pindrop sessions season 2 finale: the senses of summer [05/05/19]

Aeronaut Brewery, in partnership with Boston public broadcaster WGBH, is thrilled to invite you to the pindrop sessions. Please join us in our Somerville taproom for this one-night-only event:

pindrop sessions season 2 finale
the senses of summer
a co-presentation with tasting counter
phoenix, mary bichner, margot rood
sunday, 5 may, 2019, 7pm

aeronaut brewery, 14 tyler st., somerville, ma 02143

tickets

$10 (early bird)
$20 (general admission)
$25 (general admission + pindrop glassware)
$50 (general admission + Tasting Counter's 3-course menu)
$55 (general admission + pindrop glassware + Tasting Counter's 3-course menu)

In a sprawling and season(al) finale, Aeronaut will close the second season of the pindrop sessions with THE SENSES OF SUMMER: a multi-sensory smorgasbord of music, color, and taste, an unprecedented collaborative event, feast for the senses and a perfect welcome to summer! We'll be treated to a first in the United States: a classical work commissioned by a brewery! As if that weren't audacious enough, we've asked our friends and neighbors (and recently announced James Beard Foundation semifinalists!) at Tasting Counter to design a tasting menu inspired by synaesthetic composer Mary Bichner's compositional color palette. Guests who partake may visit Tasting Counter's unique open kitchen space to taste these inspired small plates.

With a gorgeous, evocative text by poet James Agee, composer Samuel Barber's Knoxville, Summer of 1915 is one of the unquestioned masterworks of 20th century vocal composition. Joining us to perform this piece will be soprano Margot Rood, hailed in The New York Times and one of the top classical vocalists in America. Boston-based composer Mary Bichner is a synaesthetic, meaning that when she hears sound she sees color, and vice versa. Ms. Bichner's new work Senses of Summer sets the very same Knoxville text, and is specially commissioned for this evening. Our house band will be the phenomenal Phoenix, AERONAUT's official Orchestra-in-Residence for 2018-2019. Finally, we will pair these culinary and musical delights with a specially-brewed Strawberry Vanilla Milkshake IPA beer inspired by Agee's text... phew!

MARY BICHNER is an award-winning orchestral composer with the bizarre musical superpowers of perfect pitch (the ability to recognize notes and chords by name upon hearing them played) and synesthesia (a neurological condition that causes Mary to “see” splashes of specific colors when she hears their corresponding pitches sounded). Called a “musical genius” by CBS News, and invited to Harvard University’s prestigious neuroscience lab to be studied for her brain’s unusual wiring, Mary creates richly-colored compositions that delight classical enthusiasts and indie-pop rockers alike.

At present, Mary is in the process of composing “The Memoirs of Antonina”, a new three-act orchestral opera inspired by Marie Antoinette of France. Taking its name from a slanderous 18th-century tract about the queen’s rumored exploits and indiscretions, “The Memoirs of Antonina” focuses on the final years of Marie Antoinette’s life, and pits two versions of the queen (performed by two different singers) against one another: the imagined breezy libertine derided by revolutionary pamphleteers, and the distraught historical figure determined to reclaim her kingdom and her reputation. Three recitatives and five arias from the opera received their piano/vocal premiere during a sold-out preview concert at Central Square Theater of Cambridge, MA, USA on September 2nd 2018, as part of The Nora Theatre Company’s emerging artists workshop series. Mary will continue working on the opera during her composer residency at The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of Taos, NM, USA from September through December of 2018. (More information on the opera can be found on the “Memoirs of Antonina” mini-site right HERE. )

In the autumn of 2017, Mary collaborated with The Museum of Science, Boston for the premiere of “Synesthesia Suite: Constellations”, a new collection of chamber works inspired by the New England night sky in spring. The suite was performed live in concert by Mary Bichner and Planetary Quartet during two sold-out concerts at the Charles Hayden Planetarium on November 30th 2017. The performances were accompanied by customized synesthesia-inspired dome visuals created by the museum’s award-winning planetarium team, giving audience members the unique opportunity to “hear” color and “see” sound just as Mary does when she listens to music. (Photos from this project can be found HERE, and 360° videos from the project can be found HERE.)

