Fisher Ensemble | The Passion of Saint Thomas More
by Garrett Fisher
Rather than a literal interpretation of history, The Passion of Saint Thomas More is a meditation on More's decision to be true to his convictions and his refusal to agree to Henry VIII's demands. Described by Gramophone as “hypnotic, magical, enchanting and moving…[with] touches of pure dramatic genius,” the operatic oratorio has been performed across the US and Europe to critical acclaim.
Maria Männistö, soprano
Jordan McClellan, mezzo soprano
Michael Drumheller, baritone
February 6, 2020
St Thomas Episcopal Church, College Station, TX
Seattle Modern Orchestra | Sequenza III for voice
by Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio’s fourteen Sequenzas span more than forty years, an essential catalogue of twentieth century performance. Each work is an astonishing exploration of the experimental potential of modern instruments, and places Olympian demands on the performer. In this marathon of ten Sequenzas, witness incredible feats of musical athleticism that push the boundaries of virtuosity and possibility.
Maria Männistö, soprano
February 15, 2020
Chapel Performance Space, Seattle, WA
Flemish Radio Choir | Seven Last Words from the Cross
by James MacMillan
In their Seven Deadly Sins, the Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill duo have given us a successful but cynical view of our society filled with temptations. The beautiful songs, at once sincere and sarcastic, typify the chaos of the pre-war years. Ute Lemper is the icon that expresses Weill’s world like no other.
Just as impressive, and generally considered to be one of MacMillan’s masterpieces, is his Seven Last Words. Both for the performers and for the audience, this cantata is a deeply emotional experience.
with Brussels Philharmonic
March 12, 2020
Flagey, Brussels, BE
Seattle Modern Orchestra | Now is Forever by Kate Soper
Tehillim by Steve Reich
Join SMO in a joyful celebration of its tenth anniversary in the newly-renovated Town Hall. The ensemble revisits some of its most memorable performances, local collaborators, celebrated composers, and Seattle “firsts.” The program includes SMO’s first commission (Baker), an environmental piece for ensemble and tape (Cage), the ensemble’s nationally noted vocal collaboration/arrangement (Soper), a revival of Steve Reich’s seminal work, Tehillim (premiered in Seattle by SMO), and a world premiere by Huck Hodge featuring SMO’s tour-de-force percussionist, Bonnie Whiting.
March 27, 2020
Town Hall - The Forum, Seattle, WA
Flemish Radio Choir | Daphnis & Chloé by Maurice Ravel
Ravel spent nearly 3 years working on Daphnis et Chloé, which he referred to as a ‘choreographic symphony’. The scene in which the two lovers find each other again at sunrise is one of the most poetic musical renderings of a nature painting: the rustling of the wood gives way to bird songs, which in turn overflow into a passionate melody.
Brussels Philharmonic
April 4, 2020: Flagey, Brussels, BE
April 8, 2020: Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg, DE
Seattle Modern Orchestra | Ipsa Dixit by Kate Soper
A “twenty-first century masterpiece” (Alex Ross, The New Yorker), Kate Soper’s Ipsa Dixit is a semi-staged, evening-length chamber music theatre work for voice, flute, violin, and percussion exploring the intersections of language and music, emotion and meaning, expressivity and truth. SMO welcomes notable local director Bobbin Ramsey in her operatic directorial debut, to help bring to life a staged performance of this moving work for Seattle audiences.
Maria Männistö, soprano
Sarah Pyle, flute
Eric Rynes, violin
Bonnie Whiting, percussion
June 5 and 6, 2020
BASE: Experimental Arts + Space, Seattle, WA