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Symphony Space to Host WALL TO WALL STEVE REICH Celebrating His 80th Birthday
By: A.A. Cristi Dec. 15, 2016
Steve Reich's 80th birthday is being celebrated all over town, but one party stands above the rest: Wall to Wall Steve Reich, an eight-hour marathon of his music on April 30, 2017 at Symphony Space. And unlike other Reich anniversary events, this one is FREE.
The stellar lineup includes Alarm Will Sound, American Composers Orchestra (playing The Desert Music), Vicky Chow, Mark Stewart, Dither, and Mivos Quartet, plus other luminaries to be announced. Steve himself will be heard in conversation with Alarm Will Sound's Alan Pierson. It's all part of Symphony Space's FUSE PROJECT, celebrating artistic innovation through new commissions, premieres, vibrant collaborations, and extraordinary performances. While the complete WtW program will be announced in the New Year, here are a few highlights:
- Reich's rarely-heard orchestral masterpiece Desert Music (1984), played by American Composers Orchestra. This 50-minute work for voices and orchestra uses texts by William Carlos Williams.
- Piano Counterpoint performed by Vicky Chow, who gave the US premiere of the work in 2013 and recorded it for Nonesuch Records in 2014.
- Radio Rewrite (2013), a five-movement work for chamber ensemble, based on songs by English rock band Radiohead. Radio Rewrite will be performed by ensemble Alarm Will Sound, co-commissioners of the work.
- A special arrangement of Electric Counterpoint (1987) for 12 electric guitars and 1 bass guitar. This performance will be led by Mark Stewart (founding member of the Bang on the Can All Stars and music director for Paul Simon) accompanied by Dither Guitar Quartet and friends.
- 9/11 WTC (2010) for string quartet and pre-recorded voices, using material from the September 11 attacks on New York. This complex and wrenching work will be performed by Mivos Quartet, "one of America's most daring and ferocious new-music ensembles" (Chicago Reader).
- Four Genesis Settings (1993), excerpts from Reich's documentary video opera The Cave. These Hebrew settings are performed by voices and chamber ensemble Alarm Will Sound.
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