From April 2016 to November 2017, Mary served as composer-in-residence at the beautiful Mount Auburn Cemetery of Cambridge and Watertown, MA, USA. In the first year of her residency, Mary composed twelve new works inspired by the cemetery’s breathtaking landscape and landmarks, using her sound-to-color synesthesia to select the musical components that best “match” the natural color palette of each location at different times of year. In January of 2017, the works were recorded by a 19-piece chamber orchestra at WGBH Studios of Boston MA, and were released online as a digital album on June 3rd 2017. The tracks are also featured in Mount Auburn Cemetery’s new mobile app, allowing visitors to the cemetery to experience the music in the setting that inspired it. (View a brief documentary of this project HERE.)

Other noted commissions and collaborations include serving as composer-in-residence at The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico for September-December 2018; a commission from celebrated wind quintet Vento Chiaro for their “Boston Project” concert series; serving as composer-in-residence at Marble House Project of Dorset, VT, USA for May 2016; arranging and conducting strings for 30 Seconds to Mars’ MTV Unplugged appearance; numerous collaborations with the illustrious Vitamin String Quartet (including a placement on ABC’s Modern Family); musical collaborations with professional theatre companies including The Nora Theatre Company, Wheelock Family Theatre, and Liars & Believers; and more.

Past awards include receiving a 2017 Iguana Music Fund Grant, receiving a 2014 Somerville Arts Council Music Fellowship Grant, being named the SAC Somerville Artist of the Month for March 2014, and receiving a 2014 San Diego Film Award for her musical score of the short film, Just Desserts.

MARGOT ROOD, hailed for her “colorful and vital” singing by The Washington Post, performs a wide range of repertoire across North American stages.

Margot was fortunate to make her solo debut at Boston’s Symphony Hall in 2011, and since then has been a frequent soloist with Handel and Haydn Society and conductor Harry Christophers. The 2018/2019 season marks her debuts with San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque (BWV 61 & 140), New Jersey Symphony (Messiah), and Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (Mozart Requiem). Recent and upcoming solo appearances include those with Cleveland Orchestra (Stravinsky's Threni); Boston Symphony (Benjamin Dream of the Song), Rhode Island Philharmonic (Messiah); New World Symphony (Reich Desert Music); Handel and Haydn Society (The Fairy Queen, Bach Mass in B Minor); Seraphic Fire (Messiah, Vivaldi Gloria, Mozart Requiem); Bach Collegium San Diego (Messiah); A Far Cry (Golijov Three Songs); True Concord Voices and Orchestra (Bach St. John Passion, Mozart C Minor Mass); Brookline Symphony (Mahler Fourth Symphony); and numerous concerts with acclaimed ensemble Blue Heron. Margot was awarded 3rd place in the 2016 American Prize in Oratorio and Art Song competition and was named a 2015-2016 Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Fellow at Emmanuel Music, where she is often featured on Emmanuel's nationally-known Bach cantata series.

Margot's recent and upcoming stage appearances include La Renommée in Lalande's Les Fontaines de Verasilles and Francesca Caccini's Alcina with Boston Early Music Festival, Galatea in Acis & Galatea and First Witch in Dido & Aeneas with Handel and Haydn Society, Hyacinthus in Mozart's Apollo et Hyacinthus with Emmanuel Music, Amor in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice with Grand Harmonie, Johanna in Sweeney Todd with St. Petersburg Opera, and Ramiro in Helios Early Opera’s production of Cavalli’s Artemisia. Margot recorded the role of Emily Webb in Ned Rorem’s Our Town with Monadnock Music which was widely released by New World Records in 2017.

