The US premiere of Carla Bley’s “Escalator Over the Hill” is set to take place at the New School.

The cross-genre ‘jazz opera,’ “Escalator Over the Hill” was written in 1971 by Bley and Paul Haines. The piece will be performed in its entirety by a vocal ensemble of students, alum, and faculty from the School of Jazz & Contemporary Music, led by Aubrey Johnson. Soloists include Bel Bastien, Andrew Geher, Andrew Sweeney, Laura Iniesta Mingot, Alfie Jackson, Donnie Smith, and  Dean Akbar. They are joined by the New School Studio Orchestra conducted by Keller Coker.

Richard Kessler, the Executive Dean of the College of Performing Arts and Dean of Mannes School of Music said in a press release, “Our central vision is to present vital works across the entire performing arts field, and we are proud to offer them to our audiences in these three programs. It is almost unbelievable that Carla Bley’s 1971 quasi-operatic blockbuster, “Escalator Over the Hill,” has never been performed in the United States, but this May, our college will do just that, placing the composer-pianist’s masterpiece front and center.”

“Escalator Over the Hill” makes its premiere on May 2, 2025 in the Tishman Auditorium at The New School.

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