World Premiere
A Monodrama for Chamber Ensemble and Countertenor
Suzanne Farrin, composer
Anthony Roth Costanzo, countertenor
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
"I see in your beautiful face, my lord, what in this life words cannot well describe…he who loves you faithfully rises to God above and holds death sweet." —Sonnet by Michelangelo for Tommaso dei Cavalieri c.a. 1534
One of the most gifted artists who ever lived, Michelangelo was a painter, sculptor, architect—and poet. Written some five hundred years ago, his highly physical, sensual love letters form the libretto for a new work by the "appealingly tart" (New York Times) Suzanne Farrin, in deep collaboration with the pioneering International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and the sizzling countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo. Commissioned by Met Museum Presents, this monodrama in the voice of Michelangelo was designed for our sixteenth-century Vélez Blanco Patio. Hear the passion of the great master’s highly visual, physical world.
More performances on Saturday, April 2, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Tickets to this event include Museum admission.
This program is made possible by Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Ulrich.
Project Lead: Rebekah Heller & Kivie Cahn-Lipman
ICE’s 2015-16 performances and commissioning activities are made possible by the generous support of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Howard Gilman Foundation, The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, French American Cultural Exchange (FACE Foundation), the A.N. and Pearl G. Barnett Family Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, The Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, The Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, The Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trusts, New Music USA, The Amphion Foundation, The Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University, The Concinnity Fund, The Casement Fund, the BMI Foundation, the Paul R. Judy Center for Applied Research at the Eastman School of Music, a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events, as well as public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, the New York State Council for the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Yamaha Artist Services New York is the exclusive piano provider for ICE.