Der Zwerg Pics!

I finally have them!  Pictures from OperaHub's production of Zemlinsky's Der Zwerg...yeah, the one I stage directed!  Check them out and leave a comment if you like them.  If you missed the show, don't fret.  I *might* (it really depends on the quality of the video) schedule a viewing party with music director Julia Carey.  More to come...

Pics are by Marion Cohen. Enjoy!

(The three maids and Ghita admiring a gift for the Infanta)

(The Infanta's Entourage)

(Don Estoban prepares for the Infanta's birthday party)

(The Dwarf - both his imagined self [singer] and real self [dancer] - and the Infanta)

(The Dwarf sees himself in the mirror for the first time and discovers he is hideous)

(The Infanta calls him an animal and not a man)

(The Dwarf dies and only Ghita cares)

REBLOG: Analissa Martinez talks about my world premiere next week

Composer's Corner: •••••••••••••••• Erin Huelskamp: "

April 15, 2010 7:30pm

St. John's Episcopal Church

1 Roanoke Avenue

Jamaica Plains, MA

The Boston New Music Initiative presents

World Premiere of A Mind-dependent Phenomenon

for solo cello, by Erin Huelskamp

Analissa Martinez on cello

I chose this next work because it takes me out of my comfort spot behind the cello, and asks for an acted performance...but still behind the cello. It's subject matter is also very familiar territory, so an 'acted performance' is not so much necessary.

Erin calls for the intimate moments for a musician in a practice room. The phenomenon of Time passes, slowly or quickly. We procrastinate, play around, stomp, sing and show off.

I display the unpleasantries of time passing by while practicing...and I get to show off some cello rockstar moves interpolated with the ticking of time passing.

Thanks Erin!

About Erin:

Energetic, hardworking and enigmatic, Erin Huelskamp (b. 1982) composes dramatic and comical music that often reflects a philosophical twist on her daily experiences. Co-founder and executive director of the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Ms. Huelskamp voraciously promotes new music – especially by amazing unknown composers – and she strives to draw ever new audiences to the burgeoning sounds of the 21st century....

Trained as a classical dancer for 16 years, Ms. Huelskamp began composing at the age of ten with no musical training. In 2000 she began studies in composition and flute at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Music in both composition and flute performance; she studied composition with Thomas McKenney and Stefan Freund and flute with Steven Geibel. In 2007, Ms. Huelskamp completed a Master of Music in Composition from the Boston Conservatory, where she studied with Andy Vores, Dana Brayton, and later Ken Ueno.

To learn more about Erin, visit her at http://erinhuelskamp.com

••••••••••••••••••••

About The Boston New Music Initiative

The Boston New Music Initiative is an organization committed to the composition and performance of new music on the local, national, and international fronts. Founded in 2009, the Initiative's vision is to establish a network of composers, performers, conductors, directors, and champions of new music in order to generate new music concerts, compositions, collaborations, and commissions.

Visit: http://www.bostonnewmusic.org/

"

Another quote

Here's another quote from an article of Huelskamp yore:


“I founded Juventas with two other young composers who felt there was a flaw in the ‘system’. Instead of ‘whining’ … we decided to take initiative and form an ensemble that focuses on giving amazing performances of music by primarily young, living composers, and to perform this music as repertoire—meaning more than once. Since that time, we have worked diligently to form a community of supporters for our mission. Juventas, as it stands, is the result. I encourage you all to do the same. If you see a problem with the way ensembles, calls-for-scores, competitions, etc., are run … then create something that supports your ideas.”

-Erin Huelskamp, Executive Director & Co-founder, Juventas New Music Ensemble (Boston), post on SCIMEMBERS listserve, 01-MAR-2008. Chamber Music Today “We Are All Illegal Aliens Now: Ageism in Calls-for-Scores and Competitions as Quasi-Immigration Policy?”

