It’s a very good show in its simplicity. The curtain rises on a village of brown lizards who are safe and warm at home, “Where All is Brown.” Several lizards decide to explore the outside world, where they find red frogs (“When You’re Seein’ Red”), orange and yellow frogs (“Citrine Samba”) and so on. One by one the lizards change color. They learn that difference is nothing to fear. They return home to teach the king and queen that “It Takes A Rainbow.”

It’s a great little show, about 45 minutes long, and was a big hit with students, teachers, and parents. The staging, while simple, was exceedingly effective, especially the costumes! (See also the program, on this website.)

Here are several pictures from the show. (Thanks to Sofia Dimitrova for lending her photography skills!) Click the image (within your browser) to enlarge.

Emily Clare Thompson and Richard D. Russell at the school sign

It’s a blockbuster! The crows waits to enter the theater.

“Where All is Brown”

A brown lizard learns how great it is “When You’re Seein’ Red”

“When You’re Seein’ Red”

The “Citrine Samba”

“Explore The World of Green”

“You Gotta Sing the Blues”

“You just can’t be unhappy when you’re blue or indigo”

“Searching high, searching low!”

The Purple and Violet Hoedown

The Purple and Violet Hoedown

The lizards return home in transformed colors

“It Takes a Rainbow”

Emily Clare Thompson reading acknowledgements

Emily Clare Thompson introduces Richard D. Russell

Emily Clare Thompson and Richard D. Russell after the show

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Photos from the production will be posted here soon.

The post It Takes a Rainbow — program appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

We’ve written a number of shows together, typically for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade, but this year, for the first time, we’ve added a 2nd grade show.

The second grade show is “It Takes a Rainbow” which tells the story of young, brown lizards who feel safe at home and never want to travel. Eventually they leave move on and explore, discovering colored frogs and learning the value of a multi-hued world. I’ll post pictures of the premiere performance, which will be this Thursday, May 9.

At the same time, rehearsals are under way for “The Winner Takes All.” This is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Love’s Labour’s Lost,” set in a modern day middle school. Much like Shakespeare’s original, there’s a real sense of rivalry between the boys and girls, so this is a fun show. However, I still have so much music to write! The children are rehearsing their dialogue, and are awaiting my score, which is only about 75% done. This show will premiere on June 6, so I’ve got some catching up to do.

(You should be able to click the images for a larger view.)

Emily Clare Thompson directs the finale. (The group at left is the choir.)

Emily Clare Thompson directs “It Takes a Rainbow”

The boys do a reading of “The Winner Takes All”

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Since I’m tak­ing pic­tures, I don’t have a picture of me at the event! But here are three pics from the day.

Michael Laderman, flute, Marcia Ecert, piano

Michael Laderman and Marcia Ecert greet the public

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Enthusiastic students!

Once again, my frequent collaborator, Emily Thompson, asked me to lecture to her class of youngsters at the school where she teaches: Central School in East Hanover, NJ. I went on February 22, 2013 and arrived spoke to 5 different classes throughout the day.

The lecture is about how inter­dis­ci­pli­nary think­ing can lead to more cre­ativ­ity. I present the exam­ple of mix­ing lit­er­a­ture and music, draw­ing con­nec­tions between hero mythol­ogy and Beethoven’s music.

The Beethoven image on the wall reads: “Beethoven: Why is he interested in being a romantic hero? What is his famous problem?” Sometimes the kids get it right away — he was deaf! But sometimes I hear “He was grumpy because he asked three women to marry him and they all said no.” Hmm, I wonder what movie that is from?

Here is a picture from the day, but unfortunately I was cropped out!

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Soprano Sofia Dimitrova sang the two songs, backed by the Glass Farm Ensemble. Glass Farm is Yvonne Troxler, piano, Gregor Kitzis, violin, and Matthew Goeke, cello. The performances were excellent and I hope to have video or audio posted here soon.

Meanwhile, you can learn more about Sofia Dimitrova at her website:
sofiadimitrova.com

And more about the Glass Farm Ensemble is here:
glassfarm.org

Richard Russell introduces his pieces

Sofia Dimitrova

Sofia Dimitrova with Glass Farm Ensemble

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Click the program for a close-up view.

The post Sneak Peek at Tuesday night’s program appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

Emily and I are very proud of this show, feeling it may be our strongest work yet. In the show, Cupid has frustrated the gods of Mount Olympus with his misbehavior. Zeus sends Cupid to a middle school –without his bow and arrow–to mix with the mortals. Cupid is joined by the messengers Hermes and Iris. Along the way Cupid meets Iris, battles Flint, and starts to learn the true meaning of love.

Here are sev­eral pics from the evening — click the pic­ture for a larger view.

The gods of Mount Olympus

Zeus

Athena & Hera

Cupid and Enid

Flint and the Fluries

Flint eggs on Rumer & Raven

Iris, Cupis, Hermes, & Flint

The post Premiere of “Cupid’s Bow” — a children’s musical appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

Sofia Dimitrova

Soprano Sofia Dimitrova will perform two Richard Russell compositions, “Amid the Blinding Snow” and “Crossing the Bar.” This will be the New York premiere of the two pieces, which are for soprano and piano trio.

The venue is Saint Peters Church at Citigroup Center, Lexington Avenue at 54th Street. The concert starts at 8pm, and there is a suggested donation of $20.

Other pieces on the concert:
Roger Blanc Maneuvers, for vln & vla
Richard Brooks Lamentations
Jacob E. Goodman Variations for a Rainy Afternoon
Carl Kanter Summer Quartet, for string quartet
Debra Kaye Duet After Winter, for 2 vlns
Eugene Marlow La Femme d’un Temps Passe’ au Pre’sent

The post Sofia Dimitrova to perform Richard Russell songs February 19 appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

He writes:

PUBLIQuartet gave Richard Russell’s “Adagio for String Quartet” a soft caressing tenderness and great charm. PUBLIQuartet’s interpretation of this piece showed why it is one of the most popular contemporary works for string quartet.

Although my piece only has a brief mention, the review of the concert overall is very positive, and I am very glad to have been a part of it. A group photo was taken after the concert, but I must have been in the restroom!

The full review can be read by clicking here: http://soundwordsight.com/?p=682

Composers with PUBLIQuartet. Left-to-right back row: Max Giteck Duykers, Richard Brooks, Nick Revel, Amanda Gookin, Jannina Norpoth, and Curtis Stewart. Front row: Peri Mauer and Nataliya Medvedovskaya.

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