Anthony Braxton's operas

Synopsis

In the 19th century, Richard Wagner composed a cycle of four operas collectively titled “The Ring of the Nibelungen,” lasting 16 hours in performance. In the 20th century, another German composer, Karlheinz Stockhausen, wrote a cycle of seven, collectively titled “Light,” which runs about 29 hours. Not to be out-done, for several decades now a 21st century American composer has been working on a cycle of TWELVE operas, titled “Trillium,” which, if completed, will probably last much longer.

This composer’s name might not be familiar to opera fans, since MacArthur “genius grant” recipient Anthony Braxton is better known in jazz circles. As a saxophonist, Braxton has made over a hundred recordings, sometimes with jazz greats like Dave Brubeck or Chick Corea. Braxton resists being labeled, however, stating, “Even though I have been saying I'm not a jazz musician for the last 25 years, in the final analysis, an African-American with a saxophone? Ahh, he's jazz!”

The sixth opera in the Braxton’s cycle, “Trillium J, or The Non-Unconfessionable,” had its first complete performance at Roulette in Brooklyn on today’s date in 2014. To the question “why write operas,” Braxton says, “I believe the medium of opera is directly relevant to cultural alignment and evolution." Time will tell if Braxton’s “Trillium” project unfolds a culturally relevant message to rival Wagner and Stockhausen’s, or simply acts as a framework for the wide-ranging moods and colors of Braxon’s music.

Music Played in Today's Program

Anthony Braxton (b. 1945) excerpt from Act 2 of “Trillium J” soloists and ensemble; Anthony Braxton, cond. New Braxton House 906

On This Day

Births

• 1868 - German composer Max von Schillings, in Duren;

• 1892 - French composer Germaine Tailleferre, in Pau-St.-Maur;

Deaths

• 1799 - Dutch composer, violinist and organist Pieter Hellendaal, age 78, in Cambridge (England);

• 1986 - Swedish composer Dag Wiren, age 80, in Stockholm;

Premieres

• 1774 - Gluck: opera "Iphigenia in Aulis," in Paris at the Palais Royale Opéra;

• 1899 - Franck: String Quartet, in Paris;

• 1936 - Berg: Violin Concerto, in Barcelona at the Festival of the International Society for Contemporary Music, by the Pablo Casals Orchestra conducted by Hermann Scherchen with Louis Krasner (who had commissioned the work) as the soloist;

• 1964 - Stravinsky: "Fanfare for a New Theater," at the Inauguration of the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center;

• 1975 - Rameau: unfinished opera "Les Boréades," in London; This was Rameau's last opera, composed in 1764 and left unfinished at the time of the composer's death; For the 1975 premiére in London, conductor John Eliot Gardiner prepared a performing edition of the score;

• 2000 - Kernis: "Valentines" for soprano and orchestra, in Minneapolis, with Renée Fleming and the Minnesota Orchestra, Eiji Oue conducting;

• 2001 - Michael Daugherty: "UFO" for solo percussion and winds, in Denton, Texas, by Evelyn Glennie and the North Texas Wind Symphony, Eugene Migliaro Corporon conducting;

• 2001 - Poul Ruders: "Paganini Variations" for guitar and orchestra, with soloist David Starobin and the Odense Symphony of Denmark;

Others

• 1787 - Mozart finishes his String Quintet in C (K. 515) in Vienna; Mozart had offered this work on a subscription basis via announcements in the Wiener Zeitung on April 2,5, and 9 of that year; due to the poor response, Mozart extended the offer June 25 through Jan. 1, 1789.

• 1851 - First documented American performance of Beethoven's "Coriolanus"Overture, at the Melodeon in Boston, during a "Grand Symphony Concert"conducted by C.C. Perkins.