News
Spring 2010
Introducing a new genre: the “Operatic Miniature.” Zimmerli is at work on a new vocal piece commissioned by soprano Susanna Phillips, countertenor Mark Crayton, and pianist Yasuko Oura . The piece, to be played on a recital with the theme of the Tudor Dynasty, is on the subject of the life and death of Anne Boleyn (one of Henry VIII’s six wives). Consisting of only four songs, it nevertheless avails itself of operatic techniques, with piano interludes serving as “scene changes,” moving the action along; and the entire piece describes an arc from love and hope to despair and acceptance, and even offers some rudimentary characterization (though it stops short of an execution scene). The Love and Sorrows of Anne Boleyn will receive its premiere on January 27, 2010 at Roosevelt University’s Ganz Hall.
Trio Complete. Zimmerli’s new Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp is complete. The piece, commissioned by the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, is in three movements, and will receive its premiere on March 14, 2010 in Tuscon, with Flutist Carol Wincenc, Violist Roger Chase, and Harpist Katerina Englichova.
A bouquet of Jacques Prevert settings. Zimmerli has just completed a collection of settings of poems of Jacques Prevert, 20th-century French writer most famous for his lyrics for “Les Feuilles Mortes” (aka Autumn Leaves), and his screenplay for the beautiful Marcel Carne film Les Enfants du Paradis. Inspired by the simple line paintings of Matisse on display at the Matisse Chapel in Vence, the Prevert settings are an investigation of musical line, written for unaccompanied soprano voice. Parts of the work are scheduled to be premiered by soprano Susanna Phillips in the spring, more details soon.
Piano Trio #1 to be played in California. On the strength of the Trio #2’s reception, the Piano Trio #1 is scheduled to be performed at the Festival Mozaic in San Luis Obispo this summer. See Attend page for details.
Summer 2009
A new trio is born. Work is underway on Zimmerli’s new Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp. The piece, commissioned by the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music, will receive its premiere on March 14, 2010 in Tuscon. The piece is expected to be complete by early September.
Tim Fain to record The Light Guitar for Naxos. Violinist Tim Fain is recording the solo violin piece written for him, The Light Guitar, on a CD of American Music for the Naxos label. The recording, which is scheduled for late August, will be produced by legendary Sony producer Steve Epstein.
Stone and Steel debuts in Finland. Stone and Steel, for Cello, Piano, and Percussion, received its European premiere in Finland, thanks to cellist Tomas Djupsjöbacka. The performance marks the first time Zimmerli’s music has ever been played in Finland.
Piano Trio #2 receives standing ovation in San Luis Obispo. Violinist Scott Yoo, Cellist Bion Tsang, and Pianist John Novacek recently performed Zimmerli’s Piano Trio #2 at the Festival Mozaic in San Luis Obispo. The piece, which concluded the program, received an electrifying performance and was a highlight of the festival.
Symphony Premiere in Colorado. Zimmerli’s first symphony was premiered on June 16 at the Cornerstone Arts Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The piece, entitled Light, Color, Line, Symbol, was based on architectural works by Santiago Calatrava, Steven Holl, Tadao Ando and Antoine Predock. The premiere, featuring the festival orchestra conducted by Scott Yoo, was accompanied by a live veejay presentation by Dakin Henderson, who compiled a set of images of the buildings to accompany the music, manipulated in real time. Concurrent with the premiere was an exhibition on music and architecture in the IDEA space, curated by Daisy McConnell and with selections of music based on architecture by Zimmerli. The event was a multimedia extravaganza, with a wonderful performance and an enthusiastic reception from the audience.
Three Romances Premiere. The Three Romances for Violin and Piano, begun in 2005 and completed in early 2008, was finally performed as a set for the first time, by the wonderful musicians for whom the piece was written, pianist Simone Ferraresi and violinist Kristin Lee. See Attend for full details.
Spring 2009
Chamber Symphony Complete. Patrick Zimmerli finished his Chamber Symphony on December 31, 2008. The four-movement, thirty-minute piece received its premiere on March 19th from the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Scott Yoo, with a repeat performance on March 21. The performance was exhilarating, with virtuosic playing from all the St. Paul musicians and an intense finish under Maestro Yoo’s incredibly charged direction. There was a lot of enthusiasm about the piece, everyone is hoping for a repeat performance.
