”You Are (Variations)’ (2004), performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale conducted by Grant Gershon and ‘Cello Counterpoint’ (2003) performed by Maya Beiser have been released by Nonesuch Records.
The critical response to performances of ‘You Are (Variations)’, premiered by the LA Master Choral under Grant Gershon at Disney Hall in Los Angeles in October 2004 and then later by the Ensemble Modern and Synergy Vocals under Stefan Asbury in Frankfurt and London have been unanimously positive:
“With “You Are,” the Master Chorale got a masterpiece.”
Los Angeles Times – Oct. 26, 2004
“As beautiful a piece as Reich has ever written.”
Telegraph -UK – January 20, 2005
“The music is in every case rich and challengingly complex too, constantly coming up with fresh angles to the composer’s trademark rhythmic energy and contrapuntal complexity.”
The Independent – UK – January 25, 2005
‘Cello Counterpoint’ has been frequently performed by Maya Beiser in America and Europe since 2003 and critical reaction has been similarly
unanimous:
“The piece’s thematic transformation is so inventive and organic that it easily takes its place among Reich’s best”
The Philadelphia Inquirer – February 13, 2005
“The work is abuzz with undulant rhythmic syncopations and spiraling counterpoint.”
The New York Times – November 1, 2003
“Cello Counterpoint’s rhythmic intensity and intricate interaction between live and prerecorded parts is intoxicating, with all that rich cello sound.” The Los Angeles Times – February 7, 2005
Upcoming performances of ‘You Are (Variations)’:
October 29, 2005 – Netherlands Premiere – Ensemble Modern and Synergy vocals conducted by Stefan Asbury – Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
October 30, 2005 – Canadian Premiere – Soundstream Ensemble, MacMillan Theater – Toronto
November 16, 2005 – French Premiere – Ensemble Modern and Synergy Vocals conducted by Stefan Asbury- Festival d’Automne a Paris – Theatre du Chatelet
November 17, 2005 – Ensemble Modern and Synergy Vocals cond. by Stefan Asbury – Theatre de Caen, Caen, France
March 28, 2006 – Scandinavian Premiere – Ars Nova, Copenhagen & Athelas Sinfonietta, Paul Hillier, Cond., Copenhagen, Denmark
October 28, 2006 – New York Premiere – Los Angeles Master Choral conducted by Grant Gershon – Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, New York City.
Upcoming performances of ‘Cello Counterpoint’:
November 9, 2005 – Slovak cello octet Cellissimo, Theater Arena, Bratislava, Slovakia October 22, 2006 – Maya Beiser – Carnegie Hall’s Zankel Hall, New York City