Carlos Simon premieres two new works commissioned by National Symphony Orchestra and Washington National Opera.
On April 21 – 23, Songs of Separation receives its premiere at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, with mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges joining conductor Gianandrea Noseda and the NSO for the four-movemenent work. In a programme also featuring Grieg, Berio, and Tchaikovsky, Simon’s Songs of Separation depicts moments of grief, sorrow, hope, and encouragement, using the timeless words of 13th-century poet Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmī.
In collaboration with the Kennedy Center’s Education Artist-in-Residence and author Mo Willems, new children’s opera Don’t Let the Pigeon Sing Up Late! premieres on April 22 – 23, performed by the WNO Cafritz Young Artists as part of a programme presented by Willems and Renée Fleming.
Next month features a further three premieres for Simon — Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Kenneth Thompkins perform Troubled Water: Trombone Concerto on May 5 – 7, Imani Winds premiere Giants in Baltimore’s Shriver Hall on May 14, and large-scale work brea(d)th, in collaboration with Marc Bamuthi Joseph and commissioned by Minnesota Orchestra, receives its premiere on May 18 – 20.
