Postcards to The Met

A May 2017 concert at Angel Orensanz Center, including the US premiere of Avner Dorman's Mandolin Concerto.

There and Back Again

Home Stretch

Introduction to Metropolis

DOUBLE HELIX: Kristin Lee Resident Artist Concert - Metropolis Ensemble.

The second concert of its new Resident Artists Series was curated by violinist and Metropolis concert-master, Kristin Lee. These concerts, musical events, and social gatherings feature our core members as solo instrumentalists in creative, artist-curated collaborations with composers from diverse genres.

Inspired by artists spanning many practices and histories, Kristin commissioned violin duos for diverse instruments by composers Andy Akiho, Jakub Ciupinski, Shobana Ragavan, Patrick Castillo, and Vivian Fung. She was joined by an incredible group of musicians - percussionist Ian Rosenbaum, guitarist Jason Vieaux, harpist Bridget Kibbey, carnatic Indian singer Shobana Raghavan, percussionist John Hadfield, lecturer Patrick Castillo, and therminist Jakub Ciupinski. 

Kristin Lee is recognized one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, and has been praised by The Strad for her "mastery of tone and rare mood in a performer of any age."

Recorded live at (le) Poisson Rouge, April 27, 2014.

Double Helix

The Metropolitan Museum of Art / MetLiveArts and Metropolis Ensemble present a monthly video series featuring composer and performer Matthew Evan Taylor. Learn more: https://metropolisensemble.org/postcards

Matthew Evan Taylor » Postcard 1: March 2021

Matthew Evan Taylor » Postcard 2: April 2021

Matthew Evan Taylor » Postcard 3: May 2021

Matthew Evan Taylor » Postcard 4: June 2021

Matthew Evan Taylor » Postcard 5: July 2021

World premiere performance of Kati Agócs' Vessel (2011); performance of Agócs' Awakening Galatea (2009), World premiere performance of Ricardo Romaneiro's Strata (2011); and performance of Kati Agócs' Division of Heaven and Earth (2006). Performed at "Three City Dash" on April 7, 2011 at Symphony Space in New York City. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Three City Dash

Kati Agócs: Awakening Galatea

World premiere performance of Ray Lustig's Compose Thyself (2011); World premiere performance of Vivian Fung's Violin Concerto (2011); Encore performance of Timothy Andres' reimagining of W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26 "Coronation" (1788). Performed on September 15, 2011 at Angel Orensanz Center in New York City. Featuring soprano Jolle Greenleaf, guest vocal ensemble TENET, Kristin Lee on violin, and Timothy Andres on piano. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Renderings

Vivian Fung: Violin Concerto

Performance featuring the works of Avner Dorman, Béla Bartók, Osvaldo Golijov, and Dmitri Shostakovich. Performed May 24, 2007 at Angel Orensanz Foundation in New York City. 
Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Béla Bartók: Rumanian Folk Dances

Dmitri Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony op. 110a - Movement 2

Dmitri Shostakovich: Chamber Symphony op. 110a - Movement 1

Love Letter to Haiti

Ryan Francis: Album for June - Movement 1

World premiere performance of John Corigliano's Hallucinations arranged by Ricardo Romaneiro (2011); World premiere performance of Ricardo Romaneiro's Strata (2011); World premiere performance of Gity Razaz's The Metamorphosis of Narcissus (2011); World premiere performance of Du Yun's Fallen Warriors, the Cihuacoatl's Eye (2011); New York premiere of Enrico Chapela's LiPo (2011). Performed on January 27-28, 2011 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr. Photography by Sabrina Asch.

Hallucinations

Enrico Chapela: LiPo

John Corigliano: Hallucinations (arranged by Ricardo Romaneiro)

Kate Lindsey, soprano, Metropolis Ensemble, Andrew Cyr, conductor. From Music for Voice, (le) Poisson Rouge 10/21/12. Ryan Streber, engineer.

Music for Voice

Mohammed Fairouz: Audenesque - Movement 4

World premiere performance of David Babin's Why Birds (2012); world premiere of Hector Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Été remixed by Vivian Fung, Ryan Francis, Brad Balliett, Sayo Kosugi, Nicholas Britell, and Caroline Shaw (2012); world premiere of Mohammed Fairouz's Audenesque (2012). Performed on October 21 & 23, 2012 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.


