Annandale-on-Hudson, NY — The Orchestra Now (TŌN) will perform the U.S. premieres of Joachim Raff’s Psalm 130: De Profundis and Lera Auerbach’s De Profundis (Violin Concerto No. 3) at Bard’s Fisher Center on Saturday, May 27, and Sunday, May 28, featuring internationally acclaimed violinist Vadim Repin, and EMI recording artist, soprano Elizabeth de Trejo.

This exploration of Psalm 130—which reads “Out of the depths, Oh Lord, have I cried unto Thee”—features works by two women composers: Lera Auerbach and Lili Boulanger. Russian-born poet and composer Lera Auerbach is currently a Visiting Artist in Residence at Bard. Her version of Psalm 130 was originally commissioned by the Trans-Siberian Art Festival for founder and artistic director Vadim Repin, who performs its U.S. premiere at this concert. Lili Boulanger’s rendering, performed with soprano Elizabeth de Trejo, reveals a sophisticated toolkit of compositional skills for such a young artist. Composed at the early age of 22, the piece is dedicated to the memory of Boulanger’s father. Her tragic life was cut short only a year later.

Also on the program are an a cappella choral interpretation of De Profundis by Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer Virgil Thomson, written in 1921 while he was still a student at Harvard, and Joachim Raff’s rarely-heard masterpiece, which was written for soprano, eight-part choir, and orchestra. Dedicated to Franz Liszt, it is often viewed as a reconciliation offering to the famous pianist/composer, with whom Raff had a sometimes-contentious relationship.

TŌN AT BARD COLLEGE’S RICHARD B. FISHER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, Sosnoff Theater
De Profundis: Out of the Depths
Saturday, April 27, 2019 at 8 pm
Sunday, April 28, 2019 at 2 pm
Leon Botstein, conductor
Vadim Repin, violin
Elizabeth de Trejo, soprano
Bard Festival Chorale
James Bagwell, choral director
A co-presentation with the Trans-Siberian Art Festival
Virgil Thomson: De Profundis
Joachim Raff: Psalm 130: De Profundis (U.S. Premiere)
Lera Auerbach: De Profundis (Violin Concerto No. 3) (U.S. Premiere)
Lili Boulanger: Psalm 130: Du fond de l’abîme (De Profundis)
Tickets: $25–35, available online at theorchestranow.org or fishercenter.bard.edu; by calling the box office at 845.758.7900; or in person at the Fisher Center box office in the lobby of Sosnoff Theater.

The Orchestra Now
The Orchestra Now (TŌN) is a group of 59 vibrant young musicians from 13 different countries around the globe: the United States, Bulgaria, China, France, Hungary, Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Peru, Spain, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. All share a mission to make orchestral music relevant to 21st-century audiences. Hand-picked from hundreds of applicants from the world’s leading conservatories—including The Juilliard School, Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and the Curtis Institute of Music—the members of TŌN are not only rousing audiences with their critically acclaimed performances, but also enlightening curious minds by presenting on-stage introductions and demonstrations at concerts, offering program notes written from the musicians’ perspective, and connecting with patrons through one-on-one discussions during intermissions. To date, members of TŌN have earned positions with orchestras across the United States and in Europe. Some play regularly with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Baltimore Symphony.

Conductor, educator, and music historian Leon Botstein founded TŌN in 2015 as a master’s degree program at Bard College, where he also serves as president. The Orchestra is in residence at Bard’s Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts, offering multiple concerts there each season as well as participating in the annual Bard Music Festival. The Orchestra also performs numerous concert series at major venues in New York, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as a schedule of free performances across New York City boroughs. TŌN has collaborated with many distinguished conductors, including Fabio Luisi, Neeme Järvi, Gerard Schwarz, and JoAnn Falletta.

For upcoming activities and more detailed information about the musicians, visit theorchestranow.org.

Leon Botstein
Leon Botstein brings a renowned career as both a conductor and educator to his role as music director of The Orchestra Now. He has been music director of the American Symphony Orchestra since 1992, artistic co-director of Bard SummerScape and the Bard Music Festival since their creation, and president of Bard College since 1975. He was the music director of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra from 2003–2011 and is now conductor laureate. In 2018, he assumed artistic directorship of Campus Grafenegg and Grafenegg Academy in Austria. Mr. Botstein is also a frequent guest conductor with orchestras around the globe, has made numerous recordings, and is a prolific author and music historian. He is the editor of the prestigious The Musical Quarterly and has received many honors for his contributions to music. More info online at LeonBotstein.com.