by Justin Austin | Sep 14, 2017 | Song of the Day
“Ballad of the landlord” is a poem by Langston Hughes. It basically is a dialogue between an African American tenant and a white landlord. It’s interesting to me that Langston doesn’t offer any opinions. He tell’s the story as it happens and the reader/ listener has...
by Michael Barrett | Apr 10, 2017 | Song of the Day
It’s been a very busy winter at NYFOS. Tchaikovsky, Paul Bowles (A Picnic Cantata), Gabe Kahane, Bill Bolcom, and the Juilliard Protest program. Steve Blier jetted off to UCLA to work with the students and Peter Kazaris. Opera America asked us to help with their...
by Steven Blier | Feb 17, 2017 | Song of the Day
William Bolcom is my musical godfather. I’ve known him since the late 1970s—Alvin Epstein introduced us after one of their Tully Hall concerts. When I met Bill’s wife Joan Morris I said, “Oh you were so wonderful this evening—but I am sure you must be tired of hearing...
by Steven Blier | Feb 15, 2017 | Program Notes
Notes on the Program by Steven Blier for Picnic Cantata / Dinner at Eight February 21, 2017 at Merkin Concert Hall. Buy tickets here > SIX PACKETS OF OATMEAL In the past several seasons, NYFOS has been lucky enough to present three songs cycles by Gabriel Kahane:...
by Steven Blier | Jul 14, 2016 | Song of the Day
Sasha Cooke walked into my studio at Juilliard twelve years ago, bringing songs from Fauré’s La chanson d’Eve. My life instantly took a turn for the better. From the beginning Sasha had That Sound—I describe her voice as the love child of Janet Baker and Lorraine Hunt...
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