Mohammed Fairouz: Audenesque - Movement 1

World premiere performance of David Babin's Why Birds (2012); world premiere of Hector Berlioz: Les Nuits d'Été remixed by Vivian Fung, Ryan Francis, Brad Balliett, Sayo Kosugi, Nicholas Britell, and Caroline Shaw (2012); world premiere of Mohammed Fairouz's Audenesque (2012). Performed on October 21 & 23, 2012 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Mohammed Fairouz: Audenesque - Movements 2-3

Metropolis Ensemble concert "Groanbox" on January 28, 2009 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. World premiere performance of Michael Ward-Bergeman's Kicking Up Dust (2009), David Bruce's Groanbox (2009), performance of John Adams' Gnarly Buttons (1996), and selections from The Groanbox Boys' album Gran Bwa (2009). Featuring Paul Clifford on percussion/Freedom Boot, Cory Seznec on acoustic guitar/banjo/harmonica, Michael Ward-Bergeman on accordion, Tibi Cziger on clarinet, and American roots trio The Groanbox Boys. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Groanbox

David Bruce: Groanbox - Movement 4

Performances of works by Kati Agocs, Canada (world premiere), Kinan Azmeh, Syria(world premiere), David Bruce, representing Venezuela, Susie Ibarra, representing the Phillipines (world premiere), Bridget Kibbey, representing Ireland, Paquito d'Rivera, Cuba (world premiere), Ricardo Romaniero, Brazil (world premiere), Du Yun, China (world premiere). Performed on January 11 & 15, 2012 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Featuring harpist Bridget Kibbey. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Music Box

Kinan Azmeh: It's about time

Ricardo Romaneiro: Glitch

In hommage to Berlioz, composers Vivian Fung, Ryan Francis, Brad Balliett, Sayo Kosugi, Nicholas Britell, and Caroline Shaw remix, mash-up, and re-orchestrate the pioneering song cycle for orchestra and voice for soprano Kiera Duffy and the Metropolis Ensemble, Andrew Cyr, conductor. Performed at Le Poisson Rouge, October 21 and 23, 2012. Engineered by Ryan Streber.

Hector Berlioz / Vivian Fung: Les Nuits d'Été - I: Villanelle

Hector Berlioz / Caroline Shaw: Les Nuits d'Été - III: Sur les Lagunes

Hector Berlioz / Ryan Francis: Les Nuits d'Été - II: Le Spectre de la Rose

Hector Berlioz / Nick Britell: Les Nuits d'Été - V: Air Au Cimitiére

U.S. premiere performance of Erin Gee's Mouthpiece X; World premiere performance of Vivian Fung's Piano Concerto: Dreamscapes; World premiere performance of Cristina Spinei's Jolt; World premiere performance of Jakub Ciupinski's Flashbacks. Performed on November 19-20, 2009 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Featuring Erin Gee on vocals, Jenny Lin on piano, and Britton Matthews, Meia Noite, and Luke Rinderknecht on percussion. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Reverb

Erin Gee: Mouthpiece X

New York premiere performance of Vivian Fung's Birdsong; performance of selections from Dreamscapes. Performed on October 1, 2012 at Americas Society in New York City. Featuring violinist Kritsin Lee and pianist Conor Hanick. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Dreamscapes

Vivian Fung: Birdsong

Performance of Robert Schumann's Kreisleriana (1838); World premiere performance of Timothy Andres' It takes a long time to become a good composer (2010); Performance of Timothy Andres' Clamber Music (2010). Performed on December 9,10, and 11, 2010 at 111 West 67th Street, Apt 34D in New York City. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

It takes a long time to become a good composer

Timo Andres: It takes a long time to become a good composer

Dreamers Often lie for violin, spoken word, and electronics 

Patrick Castillo, spoken word

The second concert of its new Resident Artists Series was curated by violinist and Metropolis concert-master, Kristin Lee. These concerts, musical events, and social gatherings feature our core members as solo instrumentalists in creative, artist-curated collaborations with composers from diverse genres.

