Saturday, September 18, 2010

American Composers Orchestra in Alvin Singleton's 'BluesKonzert' at Carnegie Hall Oct. 15, 7:30 PM





[Alvin Singleton; Ellington & The Modern Masters; Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Neeme Järvi and Leslie B. Dunner, conductors; Ursula Oppens, piano; DSO-1003 (1999)]

CARNEGIE HALL Presents
AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA

MYSTICS & MAGIC

Zankel Hall
Friday, October 15, 2010 at 7:30 PM

THE PROGRAM
American Composers Orchestra
George Manahan, Music Director and Conductor

Susan Narucki, Soprano
Ursula Oppens, Piano

VIVIER Lonely Child (NY Premiere)

SINGLETON BluesKonzert (NY Premiere)

DRUCKMAN Nor Spell Nor Charm

JOHN LUTHER ADAMS The Light Within (World Premiere, Orchestral Version)

WANG JIE New Work (World Premiere)


CD Review: Ellington & the Modern Masters
Ellington, Wilson, Davis, Holland, Singleton
Detroit Symphony/ Neeme Jarvi & Leslie Dunner
DS 1003

"The most beautiful and original piece, Alvin Singleton's BluesKonzert, floats on a mysterious impressionist cloud. A delicate piano solo played hypnotically by veteran pianist Ursula Oppens sings and trills high above dreamlike orchestral chords that gradually fade into infinity. It's a haunting and elegant piece, reason enough to get the disc."
Sullivan (from American Record Guide July/August 2000)
CD may be hard to find, so log on to http://www.detroitsymphony.com"

On June 9, 2009 AfriClassical posted: “'Ellington & The Modern Masters' (1999) Still Available From Detroit Symphony Orchestra.” The post explained: “Ellington & The Modern Masters was issued in 1999, Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the DSO UNISYS African-American Composers Residency”. Here is an excerpt concerning Alvin Singleton's composition, BluesKonzert:

“Alvin Singleton (b. 1940), Unisys Composer-in-Residence for 1996-97, wrote BluesKonzert (14:37). In the liner notes, Michael Fleming says: 'Alvin Singleton's BluesKonzert was a triple commission by the Detroit, Houston and Kansas City symphony orchestras, made possible by a grant from the Meet the Composer/Reader's Digest Commissioning Program, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund.' The piano soloist is Ursula Oppens, while the conductor is Leslie B. Dunner, of whom the liner notes say: 'Between 1988 and 1998, Dr. Leslie B. Dunner held the posts of assistant, associate and resident conductor of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.'”





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