Lecture at Central School in NJ | Oct. 29, 2010

This past Halloween season I presented a lecture and demonstration to young grade schoolers at Central School in East Hanover, NJ. The subject was how the literary tradition of the heroic quest can be found in the music of Beethoven.

I presented the lecture six times in a row to different visiting classes -- you teachers out there know how it is!

A special thanks to all the students who asked such interesting questions ("Where does inspiration come from?" "How long does it take to write a piece of music?" etc.) and to my host, Emily Thompson Schweer.

The Oct 24 Poe Concert: Higher resolution pics

Here are a few additional pictures from In Mid Air Productions's October 24 concert celebrating Edgar Allan Poe. These photos are by Anthony Shashaty. (Click for larger size)

Dan Foran sings "Annabel Lee"

Dan Foran

Dan Natkie as Edgar Allan Poe, Jessica Castro as Virginia Clemm

Emily Clare Thompson sings "Eldorado"

Emily Clare Thompson and Richard Russell after the concert

Many pics from Oct 24 Edgar Allan Poe concert

By all accounts the Edgar Allan Poe concert in Rockaway, NJ  was a huge success, sold-out with people clamoring for standing room only. The crowd seemed to especially like "Annabel Lee" for tenor and piano trio, and I was blessed with an outstanding performance by Daniel Foran, who seemed to own the piece. Also premiered was "Eldorado" sung by Emily Clare Thompson, who was also the day's director (and producer!). And finally, a repeat performance of "A Poe Fantasia" which is in four movements; the first and third movement were sung by Mark Fitzgerald Wilson and Kristine Hart, and interspersed with actors reading Poe's "Ulalume." (Daniel Natkie was Edgar Allan Poe, and Jessica Castro portrayed Virginia Clemm.)

More about the concert, which featured a premiere opera by Robert W. Butts, can be found by clicking here.

Mark Fitzgerald Wilson sings "A Poe Fantasia"

Kristine Hart sings "A Poe Fantasia"

Emily Clare Thompson sings "Eldorado"

Daniel Natkie as Poe, Jessica Castro as Virginia Clemm

Daniel Foran sings "Annabel Lee"

Just some of the reception crowd

New Jersey Daily Record previews Oct 24 Poe concert

Pamela Stein, soprano

Today the New Jersey Daily Record offers a sneak peek at this Sunday’s Seasonal Sunday Salon "Edgar Allan Poe" concert. No, Andrew Pecota and I did not co-write a piece, but we both have pieces on the concert. The centerpiece of Sunday's concert is a new mini-opera by Robert W. Butts based on Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart.


The article can be read here.

Three Compositions based on Poe poems: Oct 24

Richard D. Russell will have three pieces performed on October 24, 2010 at the Bell and Barter Theater in Rockaway, NJ. Details are on the poster, please click for a larger view. All of the day's pieces will have a theme tied in with Edgar Allan Poe.

Russell's compositions include "A Poe Fantasia" plus two new premieres: "Eldorado" and "Annabel Lee" both for voice and piano trio.

There will be a premiere of a new mini-opera by Robert Butts, a re-imagining of Poe's classic short story, "The Tell-Tale Heart."

The concert starts at 3pm, and tickets are available for $15 by emailing your total tickets desired to: seasonal.sunday.salons@gmail.com

Tickets at the door are $25, so save $10 by registering early!

A wine and cheese reception is included in the ticket's cost.

"A Law Divine" and Songs from "Hades" on July 25

Click for a larger size view

On July 25, 2010 In Mid Air Productions presents its next Seasonal Sunday Salon: “Songs of a Sultry Summer: Surrender to the Siren.” The concert will feature several world premieres, with music by Robert Butts, Robert Cohen, and Richard D. Russell. Maestro Butts is the afternoon’s conductor.

Richard Russell's premieres will be "A Law Divine" for baritone and piano trio, a song cycle of three texts: A Red, Red Rose (Burns), Love's Philosophy (Shelley), and Break of Day (Donne).

Also on tap are chamber music arrangements of two songs from Hades, a forthcoming musical drama with lyrics by Emily Clare Thompson and music by Richard Russell. 

Tickets are $25 at the door, but a reduced rate of $15 is available if you reserve your ticket by July 23. (Students and seniors are $15, while the early pre-July 23 rate is $10.)

To reserve your spot, email your name, ticket type, and number of tickets to seasonal.sunday.salons@gmail.com. (Questions may also be directed here.)

Two Song Cycles featured in Mannes College of Music Concert

On June 30, 2010, the Mannes College of Music was treated to some really great performances of two song cycles of mine. Soprano Sofia Dimitrova, accompanied by Sophia Munoz, performed Time is Not an Option. After the intermission, Sofia Dimitrova was joined by mezzo Christina Goyne in premiering Four Shakespeare Songs in Madrigal Style. These scores, by the way, are available at RDRussell.com -- just click on "compositions."

Here's several pics from the evening (click to enlarge).

Sofia Dimitrova, with Sophia Munoz on piano

Sophia Munoz and Richard Russell compare notes

Sofia Dimitrova

Sofia Dimitrova and Christina Goyne

Christina Goyne