Juilliard’s AXIOM, Led by Jeffrey Milarsky, Performs Louis Andriessen’s "De Staat," on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at 3pm, in Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater

Presented as Part of the New York Philharmonic's The Art of Andriessen 

NEW YORK –– Juilliard’s AXIOM, led by Jeffrey Milarsky, opens its season with a performance of Louis Andriessen’s De Staat (The Republic) (1972-76) on Sunday, October 14, 2018, at 3pm in Juilliard’s Peter Jay Sharp Theater, as part of the New York Philharmonic’s The Art of Andriessen celebration. In 2016, Andriessen was selected as the third recipient of the Marie-Josée Kravis Prize for New Music at the New York Philharmonic, where he will be working with Juilliard alumnus and incoming New York Philharmonic music director Jaap van Zweden.

The concert opens with a tribute to late composer Oliver Knussen and a performance of his Two Organa, Op. 27 (1995), followed by Stravinsky’s Concerto in E-flat Major, “Dumbarton Oaks” (1938).

Tickets for AXIOM concerts are free and available at juilliard.edu/calendar.

About the Program

Oliver Knussen’s Two Organa are scored for large chamber ensemble. The ensemble version of the first Organum (“Notre Dame des Jouets”) was premiered in 1995 by member of the ensemble Het Brabants Orkest, conducted by the composer and dedicated to Peter Maxwell Davies on his 60th birthday. The Schönberg Ensemble and director Reinbert de Leeuw premiered the second Organum at their 20th-anniversary concert, in 1994.

Louis Andriessen composed his De Staat (The Republic) as a contribution to the debate about the relation of music to politics. The work, scored for four women’s voices and large ensemble, uses Plato’s Republic as the musical text. The piece had its world premiere on November 28, 1976, in Amsterdam by the Netherlands Wind Ensemble, led by Lucas Vis. Guest artists Nina Faia Mutlu, Megan Schubert, Mellissa Hughes, and Jamie Jordan will be the soloists in this performance.

Stravinsky’s Concerto in E-flat Major, “Dumbarton Oaks” was a 1937 commission by Robert Bliss on the occasion of his 30th wedding anniversary to Mildred Bliss. The couple lived in Washington, D.C. in an estate called Dumbarton Oaks. Stravinsky had been diagnosed with tuberculosis at the time of the commission and was sent to a Swiss sanatorium to join his wife and two daughters who were also ill. The work had its premiere performance on May 8, 1938, in Washington, D.C., and was conducted by Nadia Boulanger, since Stravinsky was unable to travel due to his illness. The work is in three movements: Tempo giusto, Allegretto, and Con moto.

About The Art of Andriessen

This performance is part of The Art of Andriessen, the New York Philharmonic and music director and Juilliard alumnus Jaap van Zweden’s celebration of the acclaimed Dutch composer from a variety of perspectives, October 4–14, 2018. The Philharmonic performs two orchestral works, including a world premiere, and presents his more intimate pieces along with those of his protégés and forebears in GRoW @ Annenberg Sound ON and Kravis Nightcap, two series featuring contemporary music in casual settings. These concerts are complemented by collaborations with The Juilliard School and National Sawdust. The Art of Andriessen is one of three pillars of the New York Philharmonic’s 2018–19 season; the others are New York Stories: Threads of Our City and Music of Conscience. Learn more at nyphil.org/season-highlights.

About AXIOM

AXIOM, led by music director Jeffrey Milarsky, is dedicated to performing the masterworks of the 20th- and 21st-century repertoire. Since its debut in Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall) in 2006, the group has established itself as a leading ensemble in New York City’s contemporary music scene with performances throughout Lincoln Center, in addition to frequent appearances at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre and (Le) Poisson Rouge in Greenwich Village.

AXIOM is grounded in Juilliard’s curriculum. Students receive a credit in chamber music for performing in the ensemble, and during any four-year period, AXIOM members will have the opportunity to perform works by Adams, Birtwistle, Druckman, Lindberg, and Schoenberg, among other composers. Guest conductors of AXIOM have included Alan Gilbert, Susanna Mälkki, and David Robertson.

Highlights of the 2017-18 season included a program dedicated to former Juilliard faculty member, composer Jacob Druckman; an all-Berio program; and a concert featuring Hans Abrahamsen’s Schnee (complete).

Highlights of the 2016-17 season included programs honoring composer John Adams on his 70th birthday; Steve Reich on his 80th birthday; and a program devoted to the music of Kaija Saariaho. In the 2015-16 season, AXIOM performed works by George Benjamin, Thomas Adès, Harrison Birtwistle, Gerard Grisey, Oliver Knussen, Kaija Saariaho, Giacinto Scelsi, and John Zorn.

About Jeffrey Milarsky

American conductor Jeffrey Milarsky is the founding music director of AXIOM. Known for his innovative programming, he has been hailed for his interpretation of a wide range of repertoire, which spans from Bach to Xenakis. In recent seasons he has worked with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Milwaukee Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, MET Chamber Ensemble, Bergen Philharmonic, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, New World Symphony, and the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. In the United States and abroad, he has premiered and recorded works by many groundbreaking contemporary composers in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Zankel Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, and at IRCAM in Paris. 

Milarsky has a long history of premiering, recording, and performing American composers and in keeping with that, he was recently presented with the prestigious Ditson Conductor’s Award. His interest and dedication has brought forth collaborations with esteemed composers such as Adams, Babbitt, Cage, Carter, Corigliano, Crumb, Davidovsky, Druckman, Gordon, Lang, Mackey, Rouse, Shapey, Subotnick, Wuorinen, and an entire generation of emerging composers.

A dedicated teacher, Milarsky serves on the conducting faculty at Juilliard and is a senior lecturer in music at Columbia University, where he is the music director and conductor of the Columbia University Orchestra.

An in-demand timpanist and percussionist, Milarsky has been the principal timpanist for the Santa Fe Opera since 2005. In addition, he has performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony. He has recorded extensively for Angel, Bridge, Teldec, Telarc, New World, CRI, MusicMasters, EMI, Koch, and London records.

At Juilliard, Milarsky received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and was awarded the Peter Mennin Prize for outstanding leadership and achievement in the arts.

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Sunday, October 14, 2018, 3pm, Peter Jay Sharp Theater

Presented as part of the New York Philharmonic’s The Art of Andriessen celebration

AXIOM

Jeffrey Milarsky, conductor

Nina Faia Mutlu, voice

Megan Schubert, voice

Mellissa Hughes, voice

Jamie Jordan, voice

 

Oliver KNUSSEN Two Organa, Op. 27 (1995)

Igor STRAVINSKY Concerto in E-flat Major, “Dumbarton Oaks” (1938)

Louis ANDRIESSEN De Staat (1972-76)

 

Tickets for AXIOM concerts are free and available at juilliard.edu/calendar.