Musical Artists in the House

Florestan Recital Project sets up residency

August 28, 2007

Florestan Recital Project directors, from left, tenor Joe Dan Harper, pianist Anne Kissel Harper, pianist Alison d'Amato and baritone Aaron Engebreth.

Original and innovative musical artists are never satisfied with the status quo. The same is true for the Dickinson College Musical Artists-in-Residence program.

This semester, Florestan Recital Project—a group of singers and pianists—begin its tenure as Musical Artists-in-Residence. Boston-based Florestan is the latest in an eclectic lineup that has included Eaken Piano Trio, The Corigliano Quartet and, most recently, Alarm Will Sound.

Florestan, with four core members who showcase vocal and piano pieces, couldn't be more different from Alarm Will Sound, a 20-piece ensemble that redefined modern classical music.

Talent, imagination, contribution

"My colleagues and I look for excellent musicians, first and foremost, but we also seek musicians who can communicate and contribute within the liberal-arts setting. We want performers who are imaginative in their programming and outreach," says Robert Pound, music department chair.

The admiration is mutual. "The very existence of Dickinson's unique residency is evidence of the significant role the fine arts play at Dickinson as well as the visionary thinking of its administration," says Joe Dan Harper, one of four artistic co-directors of Florestan.

Schumann's alter ego

Founded in 2001, the ensemble is named after the fiery character Florestan, one of the creative alter egos of composer Robert Schumann. Florestan performs and promotes song repertoire, both old and new, in concerts, master classes and educational residencies around the world.

"Florestan's excellent musicians have a dramatic penchant in their communication, such that their performers convey the texts of the works exceptionally vividly," says Pound, who, in addition to being an associate professor of music, is a composer. "We were impressed with their many ideas for integrating their residency with other parts of the music and academic programs on campus. Vocal music, because of its association with and frequent dependence on text, lends itself to interdisciplinary collaboration."

In addition to being accomplished artists, members of Florestan will research texts and compositions by British composers in the United Kingdom this fall.

Florestan will preview Ned Rorem's Evidence of Things Not Seen during Common Hour at Rubendall Recital Hall, Weiss Center for the Arts, on Thursday, Sept. 20 at noon and debut the full performance on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.