FUSE PROJECT Begins!
The Fuse Project celebrates the sparks and ignition of the creative process through new commissions, world premieres, vibrant artistic collaborations, and truly extraordinary performances. With a growing roster of artists-in-residence and innovative new programs, this project invites audiences to plug into the artistic current for an intimate and illuminating experience.
This year’s FUSE opens with Symphony Space’s signature event, Wall to Wall Steve Reich, on Sunday, April 30 — eight hours of the Minimalist pioneer’s music to mark his 80th-birthday season. Like all Wall to Walls, this event is free and open to the public.
Donations are very much appreciated and will earn you a reserved seat in the house!
Highlights include visionary composer John Luther Adams’s first-ever curatorial residency (May 8–14); a residency conceived by composer/violist Martha Mooke in collaboration with beatbox master Rahzel, formerly of The Roots (May 18–20); a weekend of brand new, 15-minute Flash Operas from Experiments in Opera (May 5–6), and a closing concert by the American Composers Orchestra with guitarist Sharon Isbin and other special guests (May 23).
All told, eleven world premiere music compositions will be unveiled in this year’s Project, along with five newly commissioned stories in Selected Shorts on May 10!
WALL-TO-WALL STEVE REICH
Sunday, April 30 (3–11 pm)
This free eight-hour marathon brings together leading ensembles to pay tribute to legendary American composer Steve Reich as part of his 80th birthday celebrations. The marathon includes Reich himself in conversation with conductor Alan Pierson, as well as a program spanning more than four decades of his work, culminating in a rare performance of Reich’s complex and haunting The Desert Music for chorus and orchestra.
Featuring: Alarm Will Sound, American Composers Orchestra, Vicky Chow, Dither Quartet, Keigwin + Company, Mivos Quartet, and Mark Stewart
FLASH OPERAS
Fri, MAY 05 | 7:30pm
Sat, MAY 06 | 2pm & 7:30pm
Six 15-minute world premiere operas are presented together for this evening- length program in the intimate Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater. Envisioned as a new kind of opera that embraces brevity and tackles big ideas playfully, each micro opera is connected to the next to create a fluid theatrical experience.
Featuring Composers: Jason Cady, Aaron Siegel, Matthew Welch, Miguel Frasconi, Cristina Lord, and Nicole Murphy
FLASH FICTION
Wed, MAY 10 | 7:30pm
Can an author pack a punch or move you to tears in three pages or fewer? Join us for a night of Selected (really short!) Shorts as we prove that small can be mighty and less can be more. Stories will include five original works of Flash Fiction commissioned by the Selected Shorts and BuzzFeed Books. Also included is the winning entry of the 2017 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Contest.
Featuring Authors: Danielle Evans, Alexandra Kleeman, Lincoln Michel, Tony Tulathimutte, and Jenny Zhang
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS RESIDENCY
John Luther Adams is a Pulitzer Prize- and Grammy Award-winning composer whose music and cultural worldview are deeply rooted in and influenced by the natural world. In his week-long residency with Symphony Space, Adams takes us on a beautifully-curated journey through his work, life, and inspirations.
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS IN CONVERSATION WITH LUCIAN READ
Mon, MAY 8 | 7:30pm
A special evening of film clips and conversation with John Luther Adams and Emmy Award- winning filmmaker Lucian Read, whose work focuses on contemporary political and environmental issues. Also included will be a short preview of Where the Air is Music, read’s upcoming documentary on John Luther Adams.
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS IN CONVERSATION WITH BARRY LOPEZ
Tue, MAY 9 | 7:30pm
Long time collaborators John Luther Adams and author Barry Lopez discuss their work, which explores environmental concerns and the relationship between the physical landscape and the human culture. With a performance of Among Red Mountains by pianist Lisa Moore and a reading of Lopez’s essay The Invitation
STEINWAY SALON: LISA MOORE
Thur, May 11 | 7pm
Lisa Moore performs a special program, The Pleasure of Being Lost, curated and introduced by John Luther Adams with piano works by composers who have influenced and informed his work, such as Peter Garland, Lois V. Vierk, Jim Fox, David Mahler and Lou Harrison. Featuring the world premiere of Tender, Infinitely Tender by Michael Byron, commissioned by Symphony Space.
