Performer: Brad Lubman

It can be a pleasure to hear an unfamiliar piece twice in the same program. Here, we heard three premieres fresh and then repeated after composer comments. 

For a programme given by Asko|Schönberg at the Concertgebouw, Hans Abrahamsen’s choice of his own works spans an important and transitory period of creative stillness.  

Ensemble Signal offered a thoughtful program of works by Michael Gordon and Julia Wolfe and a welcome return for older works of two NYC MVPs.

Gustavo Dudamel, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Ensemble Signal perform a world première by Steven Mackey and Three Tales by Steve Reich.

Iarla Ó Lionáird presented the theme – the Celtic traditional song The Two Sisters – and Julia Wolfe and Nico Muhly provided variations via two separate compositions based on the folk song.

I must confess: when the press release for the 2013 Lincoln Center Festival came out earlier this spring including an grand spectacle that is Monkey: Journey to the West, a multimedia operatic endeavor with music penned by Damon Albarn, I was immediately excited.