Richard D. Russell » Time is Not an Option

Sofia Dimitrova performs “Time is Not an Option”

Richard D. Russell — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:26:37 +0000

Sofia Dimitrova accompanied by Catherine Miller

Sofia Dimitrova performed “Time is Not an Option” as part of the New York Composers Circle’s Outreach Program last October 21 at Stuyvesant High School. Sofia was accompanied by pianist Catherone Miller, and they also performed Paul Moravec’s “The Rose and the Nightingale,” Kevin McCarter’s “3 Songs,” and Menotti’s “Monica’s Waltz.”

I was asked some very interesting questions: (1) Do I consider my music harmonic or atonal? (2) Can you give some examples of how composers draw upon different influences today? (3) What’s the hardest part about being a composer of classical music in these times?

That last question was particularly apt, since my answer was about finding audiences for new contemporary music, which was the very reason this outreach concert happened. Here are some pics, and I hope to post video soon.

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Sofia Dimitrova to perform Time is Not an Option

Richard D. Russell — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:26:35 +0000

On May 16, 2011, soprano Sofia Dimitrova will perform the song cycle “Time is Not an Option” at Hunter College High School on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, in a concert being presented by the New York Composers Circle’s Outreach program. This is the fourth time a selection of mine has been included in the NYCC’s Outreach program. For more information on the NYCC, click here.

Tamara Cashour is the pianist, and John de Clef Pi√±eiro will host the event.

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Two Song Cycles featured in Mannes College of Music Concert

Richard D. Russell — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:30:00 +0000

On June 30, 2010, the Mannes College of Music was treated to some really great performances of two song cycles of mine. Soprano Sofia Dimitrova, accompanied by Sophia Munoz, performed Time is Not an Option. After the intermission, Sofia Dimitrova was joined by mezzo Christina Goyne in premiering Four Shakespeare Songs in Madrigal Style. These scores, by the way, are available at RDRussell.com — just click on “compositions.”

Here’s several pics from the evening (click to enlarge).

Sofia Dimitrova, with Sophia Munoz on piano

Sophia Munoz and Richard Russell compare notes

Sofia Dimitrova

Sofia Dimitrova and Christina Goyne

Christina Goyne

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Great Rehearsal of “Time is Not an Option” at Bard College

Richard D. Russell — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:51:00 +0000

Ilana Zarankin

Clarissa Lyons

Yesterday I traveled to the beautiful Bard College campus in upstate New York to attend a rehearsal of “Time is Not an Option,” which premieres this Saturday. (…with texts by Elisabeth Frost.) I heard a few of the other composers works, too, and I can say this will be a great concert!

I was so impressed with Bard’s Olin Hall I took a few pix to share with my iPhone. The sopranos are Ilana Zarankin and Clarissa Lyons, the pianist is Shun-Yang Lee. Each of them are superb.

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Richard D. Russell Awarded a Commission by Fordham University’s “Poets Out Loud”

Richard D. Russell — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 12:53:00 +0000

Founded in 1992, Fordham University’s Poets Out Loud is charged with the mission “…to bring a public audience to Fordham‚Äôs Lincoln Center campus and to foster the appreciation, creation, and study of poetry both within the University and in the wider NYC community.”

In Fall 2009, Poets Out Loud put out a call for scores for composers interested in collaborating with the poets of their organization. I am delighted to announce that I was awarded a commission for this project, and I was paired with poet Elisabeth Frost. I selected three of her poems and composed a cycle called “Time is Not an Option.”

The premiere will be Saturday, April 24 at 7:30pm at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus, Columbus Avenue at 60 Street, in the 12th Floor Lounge. The concert is free and open to the public.

The performers will be sopranos Clarissa Lyons and Ilana Zarankin, with Shun-Yang Lee on piano. Other composers on the bill include Martin Hennessy, Alexander Nohai-Seaman, Lawrence Kramer, and Mary Ann Joyce-Walter. In addition to my collaborator, Elisabeth Frost, other featured poets are Heather Dubrow, Edward Hirsch, Janet Kaplan, and D. Nurkse.

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