New UB Office of the President Signature Series kicks off with David Felder's Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux April 23!

Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux World Premiere

We're very excited to announce the World Premiere of David Felder's Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux, which will be part of a two day series of events presented by the University at Buffalo Office of the President. The events will inaugurate the Signature Series, a new university tradition, which President Satish K. Tripathi has introduced to "to celebrate UB's legacy of innovation and distinction in arts and letters." The premiere of the work, commissioned by the Koussevitsky Foundation, will take place on Tuesday, April 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. in Slee Hall, and feature a 30+ chamber orchestra of musicians including the Slee Sinfonietta, Ensemble SIGNAL, soprano Laura Aikin, bass-baritone Ethan Herschenfeld, and ten channels of electronics. Last month's full press release can be found here.

The two days worth of events include an open rehearsal, a luncheon dialogue, a panel discussion, a pre-concert reception, and concludes with the premiere. The complete two-day schedule follows below in the press release from The University at Buffalo Office of the President:

WORLD PREMIERE PRESENTED BY THE UB OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE ROBERT AND CAROL MORRIS CENTER FOR 21ST CENTURY MUSIC

Tuesday, April 23, 2013 | 7 p.m.

University at Buffalo President
Satish K. Triparthi

LIPPES CONCERT HALL, SLEE HALL, NORTH CAMPUS

The premiere is the focal point of a two-day program that marks the start of a new university tradition called the Signature Series, which President Satish K. Tripathi has introduced to celebrate UB's legacy of innovation and distinction in arts and letters.

An internationally acclaimed composer of contemporary music, David Felder has long been recognized as a leader in his generation of American composers. His works are known for their highly energetic profile, lyrical qualities and for his use of technological extension and elaboration of musical materials. Felder is SUNY Distinguished Professor and Birge-Cary Chair in Composition at UB.

LES QUATRE TEMPS CARDINAUX

“Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux” is a complex song cycle for two solo voices, a 35-piece orchestra and twelve channels of electronics. Commissioned in 2011 for the Serge Koussevitzky Music Foundation in the Library of Congress, “Les Quatre” is dedicated to the memory of Serge and Natalie Koussevitzky. The work was composed from fall 2011 through spring 2013, and was written for Ensemble Signal, The Boston Modern Orchestra Project and the Slee Sinfonietta, and for singers Laura Aikin and Ethan Herschenfeld. Additional support was provided by the Robert and Carol Morris Center for 21st Century Music at UB, the Cameron Baird Foundation, the Birge-Cary Chair at UB, and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Ethan Herschenfeld

Schedule of Premiere and Related Events

MONDAY, APRIL 22

2—3:30 PM

Open rehearsal of "Les Quatre"

Open to the public, RSVP requested

Lippes Concert Hall

Join music enthusiasts from UB, other local colleges and schools, and the community as the composer, conductor, vocalists, and ensemble allow the public to observe one of the final rehearsals of "Les Quatre" prior to its world premiere.

Laura Aikin

TUESDAY, APRIL 23

1—2 PM

Luncheon Dialogue: “Inside the Making of ‘Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux’”

Open to the public, registration limited to 60, RSVP required

Slee Lobby

Composer David Felder and others involved in the premiere will hold a lunchtime discussion of the process of bringing "Les Quatre" from conception to fruition. A complimentary light lunch will be provided for all registered participants.

3:30—5 PM

"Textural Signatures": A Panel Discussion

Open to the public, RSVP requested

Baird 250

Slee Sinfonietta
photo by Irene Haupt

Faculty and students from the departments of English, Music, and Theatre and Dance, joined by the biographer of poet René Daumal (whose poetry is musically interpreted in "Les Quatre"), will explore the relationship between texts and the arts, with attention to the particular poems featured in Professor Felder's composition.

5:30—6:45 PM

Pre-concert reception, sponsored by University at Buffalo Alumni Association

Ticketed event limited to 100, RSVP required

Black Box Theater, Center for the Arts

Gather with others prior to the premiere for drinks and hors d'oeuvres, with remarks by E. Bruce Pitman, Dean of UB's College of Arts and Sciences, and composer David Felder (schedule permitting). Reception cost includes admission to the 7pm concert.

Brad Lubman and
 Ensemble SIGNAL

Single Ticket: $30; $25 for UBAA members.

Pair of Tickets: $55; $45 for UBAA members.

7—8:45 PM

Concert

Lippes Concert Hall, Slee Hall

The Slee Sinfonietta presents The Signal Ensemble:

   •  Brad Lubman, conductor

   •  Laura Aikin, soprano

   •  Ethan Herschenfeld, bass-baritone

Program features the world premiere of David Felder's “Les Quatre Temps Cardinaux,” preceded by a performance of Felder's percussion concerto "Tweener."

Advance tickets: $12/$9/$5

Door: $20/$15/$8

Admission is free for UB students with a student ID

Slee Hall: http://www.slee.buffalo.edu/

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