Portland Press Herald: Spotlight on Andrew Cyr

4/21/2010 |

Bob Keyes of the Portland Press Herald profiled Metropolis Ensemble and Artistic Director / Conductor Andrew Cyr during preparations for the April 5 concert I found it by the sea. The article explores the origins of Metropolis and how Andrew's dream from rural Northern Maine became a reality in New York City.

"With boldness and vision, Cyr's Metropolis Ensemble is accomplishing what larger orchestras around the country can merely dream about: commissioning and performing new music for an eager and enthusiastic audience in non-traditional venues... Perhaps what distinguishes the Metropolis the most, though, is its commitment to new music. Cyr embraces the notion that the future of classical music rests in its young composers."


Read the full article...

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Dallas Morning News: "Stellar... Superb"

2/23/2010 |

Lawson Taitte of the Dallas Morning News reviewed the new Metropolis Ensemble album Avner Dorman's Concertos: "...These pieces reveal a strong common profile with tragic ferocity lurking under the sparkling surfaces." Read the article...

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Classics Today: 10/10 Review

2/22/2010 |

David Hurwitz of Classics Today reviewed Avner Dorman's Concertos, and awarded the album a coveted 10/10 rating for artistic quality and sound quality.

"...Metropolis Ensemble under Andrew Cyr sounds absolutely terrific no matter what Dorman asks them to do. This is really good stuff, a genuine discovery, beautifully played and excellently engineered. It will make you feel good about the future of contemporary Classical music."


Read the full article...

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NewMusicBox: David Bruce, Accidental American

2/18/2010 |

Frank J. Oteri from the American Music Center's NewMusicBox web magazine sat down with Metropolis composer David Bruce to discuss his work Gumboots, his new opera A Bird in Your Ear, and Groanbox, the featured work at the 2009 concert with Metropolis Ensemble and The Groanbox Boys. Listen to the podcast...

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New York Times: 26 Works, New and Old, to Aid Relief in Haiti

2/16/2010 |

Allan Kozinn from the New York Times reviewed Metropolis Ensemble's Love Letter to Haiti, a sold-out concert on Valentine's Day at Le Poisson Rouge that raised $6630 for Partners in Health and their world-class health care services to the people of Haiti.

Here is an excerpt from the review:

"All told, 26 works of various lengths were performed, most contemporary and eclectic, with standard repertory pieces cropping up on occasion. Some of those were among the evening's highlights. A short set by the Avenue 9 Trio and its members included a sweetly singing account of Rachmaninoff's "Vocalise" by the group's cellist, Dane Johansen, and a breathtakingly beautiful reading of Debussy's "Clair de Lune" by its violinist, Sean Lee, both accompanied by Edvinas Minkstimas the ensemble's pianist. Mr. Lee returned later to play Massenet's "Meditation" from "Thaïs" with the harpist Bridget Kibbey."


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Gapplegate: Avner Dorman, Promising Young Composer

2/12/2010 |

Avid music blogger Grego Applegate Edwards reviewed Avner Dorman's Concertos: "Each of the concertos has the clarity and directness of a baroque concerto... there is a compactness of expression, a delicacy of delivery... and all the freshness of the first spring flower." Read the article...

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ArtsJournal: Life's A Pitch

2/12/2010 |

Amanda Ameer interviewed Artistic Director/Conductor Andrew Cyr about the marketing and online experience of Metropolis Ensemble, as well as the future of new music ensembles. Read the article...

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Press Release: Love Letter to Haiti

2/05/2010 |

Valentine's Day concert to benefit Partners In Health - 6:00PM (doors) 7:00PM (concert) Sunday, February 14th 2010 at (le) poisson rouge

New York, NY - As a way of showing love to those who need it most this Valentine's Day, (le) poisson rouge will present an evening of romantic favorites, new and old, performed by musicians and friends of Metropolis Ensemble. The emerging British-American composer David Bruce has written a piece especially for the occasion. 100% of ticket proceeds will benefit Partners In Health, providing world-class health care to one-third of Haiti's citizens for the past twenty-five years.