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS: CANTICLES OF THE HOLY WIND
Fri, MAY 13 | 7:30 pm
Atmospheric and transformative, John Luther Adams’ Canticles of the Holy Wind is an extraordinary aural experience. Performed at St. Michael’s Church by The Crossing with musical director Donald Nally, this gorgeous evening-length work surrounds the audience with four choirs, creating soundscapes that sweep through the sanctuary and evoke wind, dreams planets, and other secrets and mysteries of nature. This evening also celebrates the CD release of this piece on Cantaloupe Music.
JOHN LUTHER ADAMS’ TEN THOUSAND BIRDS
Sun, MAY 14 | 3pm
An enchanting outdoor performance of John Luther Adams’ Ten Thousand Birds at Morningside Park, in it’s New York premiere by the commissioning ensemble, Alarm Will Sound with music director Alan Pierson. For this immersive work, performers are situated throughout the park, playing material based on the songs of birds native to the eastern hardwood forest.
FREE EVENT!
MARVELS OF THE MICROBIOME
Tue, MAY 16 | 8pm
Say hello to your little friends-all 100 trillion of them. Microbiologist Dr. Martin Blaser explores new research on human microbiome (the 1,000 or so microbial species that inhabit our noses, mouths, guts, and skin), the dangers posed to our health by the overuse of antibiotics, and how obesity, asthma, diabetes, and even mood swings may be linked to changes in our microbiota.
AMERICAN COMPOSERS ORCHESTRA
Tue, MAY 23 | 8pm
American Composers Orchestra, with special guests Rossen Milanov (conductor), Sharon Isbin (guitar), Meaghan Burke (vocals & cello), David Tinervia (baritone), and R. Luke Dubois (video), presents an evening of works by contemporary composers. Featuring premieres from Bright Sheng (New York premiere), Nina C. Young (world premiere), and Carlos Simon (world premiere) alongside a guitar concerto by John Corigliano.
MARTHA MOOKE & RAHZEL RESIDENCY
Conceived by pioneering electro-acoustic violist and composer Martha Mooke in Collaboration with beat-boxing legend Rahzel (formally of The Roots), this dynamic residency explores the junction of politics and culture, and the intersecting movements of the mid-twentieth century that inspired change.
THE BEAT OF THE POETS: SPOKEN WORD PERFORMANCE
Thur, MAY 18 | 7:30pm
A night of spoken word performance inspired by the poetry of the Beat Generation and revolutionary artists like Gil Scott-Heron and the Last Poets. With performances by spoken word artists Dr. Jamila Lyiscott, Karl “Dice Raw” Jenkins, Nancy Mercado, and alumni artists from Urban Word NYC: Ish, Alyssa “Lady Logic” Saunders, and Jadon Woodard. Event also includes a short music performance by beatboxer Rahzel and violist Martha Mooke.
The evening ends with an open mic Poetry Slam! Bring the words, Rahzel will bring the beats!
REVOLUTION x3
Fri, MAY 19 | 8pm
A revolutionary concert featuring Sexmob, Jaimeo Brown Transcendence, and the premiere of Beats Per Revolution by Martha Mooke and Rahzel. Featuring a performance of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised and an all-star ensemble.
AMBIENT BEAT PARTY
Fri, MAY 19 | 10:30pm
Join us at Bar Thalia for cocktails alongside a late-night DJ set with Rahzel. FREE EVENT!
BEATBOX BONANZA
Sat, MAY 20 | 11am
Treat the kids to a fantastic morning of sound as beatbox legend Rahzel performs and passes along a few tricks to your budding young beatboxers.
To learn more about Symphony Space’s other projects and series, visit our website.
