Next Up is First Things First
All the talk last week was for Darcy James Argue’ s Secret Society CD and release gig. The show got rave reviews, the CD’s winging its way into the world, and that’s swell. But I want to do it all over again this week, for another New Amsterdam release that I think is every bit a magical in its own way:
I first pointed you to the amazing young violist Nadia Sirota here back in 2006. I said she was “fast track” but totally fresh then; the track, if anything, has only gotten faster but the freshness has remained through it all. Her crazy performance schedule has included The Meredith Monk Ensemble, Alarm Will Sound, Continuum, ACME (the American Contemporary Music Ensemble), yMusic, and the Wordless Music Orchestra, Max Richter, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Stars of the Lid, The Swell Season, Sam Amidon, Doveman, Bryce Dessner, Gabriel Kahane, and Valgeir Sigurðsson, Grizzly Bear, Ratatat, Doveman, and My Brightest Diamond. Not only that, she also daily co-hosts WNYC’s Overnight Music show!
But now it’s her chance to shine on her own. Next week New Amsterdam is releasing Nadia’s first solo CD, appropriately titled First Thing First. All of the composers represented (Nico Muhly, Judd Greenstein, Marcos Balter) as well as the perfomers (cellist Clarice Jensen and the Chiara Quartet — which happens to have as violist Nadia’s brother Jonah!) are her personal friends. As much as a setting out, it’s a celebration of an intimate web of personal relations and creative energy.
Just as with DJA last week, Galapagos Gallery (located in DUMBO, 16 Main Street, corner of Water Street) is hosting a release show this Friday, May 15th at 8pm, tickets $12. Two of the composers (Nico & Judd) All of the composers and all of the CD’s performers will be on hand, so you can’t get a better experience than that.
Nadia is truly a force. She showed her academic acumen as part of WNYC’s John Cage project. She played on the initial vieocast from WNYC’s new Jerome L Greene Performance Space. She was terrific. I am really looking forward to her album release in a few days.
Kim Kashkashian, hold on to your hat. Nadia is movin’ out!!
I will be there tomorrow night!
Best,
Marcos
Slow season is setting in down here, Chris, and I was awfully preoccupied with a new house & etc… The big and small companies are wrapping up seasons, Rice and UH (the source for the vast amount odf new music performance) have ended the year, and when the summer heat & humidity kick in not much can happen. Not that Houston’s a summer musical wasteland by any means; the club scene continues and the pop world sails on like always. And I’ve got some noise/experimental stuff happening close by, as well as a few Indian music concerts. One place to wade through all that’s upcoming is ArtsHound:
http://www.artshound.com/
from the Music section, scroll past the first few featured blurbs to “More events”, and page through that. It’s kind of everything-all-at-once messy, but gives you probably the best comprehesive listing.
Really enjoying all of the recent updates from around the country, Steve (and everyone else). Keep up the good work.
What’s up in Houston???