AboutCommissionsNews & EventsRecordingsSupportContact
   
 

2010: Top of The Standard

On April 28, 2010, Premiere Artistic Director and acclaimed pianist Bruce Levingston appeared in a gala benefit evening on Top of The Standard, New York (recently called by Vanity Fair "the hottest night spot in New York City" and known fondly as the "Boom Boom Room"). The event included a cocktail supper with performances by Bruce Levingston and special friends and guest artists to benefit the Premiere Commission Music Foundation.

2009: Impression de la Vie: World Premiere of New Composition by Philippe Manoury at French Institute/Alliance Française

Acclaimed pianist Bruce Levingston performed an evening of evocative French music reflecting the exquisite sounds, colors and textures found in nature. This fascinating program took listeners from Debussy's vivid impressions of rippling water, solitary snowscapes and flashing, golden fins to Ravel's sultry reflections of torpid summer sounds and exotic syncopations, and, ultimately, into the ecstatic harmonies and melodies of Messiaen's radiant, breathtaking portrayals of virtuosic birdsong. The concert also featured the sensual music of the modernist master Henri Dutilleux and a special world premiere of the brilliant French composer Philippe Manoury's "Spins" inspired by the mysterious sounds, movements and rhythms of air and wind. This exciting new work is both an homage to Manoury's distinguished French heritage as well as the powerful and timeless inspiration of nature upon art and man.

2009: The Sacred + The Surreal

On May 7, 2009, Premiere Commission, Inc. presented in conjunction with Mid-Manhattan Performing Arts Foundation, Inc., St. Bartholomew's Preservation Foundation, Inc. and Rooftop Films the world premieres of three new works by acclaimed composers Lisa Bielawa and Keeril Makan at magnificent St. Bartholomew's Church in New York City. Inspired by this beautiful location, the selections of works performed were chosen for their sacred as well as surreal influences from art and music.
Read more >

2008: Premiere Commission, Rooftop Films, and The Museum of Modern Art Presented Surreal Sounds and Shorts

On Friday, June 27, 2008, Premiere Commission, Rooftop Films, and The Museum of Modern Art presented an extraordinary night of short films and live music inspired by the life and art of Salvador Dali. The evening included a live performance by pianist Bruce Levingston, who played works by Frederic Chopin, Erik Satie, Claude Debussy and Philip Glass; Mr. Levingston concluded his performance with a new film score by 2008 Rome Prize-winner Keeril Makan, Three Surreal Shorts, played live with a screening of Dali: Home Movie, 1954 and Menjant Garotes two short films from MoMA's Dali: Painting and Film. Following Mr. Levingston's performance, Rooftop Films presented a program of new surreal short films. These shorts showed how Dali's pioneering juxtaposition of seemingly unrelated images and concepts continue to resonate in the playful and profound works of today's short filmmakers.

2008: Points of Departure: Bruce Levingston at Carnegie Hall

On April 14, 2008, acclaimed pianist and Premiere Commission Artistic Director Bruce Levingston appeared in a special solo concert at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, premiering works by 2007 Grawemeyer Award-winner Sebastian Currier, Germany's celebrated Wolfgang Rihm and Pulitzer Prize-winner Charles Wuorinen. The concert won critical acclaim from The New York Times and The New York Observer.
Read more >

 

2007: Premiere Commission at American Ballet Theatre

American Ballet Theatre presented the world premiere of a new ballet choreographed by Jorma Elo based on Philip Glass's A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close titled "C. to C. (Close to Chuck)", the work originally commissioned and premiered by Premiere Commission, Inc. Glass's musical portrayal of the life of his longtime friend artist Chuck Close was conceived and first performed in 2005 by Premiere artistic director pianist Bruce Levingston. ABT's premiere of the new ballet included three new movements composed by Glass performed live on stage by Levingston. The multi-media work featured a set design by Chuck Close and costumes by acclaimed fashion designer Ralph Rucci.

2007: Ballet Gala

Premiere Commission hosts a gala evening of music and dance including the world premiere of Peter Quanz' ballet set to the Milton Babbitt's A Waltzer in the House and a performance of Eliot Feld's Intermezzo No. 1 with New York City Ballet dancers Tyler Angle, Charles Askegard, Megan Fairchild, Robert Fairchild, Sterling Hyltin, and Jenifer Ringer, soprano Jo Ellen Miller, percussionists Alexander Lipowski, pianists Cameron Grant and Bruce Levingston at PaceWildenstein, New York City.

2006: Apparition of the Eternal Church Premiere

Premiere Commission presents (in conjunction with Rooftop Films and St. Bart's Church) the New York City premiere of Paul Festa's film "Apparition of the Eternal Church" based on the Messiaen organ work Apparition de l'église éternelle and including a live performance of the work by William Trafka, St. Bart's Church, New York City.

2006: Fifth Anniversary Gala

Premiere Commission presents its Fifth Anniversary Gala Concert featuring the world premiere of Lisa Bielawa's The Lay of the Love and Death and works of Bach, Chopin, Glass and Messiaen with performers Lisa Bielawa, Jesse Blumberg, Michael Cunningham, Jocelyn Dueck, Philip Glass, Ethan Hawke, Colin Jacobsen, Bruce Levingston and Alexandra Montano at Lincoln Center, New York City.

2005: Premiere of Philip Glass's A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close

Premiere Commission presents the world premiere of Philip Glass's A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close at Lincoln Center, New York City.

2004: Gala honoring David Rockefeller

Premiere Commission hosts a gala dinner at La Grenouille in honor of the ninetieth birthday of founding benefactor David Rockefeller and presents him with the dedication of Philip Glass's A Musical Portrait of Chuck Close.

2004: William Bolcolm Premiere

Premiere Commission presents the world premiere of William Bolcom's New York Lights and David Del Tredici's Gymnopedie No 1 at Lincoln Center, New York City.

2003: "Snapshots" Premiere

Premiere Commission presents the world premiere of "Snapshots", sixteen new works for string quartet inspired by composers' personal photographs that are shown with the performance in a video constructed by Wendell Harrington at the Kaufman Cultural Center, New York City.

2003: Seven Solitudes Premiere

Premiere Commission presents the world premiere of Gregg Wramage's Seven Solitude at Lincoln Center, New York City.

2002: Etudes Premiere

Premiere Commission presents the world premiere of Curtis Curtis-Smith's Etudes at Lincoln Center, New York City.

 
©2007 Premiere Commission, Inc. | Bruce Levingston Artistic Director | 222 West 23rd Street, Suite 102, New York, New York 10011 | 212-627-3534