D.J. SPARR has received a prestitious Composer Assistance Program Recording grant to for his first professional recording of his chamber music works, to be released on Centaur Records with New Music Raleigh, Hexnut Ensemble, Karen Galvin and the composer performing.
Washington National Opera commissions D.J. Sparr
American Opera Initiative
Composer D.J. Sparr and librettist Davis Miller will premiere The Tao of Muhammad Ali (A Ghost Story) in June 2013 in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater. This original hour-long opera tells the story of a reporter’s transformative meeting with the boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
The Tao of Muhammad Ali (A Ghost Story) will be performed with a chamber orchestra and receive a complete staging by a young director and design team (with mentorship provided by WNO Artistic Advisor Francesca Zambello). Open workshops at the Kennedy Center will be held throughout its development cycle.
Complete casting, creative team, and ticketing information for the June 2013 performance will be announced at a later date.
A key element of the American Opera Initiative is connecting the young composers and librettists to professional mentors who have successfully brought new American operas to the stage. Each of the inaugural mentors—composer Jake Heggie, librettist Mark Campbell, and conductor Anne Manson—as well as advisor Robert Wood will work with the artists selected for both the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons.
The McTee catalogue is now united at Bill Holab Music
We are delighted to announce that all of the works previously handled by Lauren Keiser Music Publishing Company (formerly MMB Music) are now with Bill Holab Music. Many of the pieces will be cleaned up orthographically, so if you are looking for a work and don’t see it listed on our site, please contact us to inquire about its availability. No work that was previously available will taken be out of print.
Aleksandr Haskin plays Isles of Shoals
A flute recital in Moscow, 2009, where Aleksandr Haskin played Isles of Shoals.
Songs From an Unmade Bed
Songs from an Unmade Bed is a theatrical song cycle for one performer and three musicians that explores the romantic life of a gay man living in the city. One lyricist and eighteen composers (one per song) combined to create a unique theatrical event that is funny, poignant and ultimately hopeful about love.
Composers:
Debra Barsha – Mark Bennett – Peter Foley – Jenny Giering – Peter Golub – Jake Heggie – Lance Horne – Stephen Hoffman – Gihieh Lee – Steven Lutvak – Steve Marzullo – Brendan Milburn – Chris Miller – Greg Pliska – Duncan Sheik – Kim D. Sherman – Jeffrey Stock – Joseph Thalken
Premiere
New York Theatre Workshop, 2005
Subsequent productions
- Nautilus Theatre, Minneapolis, MN 2006
- New Works Collective and Know Theatres, Cincinnati, OH, 2007
- Celebration Theatre, Los Angeles, 2009
- Orlando Shakespeare Theatre, Orlando, FL, 2009
- Ringwald Theater, Ferndale, MI, 2009
- Theatre Three, Inc., Dallas, TX, 2010
- Provincetown Counter Productions. Provincetown, MA, 2010
- Judith Wright Centre for Performing Arts, Sunnybank Hills, Queensland, 2011
- Empire Theatre, Toowomba, Queensland, Australia, 2011
- Columbia College, Chicago, IL, 2011
- Gaslight Theater, St. Louis, 2011
- Teatro del Hotel NH, Mexico City, 2012
- The Little Musical Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. 2013
- Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Adelaide, South Australia, 2013
- Pride Films and Plays, Chicago, IL 2014
- New Helvetia Theatre, Sacramento, CA 2014
- Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA 2015
- Subculture, New York City 2015
- Gatherwool Theater, White River Junction, VT, 2016
- The Orlando Fringe Festival, Orlando FL, 2016
- Compulsion Dance & Theatre, San Diego, CA, 2017
- Macabre Theatre Ensemble, Ithaca, NY 2018
- Bourbon Baroque, Inc. Louisville, KY 2018
- Onyric Teatro Condal, Madrid 2019
- Broadway Cares (BD Wong), livestream 2020
- BW Productions, livestream 2022
- 54 Below, New York City, Sept. 2023
- The Hive Collaborative, St. Paul, MN 2025
Quotes
Funny, light, sardonic, [Songs] depicts a familiar kind of New York gay life that’s seldom celebrated in this manner. There’s no big political agenda here, no coming-out statement or demand for equal time: just amusing observation with an understated acuity that gives this entertaining evening a little extra punch.
