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Songs from Poet’s Corner: April 10, 2011

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 16:33:06 +0000

Several new and old Richard Russell pieces will be featured in this April 10 concert (3pm) presented by In Mid Air Productions. “Reverie for Flute and Piano”, a piece composed as an undergraduate, will be performed, as will the much more recent “Four Songs of Shakespeare in Madrigal Style.” Among the new pieces are “Crossing the Bar” for baritone and piano trio, on a text of Tennyson, and “Longing” for soprano and piano trio, based on a poem by Matthew Arnold.

Here is the press release from the IMAP website:

In anticipation of the royal nuptials scheduled at the abbey this April, In Mid Air Productions presents its spring salon, Songs of Poets‚Äô Corner in Westminster Abbey.

On Sunday, April 10, 2011, at 3pm, IMAP will perform readings and new compositions featuring the works of the poets honored and buried at Westminster Abbey. Robert W. Butts will again conduct our troupe of musicians in pieces he has composed, along with new pieces by Anthony Bevilacqua, Kevin McCarter, and Richard D. Russell. Featured performers include Iliya Roitman, Kristine Hart, Alejandra Altonjy, Dan Foran, Mark Fitzgerald Wilson, and Emily Clare Thompson.

Please join us for a celebration of spring and poetry!

For more information, updates, or ticket reservations, contact: Emily Clare Thompson at office: (973) 404‑0540 or seasonal.sunday.salons@gmail.com

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“Amid the Blinding Snow” and other premieres

Richard D. Russell — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 14:02:25 +0000

On February 20 at 3pm at the Bell and Barter Theater in Rockaway, New Jersey, Richard D. Russell will premiere several new pieces: “Three Partings” with texts by Lord Byron, “Are You Digging on My Grave?” based on Thomas Hardy’s humorous poem, and “Amid the Blinding Snow” based on a poem by Elisabeth Sidwell. The concert is being presented by In Mid Air Productions.

From the press release: “In February we think of of Valentine’s Day, with its celebration of flirtation, love, and romance. But it is also a cold, barren time, and so In Mid Air Productions offers up a twist, paying tribute to love gone wrong in ¬†“Amid the Blinding Snow.”

The concert will also feature music by Robert Butts and Kevin McCarter.

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Video: “Eldorado”

Richard D. Russell — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:50:00 +0000

At the October 24, 2010 Edgar Allan Poe celebration produced by In Mid Air Productions, two pieces of mine were premiered: Annabel Lee and Eldorado. Here’s video of Emily Thompson-Schweer, soprano, performing Eldorado. It is arranged for high voice and piano trio; a tenor might wish to perform it. See Compositions for more info.

Emily Thompson-Schweer, soprano, performs Eldorado

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Video: “Annabel Lee”

Richard D. Russell — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:30:12 +0000

At the October 24, 2010 Edgar Allan Poe celebration produced by In Mid Air Productions, two pieces of mine were premiered: Annabel Lee and Eldorado. Here’s video of Dan Foran, tenor, performing Annabel Lee. It’s arranged for piano trio accompaniment, and was a big hit at the concert. See Compositions for more info.

Dan Foran, tenor, performs “Annabel Lee”

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The Oct 24 Poe Concert: Higher resolution pics

Richard D. Russell — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 20:53:00 +0000

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

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Many pics from Oct 24 Edgar Allan Poe concert

Richard D. Russell — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 02:53:00 +0000

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

Just some of the reception crowd

Daniel Foran sings “Annabel Lee”

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New Jersey Daily Record previews Oct 24 Poe concert

Richard D. Russell — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:51:00 +0000

Pamela Stein, soprano

Today the New Jersey Daily Record offers a sneak peek at this Sunday‚Äôs 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.

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Three Compositions based on Poe poems: Oct 24

Richard D. Russell — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 01:28:00 +0000

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.

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“A Law Divine” and songs from “Hades”, on July 25

Richard D. Russell — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 23:26:00 +0000

click for a larger size view

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

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Two Russell pieces presented at Emily Dickinson concert

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 03 May 2010 19:40:00 +0000

It was more than an Emily Dickinson concert, it was an experience! Jessica Castro as Emily Dickinson read poems, and music by Richard Russell, Raphael Fusco, and Robert Butts provided “a little madness in the spring” last week at the Bell and Barter Theater in Rockaway, NJ. Maestro Butts was the afternoon’s conductor.

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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