The celebrated chamber musicians of Metropolis Ensemble will perform solo and chamber works by Bach, Bowles, Debussy, Brahms, Chopin, Piazzolla, Rachmoninoff and Ravel as well as Metropolis Ensemble's own David Bruce, Adam Schoenberg and Ryan Francis. The generous musicians donating their performances include:

Ashley Bathgate, Cello - Sarah Beaty, Clarinet - Misha Bouvier, Baritone - Rachel Calin, Bass - Layla Claire, Soprano - Rachel Drehmann, Horn - Akimi Fukuhara, Piano - Jonathan Greenburg, Trombone - Conor Hanick, Piano - Dane Johansen, Cello - Bridget Kibbey, Harp - Taka Kigawa, Piano - Kristin Lee, Violin - Sean Lee, Violin - Britton Matthews, Percussion - Matt McDonald, Trombone - Edvinas Minkstimas, Piano - Guillaume Molko, violin - Paul Murphey, Trumpet - Anna Polonsky, Piano - Yannick Rafalimanana, Piano - Gregorio Robino, Cello - Lance Suzuki, Flute

Metropolis Ensemble is a professional chamber orchestra and ensemble based in New York City. Dedicated to emerging composers and performers, Metropolis Ensemble has quickly established a reputation for presenting "new music played with the same kind of panache and bravura we usually experience only in performances of standard repertoire" (Esa-Pekka Salonen).

The dynamic ensemble, comprised of the finest young artists now performing, is led by Music Director Andrew Cyr. Cyr is a distinctive new voice in the growing contemporary classical music scene. His enthusiasm for connecting musicians and composers of the next generation to today's audiences led him to create Metropolis Ensemble in 2006.

Metropolis Ensemble commissions, premieres and records new works from the freshest voices in classical composition, including Timothy Andres, David Bruce, Anna Clyne, Jakub Ciupinski, Avner Dorman, Ryan Francis, Vivian Fung, Ryan Gallagher, Erin Gee, Raymond Lustig, Ricardo Romaneiro, David Schiff, Adam Schoenberg, Cristina Spinei, and Michael Ward-Bergeman. Since its formation in 2006, Metropolis Ensemble has performed to capacity crowds and has premiered and commissioned over 24 new works.

David Bruce is developing a growing international reputation as a composer, with performances this season in the US, UK, Belgium, Australia and Israel. His work has attracted the attention of some of the world's leading musicians, including soprano Dawn Upshaw, Klezmer pioneer Giora Feidman, clarinetist Todd Palmer and the St Lawrence String Quartet.

Upshaw was also the soloist in a new song-cycle with ensemble, The North Wind was a Woman, commissioned for the Gala opening of the 2009 season by the Chamber Music Society of the Lincoln Center. Other recent commissions include Gumboots, commissioned by Carnegie Hall for clarinetist Todd Palmer and the St Lawrence String Quartet, Groanbox for New York's Metropolis Ensemble featuring his friends the Groanbox Boys; and Caja de Musica for Concert Artists Guild Winner Bridget Kibbey's Carnegie Hall recital debut. Current projects include a new commission for pianist Bruce Levingston to be premiered at Carnegie Hall in 2011.

$15 Students | $20 Bar (limited) | $25 General ($30 at door) | $80 VIP Opera Box ($100 at door) | $250 | $500

(le) poission rouge is located at 158 Bleecker Street

For additional information, please contact:
Nate Bachhuber
ph. 917.763.9396
e. press@metropolisensemble.org

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KSJN: "Inspired Accompaniment... Absolutely Perfect"

1/26/2010 |

Michael Barone of KSJN Minneapolis on Avner Dorman's Concertos:

"Intrigued by Baroque music since childhood, Dorman has created a collection of 'modern' pieces imbued with the formal clarity and rhythmic energy of 18th century music. Make no mistake, these pieces sound 'new', but they also sound fresh and friendly, and surprisingly 'original', despite the obvious derivations. Performances are breathtakingly fine, and if you pass by this album you're missing out on a disarmingly satisfying production. Go for it!"


Listen to the broadcast:

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KBAQ: CD of the Week

1/23/2010 |

Sterling Beeaff named Avner Dorman's Concertos the CD of the Week on KBAQ Phoenix, hailing the recording as "new and delightful... a guilty pleasure... a journey of light and color... and a generous doorway into something new." Listen to the broadcast:

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