NCCO presents Points of Origin featuring Nicholas Phan
First Congregational Church
2345 Channing Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2201 USA
7:30 PM, Thursday, May 11, 2023

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[7:32 PM] {lights down}
[7:33 PM] {Welcome & introduction from Richard Lonsdorf}
[7:35 PM] {entrance of the performers}

1. [7:36 PM] Jessie Montgomery (b.1981): Banner for solo string quartet and string orchestra (2014)
   Program & performance notes from the composer
   [7:45 PM] {segment ends; pause for the players to rearrange themselves}
   [7:46 PM] {DH introduces the next work}

1. [7:47 PM] John Towner Williams (b. 1932): With Malice Toward None, from Lincoln (2012)
   [7:52 PM] {segment ends}
   [7:52 PM] {DH introduces the final work of this set}

Edward Benjamin Britten (1913–1976): Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 (1937)

1. [7:55 PM] Introduction and Theme
2. [7:57 PM] Variation 1: Adagio
3. [8:00 PM] Variation 2: March
4. [8:01 PM] Variation 3: Romance
5. [8:02 PM] Variation 4: Aria Italiana
6. [8:03 PM] Variation 5: Bourrée classique
7. [8:04 PM] Variation 6: Wiener Waltzer
8. [8:07 PM] Variation 7: Moto perpetuo
9. [8:08 PM] Variation 8: Funeral March
10. [8:12 PM] Variation 9: Chant
11. [8:13 PM] Variation 10: Fugue and Finale
    [8:21 PM] {set ends; all off for break after a minute or so}

[8:39 PM] {lights down; band out}
[8:40 PM] {DH introduction}

1. [8:n PM] Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958): Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis (1910)
   [8:56 PM] {segment ends}
   [8:57 PM] {pause to rearrange for the last work}
   [8:58 PM] {NP introduction}

Nico Muhly (b. 1981): Stranger, for Tenor and String Orchestra (2019; revised 2023? World Premiere this arrangement, co-commissioned by New Century Chamber Orchestra and the Palaver Strings)
Muhly posted a program note to accompany the 2020 premiere of the original tenor & string quartet version of the work, now expanded.

1. [9:01 PM] Fragments of the Past
2. [9:02 PM] Ellis Island
3. [9:05 PM] All Men
4. [9:08 PM] Leviticus 19:34
5. [9:09 PM] Threats & Intimidations
6. [9:13 PM] Everyone Cries
7. [9:15 PM] My Love
   [9:19 PM] {set ends}
   [9:21 PM] {show ends}

New Century Chamber Orchestra

• Stephanie Bibbo: violin II;
• Lizzie Burns: principal contrabass;
• Jenny Douglass: viola;
• William Everett: contrabass;
• Jory Fankuchen: violin II;
• Michael Graham: cello;
• Dawn Harms: violin;
• Daniel Hope: violin, concertmaster, music director;
• Evan Kahn: cello;
• Anna Kruger: principal viola;
• Michelle Maruyama: violin II;
• Robin Mayforth: violin;
• Isaac Melamed: cello;
• Kayo Miki: violin II;
• Deborah Tien Price: violin, associate concertmaster;
• Elizabeth Prior: viola;
• Cassandra Lynne Richburg: viola;
• Frank Shaw: viola;
• Karen Shinozaki Sor: violin;
• Kyle Stachnik: cello;
• Iris Stone: violin;
• Michael Yokas: principal violin II.

• Nicholas Phan: tenor vox.

Another fine show from NCCO. I'm not always in the mood for lush string music, but when I am, these folks really hit that spot right!

The world premiere performance of Hannah Kendall's …I may turn to salt, co-commissioned by the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival and NCCO was originally scheduled for tonight, but sometime in the past few weeks it got tabled for a future date. Bummer! Daniel Hope introduced a last-minute replacement mid-set tonight, John Williams' With Malice Toward None, from the film, Lincoln. Yay! I liked it: it was a nice piece with a prominent cello role.

Tonight's other premiere, Nico Muhly's Stranger was also quite good, but it felt just a little bit rushed to me. Giving the music some room to expand and breath (and giving the listener some extra time to reflect on the message carried by the lyrics being sung) would seem to me to be worthwhile. I should probably go review the 2020 recording of Nicholas Phan with Brooklyn Rider to see if I feel the same: something for tomorrow's listening queue!

NCCO posted a video promo for this show on YouTube.

Back to the previous event! ☸ Up to the 2023 yearbox! ☸ Up to the 2023 event list! ☸ On to the next event!