Song Commission
Meagan Miller in the world-premiere performance of Libby Larsen's cycle, The Last Words of the Wives of Henry VIII. Photo: Steve Sherman
Annual Song Commission
Each year the MHF commissions an original work by a prominent or emerging American composer. Written specifically for one of our artists, the work is world-premiered by that artist at one of the MHF’s NYC recitals.
Commissioned
composers to date are:
2000 William Bolcom and Richard Hundley
2001 Libby Larsen
2002 Lowell Liebermann
2003 Paul Moravec
2004 Tobias Picker
2005 John Musto
2006 Ben Moore
2007 Gabriela Lena Frank
2008 Scott Wheeler
Composers
and World Premieres
| 2000 | William Bolcom | Song: The Digital Wonder Watch World premiere: January 16, 2000, Carnegie Hall – Isaac Stern Hall Written for and sung by Marilyn Horne Pianist: Martin Katz |
| Richard Hundley | Song: The Giver of Stars World premiere: January 16, 2000, Carnegie Hall – Isaac Stern Hall Written for and sung by Marilyn Horne Pianist: Martin Katz |
|
| 2001 | Libby Larsen | Song cycle: Last Words of the
Wives of Henry VIII World premiere: January 19, 2001, Juilliard Theater Written for and sung by Meagan Miller, soprano Pianist: Brian Zeger |
| 2002 | Lowell Liebermann | Song cycle: Six Songs on Poems of
Raymond Carver, Op. 80 World premiere: April 14, 2002; Merkin Concert Hall Written for and sung by Lester Lynch, baritone Pianist: J.J. Penna |
| 2003 | Paul Moravec | Song: Everyone Sang World premiere: May 7, 2003; Merkin Concert Hall Written for and sung by Troy Cook, baritone Pianist: Kathleen Kelly |
| 2004 | Tobias Picker | Song: I Am in Need of Music World premiere: February 1, 2004; Carnegie Hall – Isaac Stern Hall Written for and sung by Bejun Mehta, countertenor Pianist: Lang Lang |
| 2005 | John Musto | Song cycle: viva sweet love! World premiere: January 25, 2005; Carnegie Hall - Weill Recital Hall Written for and sung by Jason Hardy, bass Pianist: Jerome Tan |
| 2006 | Ben Moore | Song cycle: So Free Am I World premiere: January 25, 2006; Carnegie Hall - Weill Recital Hall Written for and sung by Monica Yunus, soprano Pianist: Brian Zeger |
| 2007 | Gabriela Lena Frank | Two Songs for the cycle, Songs of
Cifar and the Sweet Sea World premiere: January 26, 2007; Carnegie Hall - Zankel Hall Written for and sung by Andrew Garland, baritone Pianist: Donna Loewy |
| 2008 | Scott Wheeler | Four Poems of William Blake World premiere: January 23, 2008; Weill Recital Hall Written for and sung by Dimitri Pittas, tenor Pianist: Carrie-Ann Matheson |
