Saturday, June 25, 2011, 8:00 PM Music Center’s Walt Disney Concert Hall

Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) Iris Derke, Co-Founder and General Director

Jonathan Griffith, Co-Founderpresents and Artistic Director ’s Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings

Eric Whitacre, Hila Plitmann Composer and Conductor Damon Kirsche Exstasis: Doug Kreeger Logos: Daniel Tatar Ignis: Sara Jean Ford Fervio: Marie Wallace Pieta: Rodolfo Nieto Aia: David Noroña, Gravitas: Greg Chun, DJ Narrator On Ensemble, Fang Fang Xu, Taiko/Percussion Jason Crystal, Cello Steven Young, Sound Design Distinguished Concerts Singers International Lighting Design Eric Whitacre, David Noroña, and Greg Chun Chorus of Angels: Creative Team: PROGRAM

ACT I

1. Prologue (The Oracle and Chorus of Angels) 2. Children of Paradise (Exstasis, Logos, Ignis,Chorus of Angels) 3. Forgotten (Exstasis, Logos) 4. Exstasis’ Vision (Chorus of Angels) 5. This is the Way* (Logos, Ignis, Chorus of Angels) 6. What If (Exstasis, Pieta, Aia, Fervio, Gravitas) 7. The Principles (Exstasis, Ignis, Chorus of Angels) 8. Logos’ Vision (Chorus of Angels) (Logos) 10. You Don’t Know Him (Exstasis, Pieta, Aia, Fervio, Gravitas) 9. Eldest of All (Full cast)

Entr’acte11. Act I Finale (Chorus of Angels)

Intermission

ACT II

1. Little One (Ignis) 2. Libertas Imperio (Logos, Ignis, Chorus of Angels) 3. Sleep My Child (Exstasis, Pieta, Aia) 4. Close Your Eyes (Exstasis, Exstasis’s Mother, Chorus of Angels) (Fervio) 6. Little One (Reprise) (Ignis, Chorus of Angels) 7.5. ForgottenAll Alone (Reprise) (Exstasis, Logos) 8. The Choice (Chorus of Angels) 9. The Rage (Exstasis, Chorus of Angels) 10. The Battle (Chorus of Angels) 11. Bliss (Full cast) 12. Bows (Full Cast)

Please turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices. MEET THE ARTISTS

ERIC WHITACRE

one of the most popular and performed composers of his generation. The Los AngelesAn accomplished Times has composer praised his and compositions conductor, Ericas “works Whitacre of unearthly has quickly beauty become

“what hits you straight between the eyes is the honesty, optimism and sheer beliefand imagination, that passes (with)any pretension. electric, chilling This is harmonies”;music that can while actually the BBC make raves you that smile.”

concertThough work,he received Go, Lovely, no formal Rose, trainingat the age before of 21. the Eric age went of 18, on histo the first Juilliard School,experiences earning singing his Master in college of Music choir degreechanged and his studying life, and withhe completed Pulitzer Prize his first and Oscar-winning composer .

Water Night, Cloudburst, Sleep, Lux AurumqueMany of Whitacre’s and A Boy works and a have Girl areentered among the the standard most popular choral andchoral symphonic works of repertoriesthe last decade, and haveand his become Ghost theTrain , Godzillasubject of Eats several Las Vegas recent, and scholarly October works and doctoral dissertations. His works

have achieved equal success in the symphonic wind community. His work has received thousands of performances, with sheet music sales of more than 1,000,000 copies worldwide. He has received composition awards from the Barlow International Composition Competition, the American Choral Directors Association and the American Composers Forum. In 2001, Whitacre became the youngest recipient ever awarded the coveted Raymond C. Brock commission by the American Choral Directors Association.

