Bruce Levingston in Concert
Thursday May 7, 2009 at 7:30pm
St. Bartholomew's Church (Park Ave at 50th St.)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.
Lisa Bielawa's Portrait-Elegy was inspired by the life and death of a great artist and friend. Portrait-Elegy captures the intensely defiant will to live in the human spirit. Just before the premiere, Ms. Bielawa was named 2009 winner of the Rome Prize in Music.
Keeril Makan, the 2008 winner of the Rome Prize in Music, composed Three Surreal Shorts, a beautiful tryptich that was performed alongside the screening of Red Bucket Films' Buttons, Luis Bunuel's haunting short film Menjant Garotes (Eating Sea Urchins), 1930 and Salvador Dali Home Movie, 1954.
In addition to solo works of Beethoven, Schubert, Debussy, Part and Rachmaninoff, the program also featured the world premiere of a new work for organ and piano, Fledgling, jointly composed by Ms. Bielawa and Mr. Makan. Renowned organist William Trafka joined Mr. Levingston in the performance of this beautiful new work.