Events Abounding for Augusta Read Thomas in 2015
13th February 2015
Augusta Read Thomas
© Jason Smith
Six World Premieres. A Brand New Recording. A Plethora of Exciting Performances.
The first half of 2015 is shaping up to be a great year for Augusta Read Thomas, who continues to be one of the most in-demand American composers; and whose sublime, gleaming works are sought out by paramount musicians and ensembles across the globe.
Upcoming Premieres in 2015
February 19 -21: EOS: Goddess of the Dawn (A Ballet for Orchestra), written in honor of Pierre Boulez, commissioned and premiered by the Utah Symphony conducted by Thierry Fischer.
March 5: Selene for percussion quartet and string quartet, will be performed by JACK Quartet and Third Coast Percussion on a "Portrait Concert" at Miller Theatre at Columbia University.
March 12: Capricious Toccata for solo violin performed by Dr. Qiao Chen Solomon at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA.
March 28: Dappled Things for male choir performed by the University of Notre Dame Glee Club at The DeBartolo Performing Arts Center with Daniel Stowe conducting.
April 10: Helix Spirals for string quartet commissioned by Jeanne Guillemin in celebration of the Meselson-Stahl DNA replication discovery, to be premiered by the Parker Quartet at Harvard University.
July 7: Emily Dickinson Settings for the Aurora Orchestra with soprano Claire Booth, commissioned by Wigmore Hall with the support of André Hoffmann, president of the Fondation Hoffmann, a Swiss grant-making foundation.
New CD Release
April 1: The 5th disc in Augusta Read Thomas's 6-disc series on Nimbus Records will be released and includes the spectacular works Radiant Circles (for orchestra), Astral Canticle (Double Concerto for Flute, Violin, and Orchestra), Juggler of Day (for female chorus), and other previously unrecorded pieces. Click here for the first four discs in the series.
Notable Upcoming Performances
Feb 20: BBC Singers perform Juggler of Day at St Paul's Knightsbridge in London. The concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 at 7.30pm UK time — it will be available to 'listen live' on the BBC Radio 3 website, Juggler of Day is in the second half.
Mar 22: Third Coast Percussion continues their impressive widespread tour of Resounding Earth with a performance at a festival curated by composer Roger Reynolds at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. This innovative composition is scored for approximately 300 pieces of metal, featuring 120 bells from a wide variety of cultures and historical periods.
April 12: Ritual Incantations — Cello Concerto for cello and orchestra will be performed by the University of South Florida Symphony, Scott Kluksdahl, cello soloist, and William Wiedrich, conductor.
April 18 & 19: Love Songs for chorus will be performed by The Chicago Chamber Choir.
May 3 (and June 2): The Works Dance Company, Jennifer Muller, Artistic Director, along with the The Verdehr Trio perform to Dancing Helix Rituals for violin, clarinet, and piano at Kaatsbaan International Dance Festival and again on June 2 at Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York City.
May 8 & 9: Cellist Lynn Harrell performs Cello Concerto No. 3, Legend of the Phoenix with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
July (exact date TBD): Midsummer Blaze Alleluia performed by the New Zurich Chamber Choir (Neuer Zürcher Kammerchor) conducted by Beat Schaefer, in Zurich and Berne.
July 25: Selene for percussion quartet and string quartet performed again at the Tanglewood Music Center, co-commissioner of the work.
For more information about Augusta Read Thomas, please contact Allison Weissman at 212-254-2100, allison.weissman@schirmer.com.