Inspired by artists spanning many practices and histories, Kristin commissioned violin duos for diverse instruments by composers Andy Akiho, Jakub Ciupinski, Shobana Ragavan, Patrick Castillo, and Vivian Fung. She was joined by an incredible group of musicians - percussionist Ian Rosenbaum, guitarist Jason Vieaux, harpist Bridget Kibbey, carnatic Indian singer Shobana Raghavan, percussionist John Hadfield, lecturer Patrick Castillo, and therminist Jakub Ciupinski. 

Kristin Lee is recognized one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, and has been praised by The Strad for her "mastery of tone and rare mood in a performer of any age."

Recorded live at (le) Poisson Rouge, April 27, 2014.

Patrick Castillo: Dreamers Often Lie

Deciduous for violin and steel pan

Ian Rosenbaum, steel pan

The second concert of its new Resident Artists Series was curated by violinist and Metropolis concert-master, Kristin Lee. These concerts, musical events, and social gatherings feature our core members as solo instrumentalists in creative, artist-curated collaborations with composers from diverse genres.

Inspired by artists spanning many practices and histories, Kristin commissioned violin duos for diverse instruments by composers Andy Akiho, Jakub Ciupinski, Shobana Ragavan, Patrick Castillo, and Vivian Fung. She was joined by an incredible group of musicians - percussionist Ian Rosenbaum, guitarist Jason Vieaux, harpist Bridget Kibbey, carnatic Indian singer Shobana Raghavan, percussionist John Hadfield, lecturer Patrick Castillo, and therminist Jakub Ciupinski. 

Kristin Lee is recognized one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, and has been praised by The Strad for her "mastery of tone and rare mood in a performer of any age."

Recorded live at (le) Poisson Rouge, April 27, 2014.

Andy Akiho: Deciduous

Glitch for violin and theremin

Jakub Ciupinski, theremin

The second concert of its new Resident Artists Series was curated by violinist and Metropolis concert-master, Kristin Lee. These concerts, musical events, and social gatherings feature our core members as solo instrumentalists in creative, artist-curated collaborations with composers from diverse genres.

Inspired by artists spanning many practices and histories, Kristin commissioned violin duos for diverse instruments by composers Andy Akiho, Jakub Ciupinski, Shobana Ragavan, Patrick Castillo, and Vivian Fung. She was joined by an incredible group of musicians - percussionist Ian Rosenbaum, guitarist Jason Vieaux, harpist Bridget Kibbey, carnatic Indian singer Shobana Raghavan, percussionist John Hadfield, lecturer Patrick Castillo, and therminist Jakub Ciupinski. 

Kristin Lee is recognized one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, and has been praised by The Strad for her "mastery of tone and rare mood in a performer of any age."

Recorded live at (le) Poisson Rouge, April 27, 2014.

Cymbeline

Jakub Ciupinski: Glitch

Twist for violin and guitar
1. Twisted Prelude
2. Twisted Pipa
3. Twisted Jam

Jason Vieaux, guitar


The second concert of its new Resident Artists Series was curated by violinist and Metropolis concert-master, Kristin Lee. These concerts, musical events, and social gatherings feature our core members as solo instrumentalists in creative, artist-curated collaborations with composers from diverse genres.

Inspired by artists spanning many practices and histories, Kristin commissioned violin duos for diverse instruments by composers Andy Akiho, Jakub Ciupinski, Shobana Ragavan, Patrick Castillo, and Vivian Fung. She was joined by an incredible group of musicians - percussionist Ian Rosenbaum, guitarist Jason Vieaux, harpist Bridget Kibbey, carnatic Indian singer Shobana Raghavan, percussionist John Hadfield, lecturer Patrick Castillo, and therminist Jakub Ciupinski. 

Kristin Lee is recognized one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, and has been praised by The Strad for her "mastery of tone and rare mood in a performer of any age."

Recorded live at (le) Poisson Rouge, April 27, 2014.

Vivian Fung: Twisted Pipa

Twist for violin and guitar
1. Twisted Prelude
2. Twisted Pipa
3. Twisted Jam

Jason Vieaux, guitar

The second concert of its new Resident Artists Series was curated by violinist and Metropolis concert-master, Kristin Lee. These concerts, musical events, and social gatherings feature our core members as solo instrumentalists in creative, artist-curated collaborations with composers from diverse genres.

