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Sofia Dimitrova to perform Richard Russell songs February 19

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:21:24 +0000

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

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Lecture at East Hanover (NJ) Central School

Richard D. Russell — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 00:22:24 +0000

Beethoven looks on

Once again my frequent collaborator, Emily Thompson, asked me to lecture to her class of fourth-grade school children. This lecture was held at the East Hanover (NJ) Central School. My talk 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. Here’s a picture of me introducing Beethoven.

I presented my lecture pretty much non-stop, six times in a row. I have to give credit to teachers everywhere who do this every day, day-in and day-out. I don’t know how they do it!

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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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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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“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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Christina Goyne sings “When Time is Over”

Richard D. Russell — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:33:00 +0000

It was so terrific to hear Christina Goyne perform “When Time is Over” in her recital last night. She’s a new singer to my music, and she did a spectacular job, very inspiring. Since she is a mezzo I wrote a special arrangement of the piece for her, but I’ll have to write something original for her to perform: She’s great. Jason Wirth was the superb and sensitive accompanist. Here’s some pics from the evening (click to enlarge).

Jason Wirth accompanies Christina Goyne

Jason Wirth, Christina Goyne

Richard Russell with Christina Goyne after the concert

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Richard Russell at the NYCC

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:10:00 +0000

Although I was battling a cold, my¬†presentation to the New York Composers Circle last Sunday was quite successful. “Questions my Composition Teacher Never Asked Me” was attended by about 25 people in midtown Manhattan, followed by a great Q&A and a healthy discussion. A big part of my lecture was dedicated to analyzing Jennifer Higdon’s Concerto for Orchestra. Here’s several pics…

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Richard Russell to present lecture at NYCC

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:44:00 +0000

I have been invited to present my lecture/demonstration, “Questions my Composition Teacher Never Asked Me,” to the New York Composers Circle at their monthly salon. This is the same presentation I offered at Mannes College of Music’s Composer’s Forum last October. The date is almost here: this Sunday, March 15, at 2pm. There is no charge and all are invited. The NYCC meets at the Ellington Room in Manhattan Plaza, 400 West 43rd Street. (Ask the doorman to point you toward the Ellington Room; it is on the second floor.) There will be the usual monthly reception after the lecture. Hope to see you there!

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I Am Greener Than Grass, February 11, 2007

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 01:29:00 +0000

John Ollom

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Richard Russell contributes a new original song, I Am Greener Than Grass, to “Love Stories”, a theatrical work presented by the Ollom Dance Company. There were two performances, February 11, 2007 at 3pm and at 6pm. Sofia Dimitrova was the soprano who created the role and interpreted the song. The venue was the LGB&T Center at 208 West 13th Street. Pictured here is John Ollom.

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