First Impression: The Off-Season
Here we are in summer, where there is somewhat of a dearth of goings-on in music. We had things to look forward to, but alas… anyway, there are things happening this month, so take the time to check them out!
CONTRASTS
Soprano Alissa Roca and pianist/composer Jason Mulligan present a program of songs that contrast in various ways, beyond the usual “love and loss” or “heaven and hell” tropes. The program will include some standards and some new works, including a new piece by Mulligan. The concert is on Sunday, June 7th at Springfield Presbyterian Church in Sykesville, and there is a preview show featuring some of the songs on the program and some musical theatre selections at Germano’s Piattini on June 5th. Also, Alissa Roca will be a featured performer at Young Victorian Theatre Company’s “From London to Baltimore” revue as part of their 50th anniversary celebration (along with yours truly, in case you ever wanted to hear me sing).
THE JULIET LETTERS
This work isn’t new by the standards I set when I started doing this, but I think it’s valuable to hear music by living composers and by composers who don’t necessarily come from the classical tradition. Elvis Costello is far better known for his rock music, but he has a couple of classical-leaning works, including this one, which will be performed by UrbanArias at Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA from July 11-14.
THIS MONTH IN OUTCALLS
Melissa Wimbish will be part of The Juliet Letters, and her and Britt Olsen-Ecker’s band Outcalls will also be busy this month; they have back-to-back shows on July 17th at the Crown and on the 18th at Mount Vernon Place.
NEW MUSIC HAPPY HOUR
District New Music Coalition presents New Music Happy Hour at The Big Hunt in DC, a meetup for those with an interest in new music, on July 23rd starting at 4 PM.
PEABODY SUMMER GUITAR INTENSIVE
As part of Peabody’s Summer Guitar Intensive, there is plenty of new music going on at the end of this month. Three works by Ronald Pearl will be performed; on the 29th, the Atlantic Guitar Quartet will perform Fast, and on the 31st, Peabody’s Zane Forshee will perform Four at III, and the Atlantic Guitar Quartet will perform Celestial Navigation. Also on the 31st, the quartet will premiere Peabody faculty member Judah Adashi’s Broken Hallelujah, based on Leonard Cohen’s classic via the cover by Jeff Buckley. All performances are free and open to the public!
As always, let me know if I’m missing anything!
