Soprano Marjorie Berg sang my “The Tune is in the Tree” in a special chamber music arrangement, and soprano Pamela Stein sang “When Time is Over.” Aaron Dai was the day’s accompanist. A fantastic reception followed, and we are all looking to our July 25 concert, “Songs of a Sultry Summer.” For more details on that concert (and more pics), go to In Mid Air Productions. For now, here are several pics from the Emily Dickinson concert. (Click to enlarge.)

Jessica Castro as Emily Dickinson

soprano Pamela Stein with Richard Russell. She sang “When Time is Over”

soprano Marjorie Berg with Robert Butts, conductor, performing “The Tune is in the Tree”

Richard Russell, Marjorie Berg, Bud Masters at the reception

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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!

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Christina Goyne

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!

The post Christina Goyne to perform “When Time is Over” appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

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.)

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The post Marjorie Berg to Premiere New Song Cycle appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

This is the poster advertising the concert. For those who don’t read Bulgarian, it reads (from top to bottom): 17 July ’09 17:30, Bach Hall | Bulgarian Methodist Church | RECITAL | Sofia Dimitrova, piano, & Diana Koynova, piano | arias from Puccini, Mozart, Verdi, and premieres of new songs | Free admission.

This concert is being offered in memory of Sofia’s mother, Julia.

The post “When Time is Over” to be performed in Bulgaria appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

How to hyphenate apple

I had to do this just today with the word “scholar” for an Emily Dickinson poem. Is it “scho-lar” or “schol-ar?” A quick look at the widget reveals that the second option is correct.

It’s a tiny detail, but those who make money in score copying can distinguish themselves by paying attention to these little extras. It lends your score an extra sheen of professionalism.

PC users, is there a similar option? Let us know in the comments section.

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