The internationally acclaimed Florestan Recital Project will come to Carleton College on Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m. in the Concert Hall. Led and performed by artistic directors Alison d’Amato (piano) and Aaron Engebreth (baritone), the eclectic ensemble will perform PANIC, a groundbreaking song cycle by composer Andy Vores and poet Todd Boss. This event is free and open to the public.
PANIC is a presents a multi-disciplinary song cycle based on the novel “Pan” by Nobel-winning Norwegian author Knut Hamsun. Set to a new libretto by Minneapolis poet Todd Boss, PANIC explores the themes which Hamsun vividly presents such as solitude, longing and madness. Vores’s music combines a vivid contemporary soundscape with a pillar of classical music tradition, the narrative solo song cycle. The program will also incorporate projected images by Lynn Lukkas and dancers from the Univeristy of Minnesota.
Since its inception in 2001, Florestan Recital Project has emerged as a premier presenter of song collaborations in North America. The ensemble has garnered international critical acclaim for its groundbreaking, meticulously researched programming, delighting audiences with its “deeply felt, and impeccably prepared” performances (The Boston Globe).
Florestan Recital Project takes its name from the fiery character of Florestan, one of the creative alter egos of composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856). In addition to composing approximately 150 songs that are cornerstones of the genre, Schumann left an immense legacy of music and writings, and he invented the revolutionary character of Florestan as a voice for many of his most impetuous and passionate works. Florestan Recital Project brings that fiery passion to its intrepid exploration of the full spectrum of song repertoire.
Florestan's deep commitment to the vitality of art song tradition is seen in its long-standing efforts to foster the development of young musicians and composers. In addition to the group's critically acclaimed recordings and live performances, Florestan offers popular master classes and educational residencies. Learn more at www.florestanproject.org.
For more information about this event, including disability accommodations, contact the Carleton College Department of Music at(507) 222-4475. The Concert Hall is located on First Street between Nevada and Winona Streets in Northfield, Minn.
