Mirror Visions

PERFORMING

Group 1: Songs by Opera Composers
Group 2: Ossessione, which is a group of songs based on the old Italian 26 masterpieces, adapted by Richard Pearson Thomas
Group 3: Songs from Italienisches Liederbuch, by Hugo Wolf
Group 4: Viaggio in Italia – songs about Italy by non-Italian composers

As The New York Times aptly stated, “Unlike most chamber music enterprises, the Mirror Visions Ensemble is run by singers rather than instrumentalists, and its programs are shaped with an ear to the poetry of song texts rather than to overarching notions of musical style.” Mirror Visions Ensemble’s work, presenting concerts for Soprano, Tenor, Baritone and piano, has figured prominently around performing and commissioning musical ‘mirror visions’ – multiple settings of the same text by one or more composers. What began with programs focusing on poets such as Dickinson, Heine, Shakespeare and Verlaine has since expanded to include the commissioning of over 80 works from 24 composers. Rooted in commissioned works for vocal chamber music ensemble, founder and artistic director Tobé Malawista, along with the musicians, curates each concert; composers, poets and historical figures are explored not only through their published works, but also through correspondence and other anecdotes.