert Ainsley, piano
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