Albany Symphony adds 4 tour dates
Free concerts set for Schuylerville, Albany, Schenectady, Hudson
The Albany Symphony’s everexpanding American Music Festival has gone through another growth spurt, adding a tour of four free outdoor concerts around the region — with the combined programming highlighting two milestones from history over two weekends.
Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment establishing national women’s suffrage and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, the “Sing Out! New York” festival and tour merges the AMF, scheduled for May 30-June 2, with free concerts slated for June 6-9.
This year’s festival features many world premieres, including five new pieces to be performed by the Dogs of Desire — the symphony’s smaller, edgy crossover ensemble — on themes including Frederick Douglass, the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention, Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t
I a Woman” speech and the aftermath of the Stonewall riots, which sparked the gay rights movement. In addition, the festival will see the world premiere of “Petticoats of Steel,” a collaboration between composer Loren Loiacono and Capital Repertory Theatre that showcases New York’s role in the history of women’s suffrage.
Among the other music scheduled for the AMF are John Corigliano’s Piano Concerto with soloist Phillip Fisher, who will also appear on an ASO recording of the piece, as well as an Argus Quartet performance of Daniel Del Tridici’s “Bullycide” — recognizing Tyler Clementi and four other gay teens who died by suicide in 2010.
For the tour the following weekend, each free concert will feature a new American work that premiered the previous weekend at the festival. All four will include Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, singalongs and summer-music standbys a la “Stars and Stripes Forever.” Local artists and artisans will be invited to participate as vendors.
According to a press release, the festival and tour are being funded by the National Endowment of the Arts as well as three grants from New York State: Market Ny/empire State Development, NYS Council on the Arts and the Regional Economic Development Councils.
Festival passes covering all events are available at an “early bird” price of $75 until March 31. For more information go to timesunion.com/entertainment or albanysymphony.com.
American music Festival
Thursday, May 30
2 p.m.: Composer masterclass featuring Christopher Theofanidis and other composers, working with AMF workshop participants. Studio Beta, EMPAC, 44 8th St., Troy. Free.
4:30 p.m.: Dogs of Desire open rehearsal. EMPAC Concert Hall. Free with festival pass.
7 p.m.: “First Draughts,” composer reading and beer tasting. Albany symphony musicians led by conductor and music director David Alan Miller perform the newest works of 12 emerging composers, with local beer sampled in between. Tasting at 7 p.m.; reading at 7:30 p.m. EMPAC Theatre. Free.
Friday, May 31
12 p.m.: “Prevue” concert talk featuring AMF guest artists and visiting composers. Albany Public Library, 161 Washington Ave., Albany. Free.
5 p.m.: Fundraiser dinner and film screening, “Of Rage and Remembrance: A Portrait of John Corigliano,” one-hour documentary detailing Corigliano and his Symphony No. 1, written to commemorate friends lost to AIDS. EMPAC. Dinner at 5 p.m. includes meet-and-greet with Corigliano; screening at 6 p.m. Dinner is $100; screening is free with festival pass. 7:30 p.m.: Dogs of Desire Concert, featuring vocalists Lucy Fitz Gibbon and Lucy Dhegrae. Program includes five world premieres, including Viet Cuong’s “Woven,” on the year after Stonewall; Clarice Assad’s “Ain’t I A woman”; and “Petticoats of Steel,” plus new music by Andre Myers and Rachel Peters. EMPAC Concert Hall. $40.
10 p.m.: Late Night Lounge: Molly Joyce, “Breaking and Entering.” Composer Joyce, performing with an impaired left hand, presents works for voice, electronics and vintage toy organ in a program emphasizing the body and ability. EMPAC Café. $10.
Saturday, June 1
9:30 a.m.: IAMIAMIAM: “Raise Your Voice!” Singers collective performing works by living women composers, including world premieres by Beata Moon, Alexis Lamb and Danika Lorén. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. $10.
11 a.m.: “Speak Out, Justice.” ASO musicians, led by Miller, performing four new “melodrams,” or works for spoken voice and instruments. Program features four world premieres by Evan Mack, Jorge Sosa, Molly Joyce and Bora Yoon. Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. $20.
2 p.m.: Argus Quartet performing Del Tredici’s “Bullycide” and works by Juri Seo and Christopher Theofanidis. With Steve Beck, piano. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 58 3rd St, Troy. $10.
4 p.m.: Molly Joyce – “Yousaidshesaidhesaid,” featuring vocalist Lucy Dhegrae. Molly Joyce’s twist on Schubert’s “Die Schone Mullerin,” created with playwright Christopher Oscar Pena, director Austin Regan, and pianist Patrick Jones. Arts Center for the Capital Region Gallery, 265 River St., Troy. $10.
6: 30 p.m.: Pre-concert talk with Miller, composers and artists. EMPAC Concert Hall. Free with concert ticket or festival pass.
7:30 p.m.: American Music Festival concert. Albany Symphony, pianist Phillip Fisher, soprano Hila Plitmann. Corigliano piano concerto, plus new work by Tanner Porter and Del Tredici’s “Pop-pourri.” EMPAC Concert Hall. $19-$60.
10 p.m.: Screening, “The Secret Music of David Del Tredici.” For audiences 18 and over. EMPAC.
10 p.m.: Late Night Lounge: Clarice Assad. EMPAC Café. $10.
Sunday, June 2
11 a.m.: Suffragist Brunch. Picnic celebrating women’s right to vote, with suffrage-themed activities and reenactors, followed by concert. Monument Square, Troy.
12 p.m.: Free outdoor concert, “Music in the Square.” Monument Square. Performances by guest artists of the festival, including Molly Joyce and IAMIAMIAM, plus local folk bands, jazz bands and others.
concert tour
Street fairs begin at 5 p.m; performances start at 7:30 p.m. and close with fireworks. Admission to all is free. Thursday, June 6: Hudson Crossing Park, County Road 42, Schuylerville. Featured work: “Petticoats of Steel,” Loren Loiacono and Therep.
Friday, June 7: Jennings Landing, Albany. Featured work: “Studies in Hope: Frederick Douglass,” Andre Myers, Albany High School Chamber Choir and Albany High spoken-word artists.
Saturday, June 8: Mohawk Harbor, Harborside Drive, Schenectady. Featured Work: “Ain’t I A Woman,” Clarice Assad and Girls Inc.
Sunday, June 9: Basilica Hudson, 110 S Front St, Hudson. Featured work: “Woven,” Viet Cuong, composer choreographer Adam Weinert.