Inspired by artists spanning many practices and histories, Kristin commissioned violin duos for diverse instruments by composers Andy Akiho, Jakub Ciupinski, Shobana Ragavan, Patrick Castillo, and Vivian Fung. She was joined by an incredible group of musicians - percussionist Ian Rosenbaum, guitarist Jason Vieaux, harpist Bridget Kibbey, carnatic Indian singer Shobana Raghavan, percussionist John Hadfield, lecturer Patrick Castillo, and therminist Jakub Ciupinski. 

Kristin Lee is recognized one of the most accomplished artists of her generation, and has been praised by The Strad for her "mastery of tone and rare mood in a performer of any age."

Recorded live at (le) Poisson Rouge, April 27, 2014.

Vivian Fung: Twisted Jam

Recorded live at The Metropolitan Museum of Art — April 21, 2018

MetLiveArts and Metropolis Ensemble collaborated to present world premiere Metropolis commissions by composers Caroline Shaw and Timo Andres, featuring cellist Inbal Segev, early-music ensemble TENET (led by artistic director Jolle Greenleaf), and Metropolis Ensemble (led by artistic director Andrew Cyr). This concert at The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a playful musical response to The Met’s  exhibition, "Visitors to Versailles (1682–1789),” and highlighting the hold that Louis XIV’s famous Palace of Versailles has on the global creative imagination, described by Pierre Goubert as “a mixture of work and play, splendor and filth, piety and license.”

Learn more:
https://metropolisensemble.org/all-events/time-travelers-to-versailles

Time Travelers to Versailles

Timo Andres: Upstate Obscura (Live Recording)

Metropolis Ensemble concert on October 19, 2006 at Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts in New York City. World premiere performance of Ryan Gallagher's Conspiracy of Curtains (2006), performance of Claudio Monteverdi's Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda (1624), and David Schiff's All About Love (2005). Featuring Sharon Roffman and Yonah Zur on violin, Entela Barci on viola, Amir Eldan on cello, Tanya Witek on flute, Tibi Cziger on clarinet, Cristina Pato on keyboards, William Schimmel on accordion, Dan Lippel on guitar, and Annie Stevens on percussion. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

All About Love

David Schiff: All About Love

Voices of Night

David Schiff: Singing in the Dark

Benjamin Britten: Serenade

Avner Dorman: Mandolin Concerto: III. Meno mosso - Adagio

Avner Dorman: Mandolin Concerto: II. Allegro

Avner Dorman: Mandolin Concerto: I. Adagio religioso - Allegro - Andante - Presto - Adagio - Andante

The world premiere of a re-imagined Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26 ("Coronation") with solo-piano left-hand and cadenzas by composer Timo Andres, commissioned by Metropolis Ensemble. Performed on May 20, 2010 at Trinity Wall Street (1pm) and Angel Orensanz Center (8pm) in New York City. Featuring Timo Andres on piano. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Mozart / Timo Andres: "Coronation" Concerto for Piano in D Major, K. 537: 1. Allegro

Michael Ward-Bergeman: Kicking Up Dust

New Music 101

Jakub Ciupinski: Music from Air

Youth Works

C.C. Moses: Where I’m From (Reciprocity Suite)

Corey Boykins: Where I’m From (Reciprocity Suite)

Performance of Chris Cerrone's High Windows; Steve Reich's Duet; Elliott Carter's Bariologe; Nathan Shields's Tenebrae; and Vivian Fung's Concerto for Harp. Featuring harpist Bridget Kibbey and Quartet Senza Misura. Performed on May 25, 2014 at The Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.  Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Steve Reich: Duet For Two Violins and Strings

New York premiere performance of New Dances of the League of David, featuring pianist David Kaplan performing Schumann's Davidsbündlertänze together with "Interruptions and Interludes" by composers, including Samuel Carl Adams, Timo Andres, Marcos Balter, Martin Bresnick, Caleb Burhans, Michael Brown, Mark Carlson, Mohammed Fairouz, Ryan Francis, Michael Gandolfi, Ted Hearne, Gabriel Kahane, Hannah Lash, Andrew Norman, Caroline Shaw, and Augusta Read Thomas. Performed on March 22, 2015 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City.  Recorded on October 23, 2014 at Yamaha Artist Services by Jessica Slaven. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Marcos Balter: ***

Metropolis Ensemble concert "New Music 101" on September 16, 2009 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Performance of Jakub Ciupinski's Morning Tale (2009); World premiere performance of Jakub Ciupinski's Street Prayer (2009). Featuring Jenny Lin on piano. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Jakub CIUPINSKI: Morning Tale - Alba - Metropolis Ensemble, Jenny Lin, piano.