Yoshitoshi’s Ghost in NYC. Zimmerli appeared with the Columbia Jazz Composers’ Collective in a concert on February 27, 2009 at Miller Theater. Zimmerli was the featured saxophone soloist on his big band piece Yoshitoshi’s Ghost, which was written in 2003 in fulfillment of that year’s Gil Evans Commission.
Spectres. Spectres, Zimmerli’s new large-scale, multimovement work for solo viola received its premiere in Quito, Ecuador this winter. It was written for Viola virtuoso and new music champion Brett Deubner, who will give the piece its New York premiere on May 8, 2009 at Christ & St. Stephens Church on the Upper West Side.
Residency. Zimmerli has been named 2011 Composer in Residence of Music in the Loft, an innovative chamber music series in Chicago. Included is a commission for a piece for two pianos, as well as performances of the Piano Trio #1, American Spiritual for String Quartet, and other works.
Management. Zimmerli has signed on with Standing Ovation Arts. The North-Carolina-based agency features some of today’s most exciting up-and-coming performers. They will represent Zimmerli’s ensemble Emergence and its smaller variations, as well as representing Zimmerli as composer.
Publishing. Second Floor Music, a subsidiary of Boosey and Hawkes, will publish Zimmerli’s Three Romances for Violin and Piano, as well as several solo piano pieces and mixed ensemble works.
Current Projects. In between finalizing recording plans for Modern Music, working on his new ensemble, and fulfilling his Colorado College orchestral commission (see Fall 2008 below), Zimmerli is sneaking in a few smaller pieces: for MAYA, the forward-thinking chamber ensemble led by Sato Moughalian, as well as a political piece on the Mexican drug trade for Susanna Phillips, who recently debuted at the Met Opera as Musetta in Franco Zeffirelli’s production of La Boheme.
Fall 2008
Work on Modern Music Continues. The project, which features jazz piano titans Kevin Hays and Brad Mehldau, consists of pieces of the contemporary classical music canon—by Reich, Pärt, Glass, Gorecki, Strauss, Ornette Coleman, and others—in new jazz arrangements with improvisation. Also featured will be several original compositions by Hays, Mehldau, and Zimmerli.
Commissions. Zimmerli is writing a large-scale orchestral work in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Colorado College Chamber Music Festival. The work will have a cross-disciplinary element, taking as its theme some of the great architectural achievements in the last three decades. Also on the books for 2010 is a piece for Arizona Friends of Chamber Music.
New Ensemble. A new band project is in the works, lots of new music being written. Details coming soon…
Summer Recording. Producer and publisher Don Sickler is putting together a recording and DVD of Zimmerli compositions, including the piano pieces, the three romances, and several works for ensemble. The all-star cast includes Australian pianist Ambre Hammond, violin virtuoso and longtime Zimmerli collaborator Yoon Kwon, Satoshi Takeishi bringing the magic on percussion, and introducing the young piano whiz Euntaek Kim. At only 20, Euntaek is already in the masters’ program at Juilliard. He has conducting ambitions as well, and is an incredibly well-rounded and seasoned musician. Recording will take place out at legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder’s studio.
Zimmerli to be Performed in Sweden. Three concerts have been arranged in Sweden and Ystad for late July 2009, featuring Magnus Bage and Alexander Berne. See Attend section for more information.
Emergence Recording Complete. Scott Colley played bass with a great string section of Tim Fain, Beth Guterman, Michi Waincko, and Julia Bruskin. Stay tuned for release information.
Emergence Video. Emergence had a great concert and a packed house on Feb 29th for our live video recording at Arium. Wonderful performances were turned in by all, with Tim Fain and Alexander Berne playing especially beautifully.
Three Romances Complete. The pieces, for Simone Ferraresi and Kristin Lee, were completed in late March. Stay tuned for premiere information.
Fanfare Reviews the Trios. The Piano Trios received several enthusiastic reviews in Fanfare magazine, the most recent by Walter Simmons. Read the reviews.
Emergence Recording at Stadium Red. Following the concert we laid down some string tracks with veteran engineer Tom Lazarus at Ornette Coleman’s old studio, a comfortable space in Harlem. Tom got an amazing sound as always.
Dates for Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Premiere Announced. The three-movement work will be performed on March 19 and 21 of 2009.
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