Emma Lazarus's famous poem, "The New Colossus" serves as the inspiration for the Cheah Chan Duo's eleventh season opening concert - a program of songs about migration and immigration, a theme that is close to the hearts of Phillip Cheah(voice) and Trudy Chan (piano), who both have moved from Asia and havemade their homes in New York City. The concert includes Juliana Hall's "The New Colossus" (set to Lazarus's poem) along with music by Kamala Sankaram, H. Leslie Adams, andStephen Lias, and isanchored by selections from Alan Louis Smith's 1999 song cycle Vignettes: Ellis Islandwhich featurestexts from actual immigrants to the United Statesin the earlier part of 20th century.
Works to be performed:
H. Leslie Adams: "Creole Girl" from Nightsongs
Vernon Duke: "Autumn in New York"
Juliana Hall: "The New Colossus"
Stephen Lias: Songs of a Sourdough
Kamala Sankaram: "The Last Blast of Anthony the Trumpeter"
Alan Louis Smith: Vignettes: Ellis Island (selections)
Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
8:00pm
For over ten seasons, Cheah Chan Duo has garnered acclaim for its electrifying concerts of uniquely curated thematic art song programs. Lauded by Time Out New York for its restlessly inquisitive performances, the Duo has become a mainstay of the New York musical scene with performances at The National Opera Center, The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, Tenri Cultural Institute, Cornelia Street Caf, North of History, Church of St. Luke in the Fields, St. Bartholomew's Church,and Symphony Space.