CAC to skype with Nico Muhly for free panel discussion

Nico Muhly

The hip American composer Nico Muhly will appear live via Skype in a panel discussion at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, at the Contemporary Arts Center in advance of the world premiere of his newest work, Pleasure Ground. The musical portrait was commissioned by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for the 2014 MusicNOW Festival.Louis Langre and theorchestra will give its premiere on March 21 in Music Hall.

The panel will explore the subject of Muhlys composition, landscape architect and designer Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsteds legacy includes Central Park in New York City, Elm Park in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Niagara Reservation in Niagara Falls, New York, and the landscape surrounding the United States Capitol building in Washington, DC, among many other projects.

It will be moderated by the CSOs Naimah Bilal, and also include: Drew Klein, Performance Curator, CAC; Steven Schuckman, Superintendent, Planning, Design and Facilities, Cincinnati Parks; and Christopher Manning, ASLA, Principal/Landscape Architect, Human Nature, Inc.

This event is from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4 at the CAC, and is free and open to the public.

In 2011, Muhlys first full-scale opera, Two Boys, was commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center Theater and the English National Opera. It had its American premiere at the Met in October.

Muhly has composed a wide scope of work for ensembles, soloists and organizations including the American Ballet Theater, American Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony, percussionist Colin Currie, countertenor Iestyn Davies, pianist Simone Dinnerstein, violinist Hilary Hahn, Gotham Chamber Opera, designer/illustrator Maira Kalman, choreographer Benjamin Millepied, Music-Theatre Group, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Paris Opra Ballet, soprano Jessica Rivera, The Royal Ballet, Saint Thomas Church in New York City, Seattle Symphony, and artist Conrad Shawcross.

Muhly has also lent his skills as performer, arranger and conductor to Antony and the Johnsons, Bonnie Prince Billy, Doveman, Grizzly Bear, Jnsi of the band Sigur Rs, and Usher.

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CAC to skype with Nico Muhly for free panel discussion