Discord-Accord

On Wednesday, December 2, Discord-Accord, a cabaret program of music for mezzo-soprano, accordion and strings will have its world premiere at the cell, 338 West 23rd Street, at 8:00pm. Additional performances follow on Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4. Featuring Laila Salins, the renowned Latvian-American mezzo-soprano, and world-class accordionist William Schimmel, Discord-Accord will take the audience on a musical journey from Eastern Europe to North and South America.

A major focus of the evening is provided by the New York premiere of Salzman’s Brecht Suite, taken from a French-language production of the Brecht Good Person of Szechuan (La Bonne Ame de Sezuan), originally commissioned and directed by Antoine Laprise. This suite, performed by Ms. Salins with Mr. Schimmel and a string trio, includes the devastating Opium Song, set to one of Brecht's greatest lyrics. Another highlight is Accord, a theatrical solo written by Salzman for Schimmel with an impact that turns into a musical and emotionally deconstructed climax – performer included.

The program begins with Schimmel's striking reinterpretation of the familiar Poet & Peasant Overture, complete with Latin and Latvian rhythms, a new and off-beat version of an old warhorse. This will be followed by a set of Latvian drinking songs, featuring poetry of some of Latvia’s most beloved poets, among them Ms Salins’ father Gunars Salins. Also included is music by the Latvian tanguero Oscar Strok whose dance music was a huge success all over Europe and the Far East in the 20s and 30s.

The program ends with instrumental and vocal tangos by Osvaldo Pugliese, one of the greatest and most original of the Argentine tango masters. The set is made up of several of Pugliese’s creations including neglected masterpieces such as La Yumba, Recien, Recuerdo and Una Vez. Pugliese was the tanguero who re-created classic tango by taking it out of the dance hall, turning it into a contemporary art form featuring biting dissonance, heart-stopping rhythm and heart-breaking melody.

ABOUT CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY OPERA

Founded in 1982, the Center for Contemporary Opera (CCO) is dedicated to producing contemporary opera and nurturing innovative American composers, librettists, and performers. While almost every other opera company in the United States remains focused on a more Eurocentric tradition, CCO is uniquely committed to fostering an American tradition of opera and music-theater. This season, CCO embarks on a new era in its history with a new General Director, a new home, and an expanded vision.

The Center has presented over 50 works in readings, workshops, and full productions, including 18 world premieres. These include operas by such luminaries as Dominick Argento, Seymour Barab, Carlisle Floyd, Ned Rorem, Eric Salzman, and Conrad Susa to name only a few. This past season was the most ambitious yet, with highly-successful presentations of seven operas and music-theater works by Ben Yarmolinsky, Annie Pasqua, Matthew Harris, Barry O’Neal, Randall Eng, Michael Sahl, and Morton Feldman; a panel discussion on the future of music-theater; and an evening spotlighting the celebrated American composer Jack Beeson. For more information, visit http://www.centerforcontemporaryopera.org

Tickets can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/88839 Tickets are $20.00. Or you can call 1-800-838-3006.