Saxophonist Steve Lacy (1934-2004) is one of preminent players of the soprano saxophone, first starting in Dixieland then branching out to the works of Thelonious Monk. Later in his career, he traveled extensively focusing on chamber works and free improvisation. In 1996 during a residency in Berlin, he wrote The Cry, a jazz opera basedContinue reading “Saxophonist Steve Lacy’s opera “The Cry” is now in the database”
Tag Archives: opera
Orlando by Olga Neuwirth wins the Grawemeyer Award
Austrian composer Olga Neuwirth won the 2022 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition. Neuwirth received the award for her opera, Orlando, which premiered at the Wiener Staatsoper in 2019. Orlando was the first opera written by a woman to be staged at the Wiener Staatsoper it’s 150 year history. Olga Neuwirth has threeContinue reading “Orlando by Olga Neuwirth wins the Grawemeyer Award”
Watch the premiere of Time of Our Singing, featuring Saxophonist Mark Turner
Belgian composer and jazz pianist Kris Defoort premiered a new opera last month, The Time of Our Singing. This opera is based on Richard Powers’ 2003 novel of the same name which tells the story of a mixed raced family growing up during racial segregation in America. This production is staged by the Belgian operaContinue reading “Watch the premiere of Time of Our Singing, featuring Saxophonist Mark Turner”
The publisher Edward B Marks Music Company is now in the database, home to Darius Milhaud and William Bolcom
As I keep searching, new works by notable composers get added to the database. The publisher Edward B Marks is home to American composer William Bolcom and includes Bolcom’s collaborations with Darius Milhaud. Milhaud’s output for this publisher is unique, as it includes new arrangements of existing operas and plays. The first work in thisContinue reading “The publisher Edward B Marks Music Company is now in the database, home to Darius Milhaud and William Bolcom”
Musica Brasilis is now added to the database
Brazilian music publisher, Musica Bralisis is now listed in the database. Musica Brasilis documents the long rich history of Brazilian music beginning in the 1500s. The website includes downloadable scores, videos, and soundclips documenting over 100 years of Brazilian recorded music. Searching for operas, I was listening to choros, tangos, bossa novas, and sambas listedContinue reading “Musica Brasilis is now added to the database”
Duke Ellington’s lost opera, Queenie Pie is now in the database
In the 1930s, Duke Ellington started working on an opera about Madame C.J. Walker, the first African American woman millionaire. These sketches became the basis for the opera, Queenie Pie. Queenie, one of New York’s finest beauticians, is challenged by a rival, Cafe O’Lay a lighter skinned Creole. Cafe O’Lay sells skin-whitening concoctions to residentsContinue reading “Duke Ellington’s lost opera, Queenie Pie is now in the database”
One of the first Operas with the saxophone, Meyerbeer’s 1849 Le Prophète
When I started this project, I was researching all Romantic operas that were orchestrated for the saxophone. 800+ works of operas and ballets later, I am still finding early Romantic operas, including Giacomo Meyerbeer’s (1791-1864) 1849 grand opera, Le Prophète, which makes it the second oldest opera in the database after George Kastner’s 1844 opera,Continue reading “One of the first Operas with the saxophone, Meyerbeer’s 1849 Le Prophète”
Hamlet: Streaming on Met on Demand, 5/5-5/6
One of the first operas to feature the alto saxophone, Ambroise Thomas’s 1868 opera, Hamlet is streaming tonight on Met on Demand. You can watch it here until Thursday, May 6th: https://www.metopera.org/season/on-demand/opera/?upc=811357013625 Here is the Metropolitan Opera’s description of this 2010 production. “After over a century out of the Met’s repertoire, audiences were thrilled toContinue reading “Hamlet: Streaming on Met on Demand, 5/5-5/6”
Anthony Braxton’s Trillium operas are now listed in the database
Saxophonist, composer, improviser, and an early member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, Anthony Braxton is now listed in the database. His works are performed and recorded through his organization, Tri-Centric Foundation. The three works listed in this database are operas from his Trillium Cycle. The Trillium Cycle is a work inContinue reading “Anthony Braxton’s Trillium operas are now listed in the database”
Werther streaming on Met on Demand 4/2-4/3
Jules Massenet’s tragic opera about the love struck poet, Werther, is streaming on Met on Demand on April 1st. You can watch the production here: https://www.metopera.org/season/on-demand/opera/?upc=811357017296 From the Metropolitan Opera, “Star tenor Jonas Kaufmann brings aching intensity and vocal charisma to the tortured title hero of Massenet’s Goethe adaptation. Sophie Koch, in her Met debut,Continue reading “Werther streaming on Met on Demand 4/2-4/3”
the Operatic Saxophone 