In addition to opera and oratorio, Margot has performed as soloist with some of the United States’ premiere new music ensembles, and was a 2015 recipient of the St. Botolph Club Foundation's Emerging Artist Award for her work in new music. Notable recent engagements include her Carnegie Hall debut in the world premiere of Shawn Jaeger’s Letters Made with Gold, Kati Agocs' Vessel and Arvo Pärt's Passio with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. Margot was a core member of Boston’s Lorelei Ensemble from 2010-2018, an all-female vocal ensemble dedicated to the performance of new music. Also sought after as a collaborator, Margot has been invited by composers at Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, McGill University, University of Louisville and Keene State College for performances and masterclasses. She has recorded numerous world premieres and 21st-century works with Albany Records, New World Records, BMOP Sound, and Sono Luminus. Her solo recording with composer Heather Gilligan, Living in Light, is now available from Albany Records. Margot holds degrees from the University of Michigan and McGill University.

PHOENIX
There are a lot of things that make the Phoenix experience a vital and social thing, but it starts and ends with music. World class performances by Boston’s best young players of music ranging from Beethoven to the Backstreet Boys. Each of our events is a carefully crafted evening of music featuring pieces from different time periods and for different size ensembles all geared towards the theme of the night, and chosen because we know you’ll love them! Even better, at every one of our shows a few audience members will be chosen to sit INSIDE of the orchestra for some of the pieces we perform. We don’t want to exaggerate, but we hear it can be a life changing experience.

Music is nothing without the people that perform and listen to it. At Phoenix we care about our people just as much as we care about our music. We get to know our audiences before, during, and after all of our concerts so we can share more with you about the music we love. During breaks our musicians get to know audience members one on one at their tables. At Phoenix we make classical music accessible by endeavoring to be the most accessible musicians on the planet. We removed elevated stages from our performances because we wanted to be as close to our audiences as possible. The casual atmosphere of Phoenix concerts also allows you to hang out with your own friends and catch up during a fun, social night out filled with amazing music.

Phoenix is Aeronaut Brewery's Orchestra-in-Residence during the 2018-19 pindrop sessions series. This marks the first time an orchestra has held a residency at a brewery in the United States.

Since Peter & Ginhee Ungàr opened Tasting Counter in 2015, they have dedicated themselves to creating award-winning 9-course tasting menus while reimagining the restaurant experience. Tickets are purchased in advance and each meal is akin to a performance, intended to be a multi-sensory experience. In a minimalist and modern space that is both a kitchen and dining room, guests take their seats at a U-shaped counter framing the kitchen and watch as food for 20 guests is cooked, beautifully plated, and served immediately, course by course.

Peter’s culinary training is rooted in classic French cuisine but when he and Ginhee opened their first restaurant, they set out to create something refreshingly all their own, striving to create a dining experience for their guests that would be unique and memorable. Tasting Counter is decidedly modern, fluidly moving between old world and new world; classicism and innovation; formal and casual, all while quietly striving to create revelatory culinary experiences that rival the best in cities around the globe.

Peter & Ginhee’s mantra “0 carbon | 50 local | 100 natural” highlights their dedication toward a zero-carbon footprint as well as their commitment to sourcing a minimum of 50% of the restaurant’s products from within Massachusetts and offering only all-natural foods, wines, beers, and sakes.

In addition to the 9-course dinner tasting menu available during two seatings Wednesday-Saturday evenings, and a 3-course lunch tasting menu offered during one seating Wednesday-Friday, with two seatings on Saturday. Tasting Counter also serves a more casual à la carte menu during Wine Bar on Tuesdays starting at 5PM and Wednesday-Saturday at 10PM.

pindrop is...

a ticketed, classical-ish performance series taking place the first Sunday night of every month at the AERONAUT taproom in Somerville, MA, shining light on the ridiculous pleasure of collective listening. No stodginess, no competing sound–just sweet, shared silence, beautiful beers, and beautiful people. Please stay for an after-party with the artists.

#pindropsessions

The pindrop sessions are offered in partnership with WGBH, public broadcasting for New England, and supported by 99.5 WCRB, Classical Radio Boston.

pindrop sessions season 2 finale: the senses of summer

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pindrop sessions season 2 finale: the senses of summer

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PYO Tulips at Ward's Berry Farm!

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