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Richard D. Russell as part of “Counterpoints” at Fordham University

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 16:20:16 +0000

[F]ordham University, in conjunction with the jounral, 19th Century Music, will present a two-day conference exploring the intertextuality of literature and music in the 1800s, with attendant ramifications for today’s composers.

[T]he two-day conference is Oct. 21–22, 2011, with a concert to conclude the festivities. This concluding concert will include my new composition, Dantes Variations, a theme and variations on an original theme which is intended to evoke Edmond Dantes, the hero of Dumas’s book, “The Count of Monte Cristo.” This concert will meet at 7:30pm, October 22 at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center campus, 113th West 60 Street at Columbus Avenue, 12th floor. (ADDRESS CORRECTED)

For more information about the whole concert, see: http://tiny.cc/yhd8u

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Two Russell pieces at Mannes College on June 30

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:58:00 +0000

Sofia Dimitrova

Christina Goyne

Two pieces by Richard Russell will be featured in a concert at Mannes College of Music on June 30, 8pm. Mannes is at 150 West 85th Street in New York, and the concert is free and open to the public.

The first piece is a world premiere of Four Shakespeare Songs in Madrigal Style, featuring soprano Sofia Dimitrova and mezzo Christina Goyne. The second piece is Time is Not an Option, the awarded commission from Voices Up! recently premiered at Fordham University. Hope to see you there!

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

Richard D. Russell — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:37:00 +0000

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.

Clarissa Lyons

Shun Yang, piano; Clarissa Lyons

Lawrence Kramer

Clarissa Lyons, Shun Yang, Richard Russell

Ilana Zarankin, Clarissa Lyons, Richard Russell

Janet Kaplan, Lawrence Kramer, Richard Russell

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