Our First Ever Composer-in-Residence!

TWO ADDITIONAL CONCERTS THIS SEASON IN BROOKLYN. Committed to changing the way the world thinks about orchestral performance, we are proud to announce our first ever Composer-in-Residence: Gabriel Kahane. We will be integrating Kahane as writer, curator, performer, and ambassador in piloting a new Brooklyn series at Galapagos Art Space, which aims to introduce our distinctive approach to repertoire to a new generation of omnivorous music lovers.

Over the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons, Gabriel Kahane will curate and perform four concerts with Orpheus for the new series, compose a major song cycle with the orchestra featuring himself as soloist, and help design and host outreach events. Beginning with video interviews and continuing with program notes, school visits and patron events throughout the seasons, Kahane will share his perspectives on Orpheus, the contemporary music scene, his own creative process, and classical music programming. Kahane’s voice will be a welcome addition to Orpheus’ distinctive mode of musician-led collaboration.

On November 20, 2011, Orpheus and Kahane will kick off their Brooklyn series with a performance of Hindemith’s Kammermusik No. 1 and works by Kahane. Among the works is Orinoco Sketches, a piece inspired by the diaries of Hannelore Kahane, the composer’s grandmother, that was premiered by John Adams and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in May as part of the “Green Umbrella” series. This will be the New York premiere of Orinoco Sketches. March 18, 2012 will see Orpheus back at Galapagos Art Space playing a concert curated by Kahane exploring the theme of Americana in concert music. Members of Orpheus will perform selections from John Adams’s John’s Book of Alleged Dances and Copland’s Appalachian Spring Suite alongside performances by special guest Chris Thile, who will also perform with the orchestra March 24 at Carnegie Hall. During 2012-2013, Orpheus and Kahane will make two additional appearances culminating in Kahane’s commission for Orpheus, to premiere at Carnegie Hall in April 27, 2013.

The residency of Gabriel Kahane is made possible through Music Alive, a residency program of the League of American Orchestras and Meet The Composer. This national program is designed to provide orchestras with resources and tools to support their presentation of new music to the public and build support for new music within their institutions. Funding for Music Alive is provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and The ASCAP Foundation.

Click here to read the full press release.