The Julia Perry Festival Centenary Celebration and Festival in New York City is taking place March 13-16. Julia Perry (1924-1979) is a significant composer who has been known by only a very small fragment of her creative output, although she had a recognized period of success in the 1950s and early ‘60s and kept writing through prolonged illness. So it’s a real thrill to have a dedicated group of musicians, scholars, and activists working together to bring light to the breadth of Perry’s brilliant and intense musical output.
The opening event is a concert (March 13) tonight at Le Poisson Rouge.
Tomorrow, Thurs. March 14 – “Discussion and Discovery” – a day-long Lecture Series organized by Dr. Louise Toppin. This event will STREAM on YouTube so you can listen in if you are not in New York!
Thursday night is a chamber music concert including the world premiere of Perry’s Quinary Quixotic Songs for Bass Baritone and Five Instruments by Julia Perry (1976) with Donnie Ray Albert, Bass-baritone.
The Festival closes Sat. March 16 with an orchestral concert at Alice Tully Hall, featuring Perry’s Violin Concerto, which she composed in 1963, but revised until 1977; Curtis Stewart is the soloist. The Festival is organized by the Experiential Orchestra and its Music Director, James Blachly, and soprano Dr. Louise Toppin. A shout-out also to the Akron Symphony (and its Music Director Christopher Wilkins) who has been one of the leaders in revitalizing Perry and who has compiled this website which we believe is the most detailed and informative on Perry. This is a profound and monumental historical moment, reshaping our understanding of 20th century music. The 100th anniversary of Perry’s birth is March 25, and EXO has released a celebratory CD that includes four of her works in first recordings.