New CD “Studies in Nature” released on Centaur Records
- On January 03, 2019
- By alzand@rice.edu
- In News
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November 2018 saw the release of a chamber and vocal music CD on Centaur Records, entitled “Studies in Nature.” The recording includes performances of Studies in Nature, Canticle and Caprice, Cinderella, Quelques Fleurs, Luctus Profugis and Orange Torches Against the Rain. 
Its large cast of performers include Sheldon Person, Matthew Roitstein, Stephanie Gustafson. Aidan Soder, Grant Loehnig, Natalie Lin, Ab Sengupta, Julia Cleworth, Wesley Ducote, Jakob Nierenz, Thomas Frey, Boson Mo, Ling Ling Huang, Jarita Ng, Max Geissler, Aaron Perdue, Lin Ma, Greg Hammond, Philip Hembree, Craig Hauschildt, Jerry Hou and the Kinetic Ensemble. Many of the works on the CD share a naturalistic theme: the title piece and the cover art is inspired by the captivating illustrations of biologist and naturalist Ernst Haeckel (1834—1919), seen at left; the song cycle “Orange Torches Against the Rain” sets texts of flowers and rain by American poet Amy Lowell; and the trio Quelques Fleurs is inspired by the scent of flowers. “Canticle and Caprice” is a short two-part piece for string trio. A work for string orchestra, “Luctus Profugis” is a lament, an elegy for the victims of the European migrant crisis. Finally, “Cinderella,” scored for a large mixed ensemble of nine players, was written to accompany the 1922 silent silhouette film by Lotte Reiniger (the film and music can be seen below). The CD (CENTAUR 3659) is available online at iTunes, amazon.com and ArkivMusik.
Visions Take Flight: new CD from River Oaks Chamber Orchestra
- On December 24, 2018
- By alzand@rice.edu
- In News, Reviews/Press
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The River Oaks Chamber Orchestra recently released its first recording: Visions Take Flight. A double CD consisting of all newly commissioned works, the recording includes Visions from Another World, a piece commissioned by the orchestra in 2008. The recording also features compositions by Derek Bermel (Murmurations), Reena Esmail (Teen Murti), Anthony DiLorenzo (Jabberwocky) and Marcus Maroney (Concerto for Chamber Orchestra). Mei-Ann Chen conducts this debut recording, produced by Grammy-winner Blanton Alspaugh on Innova Records. The recording process, which was interrupted in Houston by the arrival of hurricane Harvey, is chronicled in a short behind the scenes video introducing the CD.
“Visions Take Flight” is available at iTunes, amazon.com and ArkivMusik. Program notes are available here. Reviews of the recording have appeared in I care if you listen, BBC Music Magazine’s December podcast, Houston Public Media, Log Journal September Playlist, MidWest Record, artsfuse and Textura.
Lamentation on The Disasters of War receives European Premiere with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
- On November 12, 2018
- By alzand@rice.edu
- In News, Reviews/Press
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The string orchestra version of Lamentation on The Disasters of War received its European premiere in Amsterdam with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the direction of Cristian Macelaru on October 18th and 19th. It joined a program of works by Weill and Shostakovich. Reviews in NRC Handelsblad, Opera Magazine and HTodsunden Parool
Parizade and the Singing Tree premiere at Cabrillo
- On August 10, 2018
- By alzand@rice.edu
- In News, Reviews/Press
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Parizade and the Singing Tree premiered at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music at their annual Family Concert on August 5. Directed by Cristian Macelaru and narrated by Nora el Samahy, this new orchestral transcription of the work (originally for sextet) was commissioned by the festival. In addition, Luctus Profugis was performed as an unannounced addition to the Saturday August 4th concert, entitled “After Dixieland.” Reviews: San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Classical Voice, Performing Arts Monterey, Monterey Herald, Classical Voice North America.
New orchestration of Parizade and the Singing Tree to premiere at Cabrillo Festival
- On June 15, 2018
- By alzand@rice.edu
- In News
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Maxfield Parrish, Parizade and the Singing Tree
A new orchestration of the 2001 work Parizade and the Singing Tree will be premiered at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music on August 5th, 2018, as part of the festival’s free family concert.
Nora el Samahy
Conducted by festival director, Cristian Macelaru and narrated by Nora el Samahy, the story recounts the adventures of Parizade, the daughter of the palace gardener, as she seeks out the famed “Singing Tree.”
The charming folk tale has as its source an episode from the Thousand Nights and A Night [Alf laylah wa-laylah] 
collection of folktales—or the so-called ‘Arabian Nights.’ Unlike Aladdin, Ali Baba or Sindbad, Parizade is unfortunately not one of the better-known figures in the Arabian Nights. Her story is often omitted in the more popular published translations of the work. It is translated, however, in Sir Richard Burton’s encyclopedic edition of the work; it appears as one of his many ‘Supplemental Nights’ (1886–1888). Parizade’s quest for the Singing Tree—in which “many princes and noblemen” before her have failed—is an exciting tale of adventure, determination and wonderment. As is common in the long, episodic tales of the collection, Parizade’s encounter with the Singing Tree is a story embedded within a larger narrative, one entitled variously by translators as “The Sisters Who Envied their Cadette,” or “The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water.” The renowned illustrator Maxfield Parrish was captivated by Parizade’s exploits, and produced one of his most colorful and enchanting paintings (shown above) for an early 20th century edition of the Nights. Join the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra for a presentation of Parizade and the Singing Tree on Sunday August 5, at 1pm at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium.
