Why “The Creative Fire”?

Before we provide details of an upcoming program I know you will love, I would like to thank the NMPAS musicians and Richard G. Kurman for donating their time and energy to “The Creative Fire,” a concert benefitting NMPAS 2016-2017 season events. Your ticket purchase goes to artist fees and other program-related expenses – thank you in advance for your presence and support!

– Linda Marianiello, Executive Director, NMPAS

On Saturday evening, May 6, 2017 at 7 pm, NMPAS presents a program that particularly reflects our mission and interest in various expressions of artistic creativity: fine art, music and literature.

“The Creative Fire” features an exhibit of late period paintings by Santa Fe Artist Richard G. Kurman, paired with music that has inspired his art over a more than 60-year period. Kurman spent many decades of his long career in Germany, traveling throughout Europe and exhibiting at the Florence Biennale. A significant number of his works reside at corporate headquarters and in private homes in Germany.

Richard G. Kurman (www.richardgkurman.com) is a New Mexico treasure with a long-term relationship with our state. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of New Mexico. Among his important teachers was Raymond Jonson (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Jonson), a Modernist artist who achieved renown for his paintings of the US Southwest, in particular. After many years in Europe, Richard retired to Santa Fe with his German wife. Two of Richard Kurman’s paintings, “Endgame Purple,” and “Mesa Nevado del Toluca Mexico,” will be for sale at the Santa Fe Art Auction in November 2017:

Endgame Purple, Richard G. Kurman

Mesa Nevado del Toluca Mexico, Richard G. Kurman

The musical part of the program evolved through an NMPAS commission for a new work by Aaron Alter. In consultation with Richard Kurman, Aaron has written a work, “Together We Create and Sing,” in the style of Franz Joseph Haydn with text by W. H. Auden. Music from Haydn’s oratorio, “The Creation,” appears throughout the program, punctuated by readings on creativity by William Shakespeare. Excerpts from Albuquerque composer Daniel Steven Crafts’ opera, “Adonais,” based on the life of John Keats and his Circle, round out the program.

Here is a copy of the complete program that you will experience on May 6, 2017 in Santa Fe’s beautiful Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel:

“The Creative Fire”
Honoring Santa Fe Artist Richard Kurman
Saturday, May 6, 2017 at 7:00 pm
Immaculate Heart Chapel, 50 Mount Carmel Road, Santa Fe
An Exhibit of Richard Kurman’s paintings paired with music and literature that inspired the artist, including a new commission by composer Aaron Alter, Music of Franz Joseph Haydn and Daniel Steven Crafts; Members of the New Mexico Bach Society; Franz Vote, Music Director and Conductor.

The New Mexico Bach Chorale

SOPRANO
Kelli Dahlke-Fuentes
Jennifer Perez
Camille Tierney

ALTO
Esther Moses Bergh
Trish Henning

TENOR
Scott Fitzgibbon
Andre Garcia-Nuthmann
Seth Hartwell

BASS
Paul Bower
Tjett Gerdom
Tim Willson

Linda Marianiello, flute
Jacquelyn Helin, piano

PART ONE

Franz Vote opening remarks

Haydn, The Creation:
Opening #1, In the beginning, Tjett Gerdom, bass, Chorus
Recitative #8 and Aria #9, With verdure clad, Camille Tierney, soprano
Recitative #20, 21 and Aria #22, Now heaven in fullest glory shone, Tim Willson, bass
Recitative #23 and Aria #24, In native worth and honor clad, Andre Garcia Nuthmann, tenor

Daniel Steven Crafts, Adonais, an Opera in Two Acts,
libretto by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold based upon
the poetry and letters of John Keats and his Circle

Act one, scene one, I weep for Adonais, chorus, text by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Solo, Bright Star, Esther Moses Bergh, soprano, text by Keats
Final chorus, The breath whose might I have evoked in song, chorus, text by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Richard Kurman introduction and remarks

INTERMISSION

PART TWO

Aaron Alter, Together We Create and Sing!
for flute, piano and SATB chorus,
inspired by the music of Franz Joseph Haydn,
(Text by W.H. Auden and Aaron Alter)
(My New Beginning — Part XXI)
Dedicated to The New Mexico Performing Arts Society and Richard Kurman

John Andrews reading from Shakespeare I

Haydn, The Creation:
Trio #27, On thee each living soul awaits, Jennifer Perez, soprano, Seth Hartwell, tenor, Paul Bower, bass

John Andrews reading from Shakespeare II

Haydn, The Creation:
#2 Recitative, And God saw the light, Scott Fitzgibbon, tenor
#13 Chorus and soli, The heavens are telling the glory of God,
Kelli Dahlke-Fuentes, soprano, Scott Fitzgibbon, tenor, Tjett Gerdom, bass