Techno gone twisted: Review of Lukas Ligiti

My new review of Lukas Ligiti's CD Afrikan Machinery is up at Boston Lowbrow. Check it out here:
Techno gone twisted: Lukas Ligeti’s “Afrikan Machinery” is eclectic and shifting to the extreme

Stage Directing Der Zwerg - reviews, pics, and press mentions

Those of you who know me well know that I have been crazy busy over the past few weeks stage directing Der Zwerg with the company OperaHub.  Here are a few press mentions and reviews along with a couple of press pics for you to enjoy.  More pics from the production to come soon...

A loose bunch
The Boston Globe

Culture Vulture: See ‘The Dwarf’

The Arts Fuse

From Lloyd Schwartz and The Pheonix:

"PS: Speaking of teamwork: kudos to OperaHub for its highly imaginative production of a true rarity, Alexander Zemlinsky's moving one-act, Der Zwerg ("The Dwarf"), in four free (!) performances at the BCA. Everything worked."

The pics below feature Sean Malkus, tenor (The Dwarf) and Erin Pedersen, soprano (Infanta). Pics are by Keith Collier from Cayuga Strategies, LLC.

Super Powers and Organization

I'm back!  I bet you thought I disappeared...

Life is fast-paced right now.  Between stage directing and keeping up with my composition projects, Juventas, OperaHub, Boston Arts Academy AND Cecilia - well, I feel a bit overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed in a good way.  I feel lucky to be working on so many amazing artistic projects.  Can you believe it!?!  I just wish there were a few more hours in the day, or maybe I could develop super powers like Evie from Out of This World.  I'll just touch my two pointer fingers together, freeze time, and take however long I please doing whatever strikes my fancy.  Ah!  Such a nice fantasy...

Side note - do you think I would age during this frozen time?  That could be a problem.

In the midst of developing my powers, I am trying to organize my website.  My plan is to post some of the interesting news items I received over the past year on my blog.

To begin, here is a review of A Protest received from the Boston Musical Intelligencer back in March of 2009:

Eight Commissioned Works for Women’s Vocal Ensemble Take on Social Protest by Liane Curtis

Erin Huelskamp’s A Protest proved the most memorable and startlingly revelatory work of the evening. Her choice was a Victorian-era poem by Arthur Hugh Clough. The anxiety expressed by a woman who rises to speak her opinion before a hostile assembly unfolds haltingly and in overlapping waves of forward motion, then hesitation. Speech-like declamations spar with sung comments, electrifying the psychological battle. This is the piece I most want to hear again, to parse and savor the interplay of interjections, questions and responses.

Anthology Voices commissioned A Protest  in 2008 and premiered it in March 2009.  Anthology is an amazing performing force; thus, I have a killer recording of the piece. I plan to post said recording to the "Listen" section of my site soon, so check back or join my mailing list.

OperaHub Auditions for Der Zwerg - Huelskamp as Director

OperaHub announces auditions for our March 2010 production of Alexander Zemlinsky’s powerful one-act opera Der Zwerg (The Dwarf). We are seeking singers for the following roles: Der Zwerg (tenor), Donna Clara (soprano), Ghita (soprano/mezzo), Don Estoban (bass), as well as sopranos and mezzos for a dynamic women’s ensemble.

Auditions will be held by appointment on Monday, November 16 from 7:30-10pm and Tuesday, November 17 from 6:30-9pm, with walk-in auditions (no appointment necessary) on November 17 from 9-10pm. Auditions will take place at BU’s College of Fine Arts, 855 Commonwealth Ave. Please check signs in the lobby when you arrive for the room number. Individual callbacks will be scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, November 24.

Please bring two contrasting arias, including one in German, that showcase your vocal and dramatic ability. Women interested in the women's ensemble may bring one prepared piece in German. An accompanist will be provided.

To schedule an audition, please email auditions@operahub.org with your name, voice part, and preferred audition date and time (if any).

The production is directed by Erin Huelskamp, with music direction by Julia Scott Carey. Rehearsals will begin in early January and performances are March 11-14, 2010. All roles are volunteer.

Founded in 2007, OperaHub is committed to bringing engaging, innovative and accessible opera productions to the Boston area.  For more information, visit our website: www.operahub.org