"Time is Not an Option" premieres at Fordham University, April 24, 2010

My new piece, "Time is Not an Option" premiered last Saturday, April 24, at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus. This piece was commissioned by the Poets Out Loud faculty of Fordham. Unfortunately, the Fordham poet I was paired with, Elisabeth Frost, was unable to attend as she is in Europe on a Fulbright scholarship. Fordham's poet-in-residence, Janet E. Kaplan, deputized in the reading of Frost's poems. The esteemed musicologist, Lawrence Kramer, refereed the awarding of commissions, and was the evening's emcee. As well, he offered up some of his own music and poetry.

The musicians came by way of Bard College in upstate New York. Soprano Ilana Zarankin sang many of the other songs this evening, and soprano Clarissa Lyons performed my particular cycle. Shun-Yang Lee was the evening's accompanist.

Other composers on the evening included Martin Hennesey, Mary Anne Joyce-Walter, and Alexander Nohai-Seaman. The poems set to music were written by Edward Hirsch, D. Nurske, Janet Kaplan, and Heather Dubrow.

It was a great concert, so I'm posting a lot of pics here, Click image for a larger size.

Lawrence Kramer

Clarissa Lyons

Shun Yang, piano; Clarissa Lyons

Ilana Zarankin, Clarissa Lyons, Richard Russell

Clarissa Lyons, Shun Yang, Richard Russell

Janet Kaplan, Lawrence Kramer, Richard Russell

Great Rehearsal of "Time is Not an Option" at Bard College

Ilana Zarankin

Clarissa Lyons

Yesterday I traveled to the beautiful Bard College campus in upstate New York to attend a rehearsal of "Time is Not an Option," which premieres this Saturday. (...with texts by Elisabeth Frost.) I heard a few of the other composers works, too, and I can say this will be a great concert!

I was so impressed with Bard's Olin Hall I took a few pix to share with my iPhone. The sopranos are Ilana Zarankin and Clarissa Lyons, the pianist is Shun-Yang Lee. Each of them are superb.

New Concert Series features Two Richard Russell Compositions

A special chamber music version of "The Tune is in the Tree" will be performed by soprano Marjorie Berg, and Pamela Stein will sing "When Time is Over" in a concert celebrating the poetry of Emily Dickinson, April 25 at 3pm. This is the inaugural presentation of a new concert series, Seasonal Sunday Salons, housed in the Bell & Barter Theater at 13 Church Street in Rockaway, NJ. (I think this is my New Jersey premiere.) Here's the press release:

In Mid Air Productions presents A Little Madness in the Spring: The Poems of Emily Dickinson. In Mid Air Productions presents its ode to spring as a part of the Seasonal Sunday Salon Series. These are comprised of four yearly concerts which highlight the works of famous poets through reading and songs. The Seasonal Sunday Salons have a strong literary and thematic base and marry traditional and contemporary settings with the works of classic authors.

A Little Madness in the Spring features the poetry of Emily Dickinson and the compositions of contemporary composers, including Robert W. Butts, professor and conductor of the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, and ASCAP award winner, Richard D. Russell, and Raphael Fusco. Performers include sopranos Marjorie Berg and Pamela Stein and pianist Aaron Dai. Also performing are Anthony Bevilacqua, violin, Dan Sagi, clarinet, Andrew Pecota, bassoon, and Nancy Connell, cello. Robert Butts is the day's conductor, and this event is being directed by Emily Clare Thompson.

The Bell and Barter Theater and Cultural Arts Center proudly hosts this event. The Bell and Barter Theater and Cultural Arts Center of Rockaway New Jersey is less that 37 miles and only an hour away from the Lincoln Tunnel. Come join us for a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and an intimate afternoon with Emily Dickinson.

Tickets are $25 at the door, $15 if reserved by April 23. Students and seniors are $15 at the door, $10 if reserved by April 23. For reservations, email your name, ticket type, and number of tickets to seasonal.sunday.salons@gmail.com Ticket price includes a wine and cheese reception.

Sponsored by Seasonal Sunday Salons, In Mid Air Productions

For more info, visit inmidairproductions.wordpress.com or call 201-704-2958

Click the flier for a larger view!

Christina Goyne sings "When Time is Over"

It was so terrific to hear Christina Goyne perform "When Time is Over" in her recital last night. She's a new singer to my music, and she did a spectacular job, very inspiring. Since she is a mezzo I wrote a special arrangement of the piece for her, but I'll have to write something original for her to perform: She's great. Jason Wirth was the superb and sensitive accompanist. Here's some pics from the evening (click to enlarge).

Jason Wirth accompanies Christina Goyne

Jason Wirth, Christina Goyne

Richard Russell with Christina Goyne after the concert

Richard Russell Awarded a Commission by Fordham University's Poets Out Loud

Founded in 1992, Fordham University's Poets Out Loud is charged with the mission "...to bring a public audience to Fordham’s Lincoln Center campus and to foster the appreciation, creation, and study of poetry both within the University and in the wider NYC community."

In Fall 2009, Poets Out Loud put out a call for scores for composers interested in collaborating with the poets of their organization. I am delighted to announce that I was awarded a commission for this project, and I was paired with poet Elisabeth Frost. I selected three of her poems and composed a cycle called "Time is Not an Option."

The premiere will be Saturday, April 24 at 7:30pm at Fordham University's Lincoln Center Campus, Columbus Avenue at 60 Street, in the 12th Floor Lounge. The concert is free and open to the public.

The performers will be sopranos Clarissa Lyons and Ilana Zarankin, with Shun-Yang Lee on piano. Other composers on the bill include Martin Hennessy, Alexander Nohai-Seaman, Lawrence Kramer, and Mary Ann Joyce-Walter. In addition to my collaborator, Elisabeth Frost, other featured poets are Heather Dubrow, Edward Hirsch, Janet Kaplan, and D. Nurkse.

Christina Goyne to perform "When Time is Over"

Mezzo-soprano Christina Goyne will perform a special arrangement of "When Time is Over" on Thursday, April 8, at 8pm. The venue is Christ and St. Stephens at 120 West 69th Street. Also on the program are selections by Gounod, Debussy, and Brahms. The accompanist is Jason Wirth. The concert is free, but pay-what-you-wish donations accepted!

"When Time is Over" presented by NYCC

I'm a little late in posting a recap, but better late than never! On February 23, 2010, Sofia Dimitrova, accompanied by Tamara Cashour (not pictured) performed "When Time is Over" in a concert presented by the New York Composers Circle. The venue here is Saint Peters Church at the Citigroup Building. I was delighted to see so many old and new friends at the concert.

Addressing the audience

Sofia Dimitrova

After the concert congratulations!

As is the habit of the NYCC, I was asked to say a few words about the piece beforehand. Instead, I couldn't help but remark this is the second time the NYCC has asked me to open a concert with a piece that is rather dark in tone. (The first time was "Three Elegies" at Symphony Space, back in 2007, performed by Tiffany DuMouchelle and percussionist Stephen Solook.) It doesn't seem like the best idea to open a concert with pieces along the lines of "Three Elegies" or "When Time is Over!" So I joked that if you want someone to open your concert with one of those slow, meditative, ruminative pieces about life and death, I'm obviously your go-to guy! Fortunately, the audience got the joke. Here's some pics and, because of the low lighting, apologies for the quality! (Click images for larger size.)