Jakub CIUPINSKI: Morning Tale - Awakening - Metropolis Ensemble, Jenny Lin, piano.

Vicky Chow, solo piano

Metropolis Ensemble concert "Digital Sustain" on March 8, 2008 at Chelsea Art Museum in New York City. Premiere performance of etudes for piano by Ryan Francis (b. 1981). Presented in tandem with etudes from György Sándor Ligeti (1923-2006), William Bolcom (b. 1938), Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), and Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Featuring Vicky Chow, Michael Shinn and Daniel Spiegel on piano, moderator David Dubal, and composer Ryan Francis. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Digital Sustain

György Ligeti: Fanfares

Daniel Spiegel, solo piano

Metropolis Ensemble concert "Digital Sustain" on March 8, 2008 at Chelsea Art Museum in New York City. Premiere performance of etudes for piano by Ryan Francis (b. 1981). Presented in tandem with etudes from György Sándor Ligeti (1923-2006), William Bolcom (b. 1938), Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849), and Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Featuring Vicky Chow, Michael Shinn and Daniel Spiegel on piano, moderator David Dubal, and composer Ryan Francis. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

György Ligeti: Devil's Staircase

World premiere performance of John Corigliano's Hallucinations arranged by Ricardo Romaneiro (2011); World premiere performance of Ricardo Romaneiro's Strata (2011); World premiere performance of Gity Razaz's The Metamorphosis of Narcissus (2011); World premiere performance of Du Yun's Fallen Warriors, the Cihuacoatl's Eye (2011); New York premiere of Enrico Chapela's LiPo (2011). Performed on January 27-28, 2011 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr. Photography by Sabrina Asch.

https://itun.es/us/D37bD

Ricardo Romaneiro: Strata

World premiere performance of Timothy Andres' Paraphrase on Themes of Brian Eno (2010); New York premiere of Anna Clyne's Within Her Arms (2010); New York premiere of Timothy Andres' Home Stretch (2008); Performance of Andrew Norman's Gran Turismo (2004); Performance of W.A. Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 26 "Coronation" (1788). Performed on May 20, 2010 at Trinity Wall Street (1pm) and Angel Orensanz Center (8pm) in New York City. Featuring Timothy Andres on piano. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Timo Andres: Paraphrase on Themes of Brian Eno

Mozart / Timo Andres: "Coronation" Concerto for Piano in D Major, K. 537: 2. Larghetto

Mozart / Timo Andres: "Coronation" Concerto for Piano in D Major, K. 537: 3. Allegretto

Andrew Norman: Gran Turismo

Anna Clyne: Within Her Arms

Timo Andrew: Home Stretch

Metropolis Ensemble concert on February 16, 2006 at Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts in New York City. Performance of Aaron Copland's Quiet City (1939), Benjamin Britten's Serenade (1943), and David Schiff's Singing in the Dark (2002). Featuring Elizabeth Kieronski on English horn, Travis Heath on trumpet, Alexander Gusev on french horn, tenor Daniel Neer, Marty Ehrlich on solo alto saxophone, Mark Helias on bass, and Michael Sarin on drums. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Aaron Copland: Quiet City

Metropolis Ensemble concert "Loop" on April 10, 2008 at The Times Center in New York City. World premiere performance of Ryan Francis' Piano Concerto (2008), performance of Maurice Ravels' Trois Poèmes de Stéphane Mallarmé (1913), Esa-Pekka Salonen's Five Images from Sappho (1999), and Erik Satie's Sports et Divertissements (1914). Featuring soprano Kiera Duffy, Anna Polonsky on piano, and narrator Mike Daisey. Presented by Metropolis Ensemble led by conductor Andrew Cyr.

Ryan FRANCIS: Piano Concerto - 1 - Metropolis Ensemble, Andrew Cyr, conductor; Anna Polonsky, piano.

Metropolis Ensemble is a Grammy-nominated nonprofit organization dedicated to commissioning and producing ambitious creative projects and expanding opportunities for emerging professional musical creators and performers to inspire audiences.

Metropolis Ensemble

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