Critic’s Choice

January 29, 2019 at 4:39 pm

By Aaron Keebaugh

Sebastian Currier. Photo: Jeffrey Herm

Sebastian Currier. Photo: Jeffrey Herm

This week, Boston Musica Viva will explore how six contemporary composers have made sense of our tumultuous present.

Saturday night at Boston University’s Tsai Performance Center, Richard Pittman will lead Boston Musica Viva in the world premiere of Sebastian Currier’s Eleven Moons. Drawing upon texts from the ancient world though Wikipedia entries and statements by Neil Armstrong, this commission from Chamber Music America promises to take listeners on a journey through human endeavor and failure. Soprano Zorana Sadiq will appear as soloist.

Other works will examine the particular problems humans face in the modern world. Michael Gandolfi’s Budget Cuts will take a comical aim at the financial squeeze plaguing most artists these days. Brian Robison’s Bonfire of the Civil Liberties will examine xenophobia in the name of patriotism following the Abu Ghraib scandal. And Deborah and Richard Cornell’s Wind Driven will offer a critical look at the effects of climate change.

The program will conclude with the premiere of Viva!, written by Ellen Taaffe Zwilich in honor of Boston Musica Viva’s 50th anniversary.

The performance will take place 8 p.m. Saturday at the Tsai Performance Center. bmv.org

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