—The New York TimesSongs From an Unmade Bed might be one of the best hours not spent in bed. Mark Campbell’s lean style, sly point of view and overall sensibility are entirely his own.
—VarietyComical and moving…An amusing and entirely unsentimental tableau of single life in the city…Campbell’s lyrics are witty, imaginative and at times seemingly very personal.
—Associated PressSongs From an Unmade Bed is really meant to be experienced. Though not sweeping and epic as some musicals or rugged and stuffy as some recitals, it is touching and delicate and that is something you don’t see everyday.
—EDGE, Los Angeles
You can purchase the piano/vocal score here.
You can purchase the CD here.
Licensing
To inquire about the rights to perform Songs from an Unmade Bed, please fill out a quote request here.
Kahane’s FEBRUARY HOUSE recording is released
After its extended run at New York City’s Public Theater, the original cast recording of February House has been released on the Storysound label. The show is based on Sherill Tippins’ book, which brings to life the story of what was possibly the most fertile and improbable live-in salon of the twentieth century. Known as “February House,” its residents included, among others, Carson McCullers, W. H. Auden, Paul Bowles, and the famed burlesque performer Gypsy Rose Lee. This ramshackle Brooklyn brownstone was host to an explosion of creativity, an extraordinary experiment in communal living, and a nonstop yearlong party fueled by the appetites of youth. Here these burgeoning talents composed many of their most famous, iconic literary works while experiencing together a crucial historical moment–America on the threshold of World War II.
With music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, the show ran to packed houses and rave reviews.
“IT’S THE MUSIC THAT MAKES THE MAGIC… the music artfully captures the spirit of the years in which FEBRUARY HOUSE is set.”
– Ben Brantley, The New York Times
“IMAGINATIVE AND BEGUILING. Directed with sweeping, thoughtful flair by Davis McCallum, the production is visually and aurally rich.”
– Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press
“Gabriel Kahane’s songs range wide and deep. The score adroitly balances lush romanticism and sharp wit. FEBRUARY HOUSE has introduced a vital new voice to the musical theater.”
– Jeremy Gerard, Bloomberg
“Seth Bockley’s dialogue is funny and quick, but also has something on its mind. Kahane’s music and exceptional lyrics carry the production into the sublime.”
– Keith Staskiewicz, Entertainment Weekly
“Where Carson McCullers is concerned, Kahane achieves a kind of art-song nirvana, gorgeously rendered by Kristen Sieh, whose upper register recalls Joni Mitchell’s.”
– Elizabeth Vincentelli, New York Post
Kahane on February House
FEBRUARY HOUSE was recently featured in The New York Times! click here to read the article.
NewMusicBox reviews the recording.
Heggie’s MOBY-DICK premieres at San Francisco Opera
“A masterpiece of clarity and intensity, with a score that is at once thematically compact and richly inventive.”
Joshua Kosman, San Francisco Chronicle
“A GREAT AMERICAN OPERA” Opera Now Magazine
“A TRIUMPH”The Dallas Morning News
“AN UNDENIABLE SUCCESS” The New York Times
“THE HIT OF THE SEASON” The Washington Post
“A MASSIVE ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENT” WFAA-TV
Moby-Dick is an opera in two acts by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer, based on the novel by Herman Melville. Commissioned by The Dallas Opera with San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera, Calgary Opera and the State Opera of South Australia, Moby-Dick opened to extraordinary international acclaim on April 30, 2010 at the Margot & Bill Winspear Opera House in Dallas.
