NEWS  Image by Ligia Bouton The world premiere of Inheritance, a new chamber opera by Lei Liang, was described as "unusually powerful" (New Music Box), "groundbreaking," "unique and compelling" (San Diego Union Tribune) Inheritance revolves around the bizarre life of Sarah Winchester, the eccentric widow and heiress to the Winchester rifle fortune. According to popular belief, Winchester imprisoned herself in her labyrinth-like home to seek refuge from the spirits of those killed by the same weapons whose manufacture and sale gave her a life of indescribable wealth. With music by composer Lei Liang and libretto by poet Matt Donovan, Inheritance juxtaposes elements of Winchester’s biography with contemporary events in a work that explores America’s deeply complex relationship with guns. Produced by Susan Narucki, the world premiere performances of Inheritance are led by conductor Steven Schick with direction by Cara Consilvio and production design is by visual artist Ligia Bouton. Susan Narucki creates the title role of Sarah Winchester. Watch a short trailer, or read more about the opera here.  Photo by Alex Matthews Lei Liang Awarded First Research Artist in Residence at UC San Diego Qualcomm Institute Photo by Hiroko Masuike/ The New York Times For Composer Lei Liang, Technology Brings a Different Transcendence -The New York Times, November 15th, 2016  Photo by Alex Matthews Hearing History: A classical composer taking in 'how wide this world' -Harvard Magazine, January-February, 2016 FEATURED WORK: Verge
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 "The performances are, without exception, stellar. But they’d have to be: Lei Liang’s scores seem to demand one delicately constructed dramatic gesture after another. Stephen Drury’s Callithumpian Consort scintillates in the brilliantly colored Aural Hypothesis for small ensemble, and Five Seasons stars Wu Man, rockstar of the lute-like Chinese pipa, alongside the Shanghai Quartet. Passionately, but precisely, these interpreters make a powerful case for Lei Liang as a composer with the ears and the ingenuity to construct a boundless, and boundlessly thrilling, new music.” - Daniel Stephen Johnson, New York Public Radio WQXR Q2, Music Album of the Week (Dec. 24, 2012) Lei Liang presently enjoys a growing reputation as one of the country’s most energizing young composers. - David Denton, David’s Review Corner Lei Liang’s Verge is a gripping and engaging work for 18 solo strings, which are taken full advantage of in their timbre and potential for sound. The music here stands out among many new records for its vitality and directness… -George Adams, American Record Guide, May 2013 |
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One of the most exciting voices in New Music... Liang
is an important musical philosopher, coming into mature expression.