Perle Noire: Meditations on Joséphine

Conceived by Peter Sellars
Arrangements and new music: Tyshawn Sorey
Texts: Claudia Rankine

Perle Noir is a unique and poignant evening honoring the brilliance, daring, public courage and private tragedies of the icon who created a singing, dancing declaration of independence and blazed a trail of irresistible challenge and charm in France in the 1920’s.  Following an acclaimed premiere at the Ojai Music Festival, this contemplative piece comes to Houston, continuing its evolution.

Julia Bullock has been hailed as an “impressive, fast-rising soprano…poised for a significant career” by the New York Times. She has captivated audiences with her versatile artistry and commanding stage presence. Bullock makes her Houston debut in Perle Noir, with new music and arrangements for ICE by celebrated composer and multi-instrumentalist Tyshawn Sorey and texts by poet Claudia Rankine.

Julia Bullock, soprano
Tyshawn Sorey, piano, drums and percussion
Alice Teyssier, flutes
Jennifer Curtis, violin
Rebekah Heller, bassoon
Ryan Muncy, saxophone

ICE’s 2016-17 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.