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION TEAM
| Conductor | Patrick Summers |
| Director & Dramaturg | Leonard Foglia |
| Set Design | Robert Brill |
| Lighting | Donald Holder |
| Costumes | Jane Greenwood |
| Projections & Film | Elaine McCarthy |
| Musical Preparation | Laurie Rogers, Michael Heaston, Janice Fehlauer |
| Chorus Conductor | Alexander Ro |
ORIGINAL CAST
| Ahab | Ben Heppner |
| Greenhorn | Stephen Costello |
| Starbuck | Morgan Smith |
| Queequeg | Jonathan Lemalu |
| Pip | Talise Trevigne |
| Stubb | Robert Orth |
| Flask | Matthew O’Neill |
| Gardiner | Jonathan Beyer |
The Dallas Opera Orchestra and Men of the Chorus
ORCHESTRATION
3 flutes (one doubles piccolo)
3 oboes (one doubles English Horn)
3 clarinets (one doubles bass clarinet)
3 bassoons (one doubles contrabassoon)
4 horns in F
3 trumpets in C
2 trombones
bass trombone
timpani
2 percussion
harp
strings
PRODUCTION COMPANIES
A list of companies who have performed or scheduled future performances of the opera follows:
- The Dallas Opera (April 2010)
- State Opera of South Australia (Aug./Sept. 2011)
- Calgary Opera (Jan. 2012)
- San Diego Opera (Feb. 2012)
- San Francisco Opera (Oct. 2012)
- Washington National Opera (Feb.-March 2014)
- Los Angeles Opera (Oct.-Nov. 2015)
- The Dallas Opera (Nov. 2016)
- Utah Opera (Jan. 2018)
- Pittsburgh Opera (March 2018)
Heggie’s DEAD MAN WALKING
“Dead Man Walking makes the most concentrated impact of any piece of American music theater since West Side Story more than 40 years ago.”
THE GUARDIAN (London)
Since its premiere in 2000, Dead Man Walking, the first opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Terrence McNally, has become one of the opera world’s most performed new works. Commissioned by San Francisco Opera (then headed by Lotfi Mansouri), it is based on the prize-winning book by Sister Helen Prejean, CSJ and tells the modern-day story of a nun who becomes the spiritual advisor to a condemned man on Louisiana’s death row. The opera was first performed on October 7, 2000 at San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House. Maestro Patrick Summers led the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus and a cast that included mezzo-soprano Susan Graham as Sister Helen, baritone John Packard as Joseph DeRocher, and mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade as his mother, Mrs. DeRocher. The production was directed by Joe Mantello and featured sets by Michael Yeargan, lighting by Jennifer Tipton, and costumes by Sam Flemming. The original run of seven performances was increased to nine due to popular demand, and most performances were sold out.
In 2001 a new production of Dead Man Walking was commissioned by seven American opera companies: Opera Pacific, Cincinnati Opera, New York City Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Pittsburgh Opera and Baltimore Opera. Directed by Leonard Foglia and designed by Michael McGarty, the production features costumes by Jess Goldstein and lighting by Brian Nason.
A list of companies who have performed or scheduled future performances of the opera follows:
- San Francisco Opera (2000) — World Premiere
- Opera Pacific (2002) — New Production
- Cincinnati Opera (2002)
- New York City Opera (2002)
- Austin Lyric Opera (2003)
- Michigan Opera Theater (2003)
- State Opera of South Australia (2003) — First International Production
- Pittsburgh Opera (2004) — Live Broadcast on National Public Radio
- Calgary Opera (2006) — New Production. Canadian Premiere.
- Baltimore Opera (2006)
- Dresden Semperoper (2006) — New Production. European Premiere.
- Malmö Opera (2006-2007) — New Production. Scandinavian Premiere.
- Sydney, Australia (2007) — New Production
- Dresden Semperoper (2007) — Revival.
- Vienna Klangbogen Festival (2007)
- Hagen, Germany (2007-2008)
- Dublin, Ireland (2007) — New Production
- University of Colorado at Boulder (2007) — New Production. First complete university production.
- University of Nebraska in Lincoln. (2008) — New Production. Directed by William Shomos and conducted by Tyler White.
