News
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The Silver Swan — over the centuries
In 2007, Dr. Carol Kimball asked me to set The Silver Swan. I was most reluctant to do so, because I thought the original Orlando Gibbons madrigal setting was so beautiful and so perfect. It was only my love for Carol that allowed me to proceed — and the song’s birth was difficult. I threw
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13th Annual International Art Song Competition in Stuttgart, Germany
I’m thrilled to learn that I am one of the women composers included as suggested repertoire for the 13th Annual International Art Song Competition in Stuttgart, Germany. This competition is one of the oldest in the German speaking world and is sponsored by the International Hugo Wolf Academy. Traditional composers represented include Franz Schubert, Hugo
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The Ocean of Eternity CD — release date 4.26.22 on Acis
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The Scarlet Letter at Wichita State University April 8-9, 2022
Wichita State University Opera Theater, under the direction of Alan Held, along with The Wichita State University Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Mark Laycock, will present the Kansas premiere of The Scarlet Letter, my opera with David Mason on April 8-9, 2022. The opera is based on the classic tale by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The opera was commissioned in 2007
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UNCOVERED premieres with Utah State University Opera on March 31, 2022
Uncovered, my chamber opera based on Leah Lax’s memoir “Uncovered: How I Left Hasidic Life and Finally Came Home,” is premiering March 31, 2022 at Utah State University. The work was commissioned by a consortium comprised of USU, City Lyric Opera and The New York Opera Society. The NYC premiere will be presented by City
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Uncovered premieres at Utah State University March 31, 2022
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Indianapolis Opera to present Vedem with Krasa’s Brundibar
Indianapolis Opera is presenting a double bill of Vedem, my Holocaust oratorio with David Mason with Hans Krasa’s Brundibar this March 18-20, 2022. Vedem was commissioned and premiered in 2010 by Music of Remembrance. The work tells the story of the boys of Terezin and their secret magazine, Vedem (Czech for “In the Lead”). This
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Vedem in a double bill with Krasa’s Brundibar at Indianapolis Opera
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Words, Music, Memory: (Re)presenting Voices of the Holocaust”
Adina Langer has created and curated the exhibit “Words, Music, Memory: (Re)presenting Voices of the Holocaust. This ten-panel exhibit, along with an accompanying digital gallery guide, focuses on the links along the “chain of commemoration that connect the past and the present, and generation to generation.” The exhibit debuted September 19, 2021 at a concert
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Spotlight feature on textura.org
I am so honored to be featured textura.org’s Spotlight! Based in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, the textura site premiered in August 2004. It features reviews of experimental, electronic, jazz and classical music, along with interviews, mp3s, videos and articles. It’s a treasure trove of information. I was so appreciative of their review of my Are Women
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Lyric Fest Premiere of A Party for Kevin
Back in 2020, Lyric Fest commissioned me to write a piece for their Funny Bone concert. After multiple delays due to Covid, the premiere of my setting of Susan de Sola’s poem A Party for Kevin, premiered October 2, 2021 at The Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, with a second performance on October 3, 2021
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Glowing reviews for Are Women People? CD
Reviews for Are Women People?, my latest CD released on Acis in May 2021, are starting to appear and I am so grateful for the wonderful reception. Maria Mazzaro, Opera News (December 2021) — CD named a “Critic’s Choice”: “In the first set of songs Lori Laitman sets three Margaret Atwood poems. They have an
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Kathleen Roland-Silverstein reviews The Imaginary Photo Album in The Journal of Singing
I am so grateful that Kathleen Roland-Silverstein has reviewed my song cycle The Imaginary Photo Album in the September/October 2021 issue of The Journal of Singing. Thank you, Kathleen!
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Upcoming productions of The Scarlet Letter
I’m pleased to announce that The Scarlet Letter, my opera with David Mason, will have two productions in 2022: at The University of Oklahoma: February 10 – 13, 2022, in a production directed by Beth Greenberg and at Wichita State University: April 7-10, 2022. The opera was commissioned by The University of Central Arkansas through Robert Holden and the
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MUSIC VIDEO PROJECT
In conjunction with filmmaker/tenor extraordinaire Dan Norman of Positive Note Productions in the UK, I am making films of two of my songs: The Apple Orchard, composed in 2004 to a poem by Dana Gioia and Sarong Song to David Mason’s poem, from The Soul Fox cycle commissioned by ROKI in 2013. I feel so fortunate to work
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MUSIC VIDEO PROJECT
In conjunction with filmmaker/tenor extraordinaire Dan Norman of Positive Note Productions (based in the UK), I am making films of two of my songs: The Apple Orchard, composed in 2004 to a poem by Dana Gioia; and Sarong Song to David Mason’s poem, from The Soul Fox cycle commissioned by ROKI in 2013. I feel so fortunate to work with
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Early Snow in London
I am thrilled that the Emergence Music duo, comprised of soprano Nadine Be and pianist Nicole Panizza, will be performing my Mary Oliver song cycle Early Snow on June 11, 2021 at 6 pm to a live audience and at 8:30 pm BST for a virtual audience (1 pm and 3:30 pm EST). The
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Are Women People? — The Songs of Lori Laitman to be released on Acis May 27, 2021
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Peabody Virtual Residency and Retrospective Concert May 6, 2021 6:30 ET
I’ve had the pleasure of working with the talented students from Peabody Opera all semester. The culminating event is a “Lori Laitman Retrospective” concert, available free online on Thursday May 6, 2021 from 6:30-8:30 pm ET. Many thanks to Elizabeth Futral for organizing this and to Garnett Bruce for directing! Update: The concert is now
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Triotique & Maud Vanhauwaert’s Mother’s Day concert May 9, 2021
The wonderful trio Triotique from Belgium and poet Maud Vanhauwaert will be presenting a Mother’s Day concert on May 9, 2021 at 11 a.m. – 12 pm CET (5 a.m. Friday ET) BUT the concert will remain online for an additional 48 hours. This outstanding trio is comprised of vocalist Frauke Elsen, flutist Elke Elsen,