Ben Folds Welcomes Sara Bareilles, Caroline Shaw to Kennedy Center Series
By: Emily Bruno Nov. 16, 2017
The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) and Artistic Advisor Ben Folds welcome multi Grammy® and Tony®-nominated vocalist and composer Sara Bareilles and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and singer Caroline Shaw for a one-night-only performance as part of its DECLASSIFIED: BEN FOLDS PRESENTS series on Friday, January 12, 2018, at 9 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Edwin Outwater conducts.
The evening includes pre-and post-concert events. Tickets ($25-$75) are on sale now.
In a unique event that can only be heard with the NSO and Ben Folds, the DECLASSIFIED: BEN FOLDS PRESENTS series defies the traditional classical music presentation by offering great live music in a casual and relaxed setting, with performances of symphonic music, as well as songs that are newly composed and/or arranged specifically for this event. Folds, in his role as artistic advisor, said his shared goal with the NSO "is to make an absolute safe haven for anyone who's not an expert on 'classical' music." He added that DECLASSIFIED has no prerequisites; all concertgoers need in order to experience an NSO performance "is a pair of ears and a heart."
Sara Bareilles and Caroline Shaw bring their writing and vocal talents to the NSO to present re-imaginings of some of Bareilles's hits, as well as new works by Shaw for this event, including the orchestration of a song that will be sung by Bareilles.
"Context is everything," said Folds. "We're not dumbing down a note of music to speak to a 'pop' audience." Folds added that the upcoming January concert will showcase "two short pieces of orchestral music that I'm confident will stick with the audience. It's music that concertgoers will spend a lifetime with." Folds said, "Shaw is a total standout among modern composers, who, unlike other proper 'classical' composers, sings." In 2013, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for her composition Partita for 8 Voices, an a capella work for the critically-acclaimed vocal ensemble Roomful Of Teeth.
Bareilles has expanded her work from award-winning, platinum-selling, chart-topping musical artist, to best-selling author and critically-acclaimed hit Broadway composer. Throughout her career, her work has been nominated for six Grammys®, including Best Album, she received a Tony® nomination for Best Original Score for her Broadway musical Waitress, and her book Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) In Song, was a New York Times best seller. Most recently, Bareilles wrote the original song, "If I Dare," featured in Fox Searchlight's 2017 movie, Battle of the Sexes.
"She's as good a singer as anyone who ever made records," said Folds. "It's not a fluke that she keeps succeeding as she expands her artistry. Her ability to communicate is rooted in the fact that she has a distinct pure voice, personally and artistically." Folds added, "Bareilles's orchestration instincts are incredible, which we will highlight on January 12 by expanding some of these to full orchestra."
"I'm out to show Sara Bareilles for the modern composer she is by teaming her up with our nation's symphony orchestra," Folds said. "Concertgoers should expect something old and something new from Sara for this show."
Throughout the performance, Folds serves as host, occasionally sitting in with the Orchestra and the featured guests, who perform several songs each.
"It's important to me that these shows with the NSO are full of music you wouldn't hear anywhere else-new music, as well as new arrangements of stuff music lovers already know," said Folds.
Recording artist, violinist, composer, and arranger Rob Moose, and Tony® award-winning composer, arranger, and musical director Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen), are also orchestrating songs for Bareilles, and the award-winning S? Percussion offer new arrangements for the NSO.
The first DECLASSSIFIED: BEN FOLDS PRESENTS concert that Folds curated took place in June, and featured rock artist, producer, and composer Blake Mills, along with up-and-coming Cuban rap artist Danay Suarez. Suarez, who has since been nominated for four Latin Grammys, "blew everyone's tiny minds in three songs in her powerful debut performance with the NSO," said Folds.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRAThe 2017-2018 season marks the National Symphony Orchestra's 87th season, and Gianandrea Noseda's first as its music director. The Italian conductor serves as the Orchestra's seventh music director, joining the NSO's legacy of such distinguished leaders as Christoph Eschenbach, Leonard Slatkin, Mstislav Rostropovich, Antal Dorati, Howard Mitchell, and Hans Kindler. Its artistic leadership also includes Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke and Artistic Advisor Ben Folds.
Founded in 1931, the Orchestra has always been committed to artistic excellence and music education. In 1986, the National Symphony became an artistic affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where it has performed a full season of subscription concerts since the Center opened in 1971. The 96-member NSO regularly participates in events of national and international importance, including official holiday celebrations through its regularly televised appearances for Capitol Concerts, and local radio broadcasts on Classical WETA 90.9FM, making the NSO one of the most-heard orchestras in the country.
The Orchestra performs approximately 150 concerts each year, including classical and popular concerts at the Kennedy Center, at Wolf Trap in the summer, and on the lawn of the U.S. Capitol; chamber music performances in the Terrace Theater, on the Millennium Stage, and at theaters around D.C. It has a distinguished history of touring, and an extensive education program, with a range of offerings for families and children ages three and up.
Additionally, the NSO's community engagement projects are nationally recognized, including NSO In Your Neighborhood, which comprises a week of approximately 50 performances in schools, churches, community centers, and other neighborhood venues, and Sound Health, a collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and its affiliated organizations. Career development opportunities for young musicians include the NSO Youth Fellowship Program and its acclaimed Summer Music Institute.
For more information, visit nationalsymphony.org.
TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets ($25-$75) are available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, online at kennedy-center.org, and via phone through Instant Charge, (202) 467-4700; toll-free at (800) 444-1324. For all other ticket-related customer service inquires, call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540.
FUNDING CREDITS
David and Alice Rubenstein are the Presenting Underwriters of the NSO.
For more information about the NSO, visit nationalsymphony.org.
For more information about the Kennedy Center, visit kennedy-center.org.
Patrons 30 and under and active-duty members of the military are invited to join the Kennedy Center's MyTix program for special discount offers and chances to win free tickets. For more information, visit kennedy-center.org/mytix.
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Photo Credit: Ben Folds Official Facebook Page
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