- Malmö Opera (2009) (revival)
- Fort Worth Opera (2009)
- Dresden SemperOper (2009) (revival)
- Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen (2009)
- Cape Town Opera, South Africa (2009)
- Houston Grand Opera (2011) – 10th Anniversary Production
- Union Avenue Opera, St. Louis (2011)
- Tulsa Opera (2012)
- Dresden SemperOper (2012) – revival
- Fayetteville Opera (2013)
- Opéra de Montréal (2013)
- Boston Opera Collaborative (2013)
- Eugene Opera (2013)
- The Modern American Music Project (2013)
- Staatstheater Schwerin, Germany (2014)
- Madison Opera (2014)
- Central City Opera (2014)
- DePaul University (2014)
- Des Moines Metro Opera (2014)
- Madison Opera (2014)
- University of Michigan (2014)
- Opera Parallele (2015)
- Northwestern University (2015)
- Opera NUOVA (2015)
- Dayton Opera (2015)
- Indiana University Opera Theater (2015)
- New Orleans Opera (2016)
- Shreveport Opera (2016)
- Townsend Opera (2016)
- Fresno Opera (2016)
- Lyric Opera of Kansas City (2017)
- Vancouver Opera (2017)
- Washington National Opera (2017)
- Pensacola Opera (2017)
- Miami Music Festival (2017)
- Opera on the Avalon (2017)
- Boston Conservatory (2017)
- Kentucky Opera (2017)
- BBC Symphony/Barbican Center (2018)
- Minnesota Opera (2018)
- James Madison University (2018)
- Teatro Real Madrid (2018)
- Utah Opera (2018)
- Theater Erfurt (2019)
- Atlanta Opera (2019)
- Oldenburgisches Staatstheater (2019)
- Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (2019)
- Welsh National Opera (2019)
- Israel Opera (2019)
- Opera Idaho (2020)
- Hungarian State Opera (2020)
- The Metropolitan Opera (2023)
- Lanestheater Detmold (2024)
- Miami Music Festival (2024)
- Schleswig-Holsteinisches Landestheater (2025)
- Opera AACC (2025)
Recordings
There are two recordings of Dead Man Walking:
Instrumentation
There are two versions of the orchestration to Dead Man Walking.
Original (full) Orchestration
3 Flutes (3rd doubling Alto Flute and Piccolo)
2 Oboes
English Horn
2 Clarinets in Bb
Bass Clarinet
3 Bassoons (3rd doubling Contrabassoon)
4 Horns in F
3 Trumpets in C
2 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Harp
Piano
Timpani
Percussion (2 players)
Strings
Reduced Orchestration
2 Flutes (2nd doubling on Alto Flute and Piccolo)
2 Oboes (2nd doubling English Horn)
2 Clarinets in Bb(2nd doubling Bass Clarinet)
2 Bassoons (2nd doubling on Contrabassoon)
2 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Synthesizer (harp and piano sounds only)
Timpani
2 Percussion
Strings
Licensing
For theatrical performances, there are two components to licensing Dead Man Walking. Grand Rights (theatrical rights) are licensed by:
Funsten and Franzen
Bill Holab Music handles rentals and sales of the musical materials. You can request a quote here.
Scores can be purchased here.
Slatkin gives the premiere of ARLINGTON SONS in Pittsburgh
Leonard Slatkin conducted the world premiere of Eyerly’s Arlington Sons with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at Heinz Hall, Pittsburgh on three subscription performances (October 5, 6 and 7, 2012). Commissioned by Broadway and Metropolitan Opera star David Pittsinger, Arlington Sons is a unique 12-minute piece for baritone, boy soprano and orchestra. By turns moving and humorous, the work depicts a father and son visiting Arlington Cemetery in Virginia, to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. Arlington Sons was conceived specifically for the real-life father-son duo of David and Richard Pittsinger, and is believed to be the first vocal piece written for a father and son. Adding resonance to the themes of fatherhood, “sonhood” and patriotism, David’s own father was a guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The Pittsburgh performances of Arlington Sons follow the work’s premiere in piano arrangement at a February gala for the Glimmerglass Festival in New York City, where Mssrs. Pittsinger were accompanied by Fred Lassen at the keyboard.
WFSB feature about the creation of Arlington Sons
Danielpour to write new concerti
Richard Danielpour has been commissioned to write three new concerti, each for very different virtuoso soloists.
Anthony McGill, the young star clarinetist who is currently principle with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra will premiere Danielpour’s new Clarinet Concerto. The work will be a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement, written as a series of musical essays and remembrances of the period. Jointly commissioned by the Philadelphia group Orchestra 2001 and the New Jersey Symphony, the world premiere will take place in early 2014.
The 2013-14 season will also feature a new concerto for percussionist Lisa Pegher. This piece promises to be a new direction in Danielpour’s writing, for a consortium of orchestras that will be revealed soon!
Summer of 2013 will bring Danielpour’s new violoncello concerto for the Eastern Music Festival, Gerard Schwarz, conductor. The soloist will be the conductor’s son, Julian.
