If you missed last Thursday’s Town Music performance and live broadcast on Second Inversion, you can listen here and now! This was a very special collaboration between Town Hall and local literary organization Seattle Arts & Lectures featuring a Seattle premiere composed by Town Music Artistic Director (and Second Inversion’s Artistic Advisor!), Joshua Roman with text by Tracy K. Smith.
The program began with an introduction from Town Hall Program Director Katy Sewall and poetry readings by Tracy K. Smith from her from Pullitzer Prize winning poetry collection, Life on Mars.
Tracy K. Smith. Photo by Libby Lewis, libbylewis.com
Smith’s reading of the title poem was followed by the Seattle premiere of Joshua Roman’s song cycle, we do it to one another, set to the poem’s text. Soprano soloist Jessica Rivera joined pianist Conor Hanick, flutist Andrew Rehrig, clarinetist Todd Palmer, violinist Mae Lin, and cellist Richard Belcher – a top notch ensemble conducted by Joshua.
The ensemble. Photo by Libby Lewis, libbylewis.com
The performance is followed by another reading by Tracy K. Smith and a conversation between Tracy, Joshua, and Rebecca Hoogs from Seattle Arts and Lectures on music, poetry, and the creative process.
Tracy K. Smith & Rebecca Hoogs. Photo by Libby Lewis, libbylewis.com
The program concluded with a few more musical selections – Andre Previn’s Vocalise for Soprano, Cello, and Piano and a beautiful encore of Amazing Grace.
Joshua Roman and Jessica Rivera. Photo by Libby Lewis, libbylewis.com
This program encompasses all the elements we love about community, collaboration, and creation of new work. We hope event paves the way for future joint endeavors between these two wonderful Seattle organizations!
Tracy K. Smith, Rebecca Hoogs, and audience giving warm applause. Photo by Libby Lewis, libbylewis.com
Click here for more Second Inversion concerts on-demand from Town Hall and other locations around Seattle.
Visit townhallseattle.org for more information about upcoming events at Town Hall
Visit lectures.org for more information about upcoming events at Seattle Arts and Lectures.