This was not a standard concert concert of music; the music was presented as part of a three-day academic conference, “Collecting Byron: A Conference in Celebration of the Byron Society Collection.” The collection is housed at Drew University.

My piece was performed in the setting of a lecture, “Musical Byron.” The lecturer was my colleague Robert Butts, who spoke on aspects of Romanticism that are shared in the disciplines of music and poetry. Examples were cited from from Romantic giants such as Beethoven and Verdi, along with, of course, Lord Byron. Musical examples were performed live, employing pieces from the age of Byron on through to a slightly later age (Verdi). My piece represented a modern take on “Musical Byron.”

The venue was Mead Hall at Drew University in Madison, NJ. The superb performers were Emily Clare Thompson, soprano; Stanichka Dimitrova, violin; Nancy Connell, cello; Andy Cap, piano. I should single out the singer, Emily, a specialist in English literature. It was her encouragement that led me to write this song cycle in the first place!

Here are a few pictures. Click for a larger view.

Mead Hall, Drew University

“Musical Byron” program

Emily Clare Thompson with the ensemble

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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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click for a larger size view

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

The post “A Law Divine” and songs from “Hades”, on July 25 appeared first on Richard D. Russell.

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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