Mezzo-soprano Daniela Mack is set to give a live performance of her debut solo album “SUR,” presented by National Sawdust and Sarah Williams. Mack performs alongside music director and bandoneonist JP Jofre and his quintet. The quintet includes violinist Siwoo Kim, cellist Michael Nicolas, double bassist Chris Johnson, and pianist Sohee Kwon. The evening’s program features songs from the album {…}
Imagine being trapped inside your own head for 22 years, listening to mental loops playing on repeat all day, without the ability to use your own voice. In composer Paola Prestini and librettist Brenda Shaughnessy’s opera “Sensorium Ex,” Jakob Jordan plays Kitsune, the central character who, with the help of custom-designed AI tools developed with NYU’s Ability Lab, is able to {…}
Due to popular demand, the National Sawdust in NYC will now host two preview events for its upcoming world premiere production of “A River Runs Through It” by Opera Montana. The two performances, one at 5:30 p.m. and another at 8 p.m. local time, will feature John Maclean, son of author Norman Maclean and author of “Home Waters,” reading passages {…}
National Sawdust will present the world premiere of “COUNTERTENOR,” featuring Anthony Roth Costanzo. The showcase, set for April 17-18, 2025 at the National Sawdust, will feature an exploration of the famed voice from a historical perspective with music by John Dowland, The Four Seasons, Philip Glass, Osvaldo Golijov, Claudio Monteverdi, Thomas Morley, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Klaus Nomi, and Antonio Vivaldi, among others, all arranged by Dan Schlosberg for {…}
Fourth Wall Ensemble is set to make its National Sawdust debut on Feb. 12, 2025. The event in question will feature the organization under Artistic Director Christopher Allen in a performance of works by Kaija Saariaho, Caroline Shaw, Philip Glass, John Glover, and Andrew Yee. The event will also feature soprano Susanna Phillips, among others, and will be hosted by {…}
Sparks & Wiry Cries will present two events this February at the National Sawdust. On the 7th, the organization will showcase its ninth annual “songSLAM” which showcases the talents of 15 composers, singers, and pianists premiering songs. The event will also spotlight the work of 2024 songSLAM winner Jonathan Wyatt. Here is a breakdown of the teams. The first team {…}
Experiments in Opera announces its 2025 Winter/Spring season. Soprano Anchal Dhir and mezzo-soprano Rocky Duval give the workshop performance of Kamala Sankaram and Paul Muldoon’s “Custom of the Coast.” They are accompanied by the Flux Quartet. “Custom of the Coast” is co-presented by Works & Process and National Sawdust, and is slated for premiere at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August 2025. {…}
(Photo credit: James Matthew Daniel) Michael Hersch’s latest opera, “and we, each,” created in collaboration with poet Shane McCrae, makes its New York premiere at National Sawdust on Feb. 6. Soprano Ah Young Hong and baritone Jesse Blumberg perform the two singing roles. Tito Muñoz will conduct a five-piece ensemble comprised of New York players. James Daniel, who previously staged Hersch’s {…}
National Sawdust has announced the second half of its 10th anniversary season will include 15 new works commissioned by the organization. For the purposes of this article only new operatic additions are included. Vivian Fung’s “Girl From the 905” is a work-in-process song cycle conceived and performed by soprano Andrea Núñez. Performance Dates: January 21–26, 2025 Sawdust teams with Sparks {…}
(Photo credit: Jill Steinberg at National Sawdust) National Sawdust’s 10th Anniversary opening season kicked off with Artistic Director/Co-Founder & composer Paola Prestini and librettist Royce Vavrek‘s foley chamber opera world premiere “Silent Light,” featuring director & scenic designer Thaddeus Strassberger and conductor Christopher Rountree. The cast includes powerhouse soprano Brittany Renee as Esther, bass-baritone Daniel Okulitch as Johan, soprano Julia {…}
Soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee is set to headline Aaron Davis’ “Zombie Blizzard” at the National Sawdust in Brooklyn on Oct. 28, 2024. The soprano will be joined by the composer himself, who will accompany her during the performance. “Zombie Blizzard” is described as “a song cycle written by Aaron Davis of seven concert arias for voice, jazz trio and brass ensemble, {…}