works: village verein
From March 2023 to May 2024, I held the title of Executive Director of Village Verein, an independent chamber orchestra based in lower Manhattan. In collaboration with Verein's Music and Artistic Director, Ethan Osman , I produced unique and innovative classical programs that reached large, diverse audiences. Below is a chronological record of the productions and projects I was responsible for taking from idea to reality.
Recording: Siegfried Idyll.
Recorded on April 21st 2023 at the Clive Davis Institute.
After organizing initial rehersals and score readings, the deliverable project I produced with Village Verein was organizing a studio recording of Richard Wagner's "Siegfriend Idyll." Engineered and recorded by Anna Solomon at a studio at the Clive Davis Institute. The recording lated aired on WNYU's "Classy and Sassy," a radio program hosted by interdisciplinary artist, DJ, and classical pianist SENAIDA.
Our recording starts at 00:26:17, with an interview of Maestro Osman and myself to follow.
Village Verein Presents: The Soldier's Tale.
July 27, 28, and 29th 2023 at The Alchemical Theater
July 31st at The Tank Theatre
Livestream recording captured of the full piece.
Over the summer of 2023, Village Verein conceieved a new, innovative production of Igor Stravinsky's 1918 orchestral-theatrical work "The Soldier's Tale." at The Alchemical Theater. Designed by Stravisnky to be "read, played and danced," "The Soldier's Tale" tells a timeless story of temptation, deceit, and the choice between a promise of riches over a lifetime of love.
Verein's new production, spearheaded by seasoned theatremaker Curtis Howard , featured a tight-knit seven-person on-stage orchestra and actors who simultaneously acted, danced, and shadow-puppeteered the work's plot. Verein's production also featured a new English translation completed by myself and Maestro Osman from the origninal French libretto.
Rehearsal still.
I designed our work's set to be constructed of reclaimed waste from the textile industry, practicing values of sustainibility in the performing arts that I preached. Carlo Altomare , Artistic Director of the Alchemical, served as a creative consultant for the piece helping construct the shadow-play featured in our production. Lighting was beautifully designed by Sarah Woods
Our initial three night run at The Alchemical Theatre was compeltely sold out. The production was invited to transfer to The Tank Theatre in Midtown Manhattan for a one-night-only run, opening the Tank's Trash/DarkFest, an annual festival featuring non-traditional works highlighting sustianibility and environmental consciousness.
Verein's "Soldier's Tale" was brought to life by so many creatives. Musically, I extend my thanks to Dylan James , Youngwoo Jeon, Sanford Schwartz , Tylor Thomas , Dominic Sinicrope , Evan Chilcote, Matteo Paoli, Tasha Becker , John Tadlock , Yeji Pyun, Momoko Uchida , Connor Sondergeld , and Ethan for bringing Stravinsky' musical world to life. On the theatrical side, the performances of Curtis Howard as "the Soldier," Bereket Mengistu as "the Devil," and William Vosseler as "the Narrator" will stick with me forever.
The full "Soldier's Tale" program can be accessed here.
An Evening of Music, Light, and Lecture: Debussy and Ravel.
September 22 and 23 2023 at The Alchemical Theater
Rehearsal recording testing Sarah Wood's lighting and animation.
Transforming Alchemical's white-box theatre into a Parisian Salon, Verein's fall concert An Evening of Music, Light, and Lecture: Debussy and Ravel featured performances of Debussy's Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun and Ravel's Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet interspersed with immersive projections, lecture on harmonic structure, and spoken word. Oh, and lest we forget, absinthe!
Lighting was done by Sarah Woods and the program featured lectures by Ethan Osman, Jonah Murphy, and Karen Tay .
Symphony in the Sukkah.
October 2 2023 at OU-JLIC @ NYU Sukkah
Musicians in the Sukkah.
A fun evening of musical excepts perfomed in NYU's OU-JLIC Sukkah for a festive Sukkot celebration. Musicans played Beethoven and Stravinsky excerpts, alongside solo repetoire.
The Rite of Spring: Village Verein and Fluid Creature Collective at the Alchemical Studios
March 20, 23, 24 at the Alchemical Studios
Rehearsal clip.
An engaging and experimental performance of Igor Stravinksy's The Rite of Spring perfomed on the 2023 Spring Equinox. With rehearsals starting at the beginning of the new year, this work was Village Verein's first experiment with choreography as we brought the Rite of life with Fluid Creature Collective. Selling out most of the performances, the Rite was a welcome start to the new season, bringing a fresh perspective to the iconic work. Electrically intimate, the work featured was performed piano four hands by Ethan Osman and Seth Schultheis. Megan McDevitt, Gary McCall, Sadi Weir, and Jess Lemcke of Fluid Creature performed the work, with Lo Poppy of Fluid Creature overseeing creative direction.
Event Poster.
Village Verein Presents: Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde
April 18-21 2024 at the Church of the Holy Apostles
Full performance, April 19.
Verein's largest concert in terms of technicality, personell, and budget: Das Lied was my abschied from the group. I still cannot find the right words to summarize the experience, but perhaps for now: magic.
All of my thanks to alto Heather Petrie, tenor Freddie Ballentine, the greater Village Verein Orchestra, and the Osman family.
Event Poster.