Renowned Composer Philip Glass Visits UC

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music welcomes award-winning composer Philip Glass on Saturday, April 26.  A pre-concert discussion with the renowned composer hosted by CCM Dean Douglas Lowry will begin at 7 p.m. in Corbett Auditorium with the concert following at 8 p.m. 

Earl Rivers will conduct the CCM Concert Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Chorale and the Cincinnati Children's Choir in the regional premiere of Glass' Symphony No. 5 "Requiem, Bardo, Nirmanakaya." .

Originally commissioned and conceived as a celebration of the millennium for the 1999 Salzburg Festival, Glass' Symphony No. 5 contains original texts of Greek, Hebrew, Sanskrit, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese and indigenous languages that are sung in English to show the commonalities with which these traditions resonate.

Glass claims that he intended to "represent a broad spectrum of many of the world's great 'wisdom' traditions."  The piece opens in a time before the world's beginning and proceeds across earthly life and paradise before closing at a point some time in the future.  The text, which spans 2,500 years, dozens of languages and many cultures, was put together not for simple variety but to illustrate linquistic and cultural similarities. The symphony's themes of peace, tolerance and religious commonalities resound with the turbulent times facing our world today.

The CCM Choral Department has long been considered one of the nation's leading programs for choral training. Three times a year, the Chamber Choir, Chorale and Cincinnati Children's Choir combine with the student orchestra to present large, important choral/orchestral works, much in the same tradition of the Cincinnati May Festival. After an in-depth study of the history of choral/orchestral works performed at CCM, Glass' Symphony No. 5 was selected. While CCM instrumental ensembles have performed several minimalist works over the past decade, Glass' work was chosen because no choral works of this nature have ever been presented at CCM.

Earl Rivers, CCM's director of choral studies, acquired a tape of the Salzburg performance of Symphony No. 5 through Glass' publisher and was intrigued by the choices of texts and textures. "I had previously performed choral excerpts from Glass' opera, Einstein on the Beach, with the Vocal Arts Ensemble and the audience went crazy," says Rivers. Recognizing this attraction to Glass' music, he had been seeking a large work to introduce the composer to CCM students and audiences. "Symphony No. 5, with its large scope, is the right work for this introduction and immersion," explains Rivers.

Like most minimalist compositions, Symphony No. 5 is extremely accessible to audiences and has been well-received around the world. The minimalist label covers a wide spectrum of styles, but includes traits such as a simple structure, driving energy and sustained repetition of rhythmic patterns. The performance of such music, however, offers a real challenge to the choirs and orchestra; since the subtle changes in rhythms and chords require sustained concentration by the performers.

CCM's performance of the work will be only the second in the Midwest and the first by any music school in the nation. Glass' Symphony No. 5 is arranged for five solo voices, a children's and mixed choir, and a large orchestra. CCM students Kelli Domke, soprano; Lauren Pastorek, mezzo-soprano; Christopher O'Conner, tenor; Marc Callahan, baritone; and Doug-Geun Kim, bass-baritone are featured soloists.

"Through his music Philip Glass has made a unique contribution to the musical arts of our own time," says Rivers, who is particularly excited that Glass will be on campus for the premiere. "It will be a significant experience for our students to share dialogue with a major composer who has had enormous influence on the musical life and trends of our generation."

Tickets for the pre-concert discussion with Philip Glass and the performance of his Symphony No. 5 are $10 for general admission and $5 for students and children. UC students are admitted free with a valid student I.D. Parking for the event is available in the CCM Garage at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue. Call the CCM Box Office at 513/556-4183 or go to www.ccm.uc.edu for more information.

The program is generously supported by The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation, with additional support from the Harmony Fund.

#              #                #

Philip Glass, visiting composer

A pre-concert discussion with the renowned composer, hosted by Dean Douglas Lowry

Saturday, April 26, 7 pm

Corbett Auditorium

Admission with concert ticket

Concert Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Chorale & Cincinnati Children's Choir

Earl Rivers, conductor

Glass: Symphony No. 5 "Requiem, Bardo, Nirmanakaya" (1999)

REGIONAL PREMIERE

Saturday, April 26, 8 pm

Corbett Auditorium

Tickets:

$10 General Admission

$5 Students

UC Students Free with Valid Student I.D.