Word file: PR. Kiss the Earth Nov 2011
Media Contact:
Inna Heasley 215.280.4824, inna@lyricfest.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 12, 2011
To Kiss the Earth – Potter, Poet and Guide
Lyric Fest Presents Three World Premieres, With Philadelphia Orchestra Strings
PHILADELPHIA, PA: Lyric Fest presents To Kiss The Earth, a celebration of the artist and the flow of creative inspiration from one generation to the next, featuring three world premieres by renowned Philadelphia composers: Maurice Wright’s To Kiss the Earth, Allen Krantz’s Little Elegy with Books and Beasts II (2011), and Curt Cacioppo’s Volgi, Beatrice.
Soloists: William Stone, Elizabeth Weigle, the Ravenhill String Quartet (formed by the Philadelphia Orchestra musicians), diary entries read by Suzanne DuPlantis.
Saturday, November 12 @ 3 pm
Philadelphia University – Ravenhill Chapel
4201 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19144
Directions to Ravenhill Chapel
Sunday, November, 13 @ 3 pm
The Academy of Vocal Arts
1920 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Tickets and Information: General $25, Students $5. Visit www.LyricFest.org, call 215-438-1702, tickets also sold at the door.
“We first became interested in the teacher-student relationship in the arts. The story quickly emerged of how the torch of art and creativity is passed down from teachers, guides and mentors to the next generation of artists,” says co-founding artistic director Suzanne DuPlantis. Lyric Fest will illustrate this theme by premiering three vocal chamber works by Philadelphia composers, who will also take the stage for a personal commentary. DuPlantis’ readings and displays of pottery will complement the program.
The commission of the title piece, Maurice Wright’s To Kiss The Earth for string quartet and low voice, was inspired and initiated by baritone William Stone (faculty at The Academy of Vocal Arts). Being an accomplished pottery maker, Mr. Stone studied with Marguerite Wildenhain (1896-1985), a well-known Bauhaus potter, artist, educator and author. Upon Wildenhain’s death, Mr. Stone was asked to translate from German her diary from the days at Bauhaus. While doing so, he made a discovery about Marguerite’s passionate relationship with Max Krehan, whom she cherished as her pottery Master and mentor. After Krehan’s death in 1925, she described a visit to his grave, “to kiss the earth” where he lay buried.
“Maurice proved the perfect partner for this project,” says Randi Marrazzo, co-founding artistic director. “He composed a beautiful song cycle, with selections from Marguerite’s diary. It is a sad but inspirational story of the despair of losing one’s love and mentor, then taking up the torch to become a mentor to countless other artists.”
Allen Krantz’s Little Elegy with Books and Beasts II (2011) is set to Nancy Willard’s poem in memory of Martin Provensen (1916-1987), an illustrator and writer of children’s books, whose poetry and folk stories raised generations of young readers.Krantz set this poem 20 years ago, but decided to revisit it, composing an entirely new piece for Lyric Fest.
“It is an elegy for a deeply creative and profoundly caring individual. Set in New England where I grew up, it spoke to me from the first time I read it,” Krantz comments. “Writing for voice and string quartet gave me a chance to open up the flow of the poem with interludes of various textures. The music gradually coalesces from the pizzicatos of bare winter to the sustained sounds of its religious conclusion.”
Curt Cacioppo’s Volgi, Beatrice, for soprano and string quartet, is dedicated to Dante’s muse. Beatrice inspired him to write the Divine Comedy, where he depicts her as the guide, showing the way into paradise. “The lines of text come from the final cantos of Dante’s second book, at the turning point in the trilogy that to me is the most pivotal,” explains Cacioppo.
Alongside William Stone and soprano Elizabeth Weigle will be the Ravenhill String Quartet, created and named specifically for this premiere program. The quartet was formed by the Philadelphia Orchestra musicians and close colleagues: Solomiya Ivakhiv and Daniel Han, violin, Che Hung Chen, viola, and Tom Kraines, cello (faculty at Princeton University).
For the first time Lyric Fest is bringing a program to Ravenhill Chapel on the campus of Philadelphia University. Laura Ward, co-founding artistic director said: “It is a beautiful old chapel, with a rich history and incredible acoustics – perfect for vocal chamber music. Focused on Art and Design, I’d say Philadelphia University is a pretty poetic location for this program.”
About Lyric Fest:
Lyric Fest was founded in 2003 by three distinguished Philadelphia-area musicians: mezzo-soprano Suzanne DuPlantis, soprano Randi Marrazzo, and pianist Laura Ward. Lyric Fest is the only performing organization in the Metropolitan Philadelphia dedicated exclusively to the voice recital. Seeking to revitalize and expand the song tradition, Lyric Fest invites regional and internationally recognized artists, who together produce unique and educational programming, built around compelling themes and presented in an intimate setting. Find out more at www.LyricFest.org.
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