As a conductor, Whitacre has appeared with hundreds of professional and educational ensembles throughout the world. In the last ten years he has conducted concerts of his choral and symphonic music in Japan, Australia, China, Singapore, South America and much of Europe, as well as dozens of American universities and colleges where upcominghe regularly commissions conducts seminars include andworks lectures for Chanticleer; with young The musicians. King’s Singers; Over the Conspirare; past few years, and the these London loyal Symphonyfans and Orchestrasupporters and have Chorus. moved online, spreading Eric’s popularity to an ever-expanding worldwide audience. Recent and

The Music of Eric Whitacre, was hailed by The American Record Guide as one of the top ten classical albums of 1997. In 2006, aHis full music collection has been of his featured a cappella on dozensmusic, Cloudburstof commercial and and Other independent Choral Works recordings., was released His first on therecording, renowned British continuesclassical label to be Hyperion a top seller. Records. The collection The album earned quickly a 2007 became Grammy an international nomination best for seller,Best Choral appearing Performance. in the top ten of both Billboard’s and iTune’s Top Classical Albums charts. Two years after its debut, the critically acclaimed release Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings Paradise Lost musicalMost recently, theater Whitacre composer. has Following received acclaimits sold-out for run, the most recent production earned. Winner 10 ofnominations the ASCAP Haroldat the Arlen award, also gained Whitacre the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for most promising

2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards, including one for Best World Premiere Musical. DAVID NOROÑA

starringDavid Noroña opposite has Brooke more than Shields 20 years in Lipstick experience Jungle in and entertainment originating the as anrole actor, of Frankie writer, Vallidirector in Jersey and producer. Boys His numerous theater, film and television credits include docu-series pilot One Act of Kindness (O.A.K.), which he created, wrote and produced. He is co-creator, co-lyricist at the La and Jolla director Playhouse. of Paradise He recently Lost: traveled Shadows to and Haiti Wings to shoot the

. A four- time marathoner, he lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three sons.

HILA PLITMANN

Jerusalem native Hila Plitmann is known worldwide for her astonishing musicianship and gossamer voice. A glittering soprano, she has worked with many of today’s leading conductors, including Kurt Masur, , Marin Alsop, Esa Pekka Salonen, SymphonyAndrew Litton, Orchestra, and Steven the Minnesota Sloane. She Orchestra, has appeared the Israel as a headlinerPhilharmonic, with thethe OrpheusNew ChamberYork Philharmonic, Orchestra, the the Los New Angeles Israeli Philharmonic,Opera, and numerous the Chicago other Symphony, orchestras the and Atlanta

recordings, including releases on the Decca, Telarc, Naxos, CRI and Disney labels. ensembles in the U.S. and abroad. Ms. Plitmann is building an impressive catalogue of Paul Revere’s Ride Wing on Wing She has recently appeared as the soloist of several world premieres,Two Awakenings including and a Double Lullaby, with athe song Atlanta cycle Symphony, written by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David DelMr. TambourineTredici; Esa PekkaMan by Salonen’s Oscar- and Pulitzer Prize- winningwith the composerLos Angeles John Philharmonic, Corigliano with the composer the Minnesota conducting; Orchestra, for which Ms. Plitmann was awarded a 2008 Grammywritten for for her Best by Classical Pulitzer Performance.Prize winner ; and

DAMON KIRSCHE Raised on an organic farm in North Dakota, Damon Kirsche performs in theatres and Variety) and his “resplendent power and panache” (Backstage). Recent appearances include: Camelot concert halls across theOklahoma! country, (Curly)hailed for South his “rivetingBay Cities, showmanship” and Fade Out/Fade ( In (Byron An Italian Straw Ha Nisnardi)(Arthur) MTWichita, and appeared in A Little Night Music (Carl Magnus) at South Coast Repertory. Prong) with L.A.’s Musical TheatreMy Fair Guild. Lady Damon premiered t (Émile/ She Loves Me (as Kodaly, with Rebecca Luker) andHis FreddyOn the 20thin McCoy/Rigby’s Century (as Bruce Granit, with earned Carolee him anCarmello), Ovation andnomination. with NY’s Damon Encores serieshas appeared in Strike with Up the L.A.’s Band Reprise and On series a Clear in Day... (with Kristin Chenoweth).

DOUG KREEGER

premiere play The Last Castrato Doug Kreeger recently starred Off-BroadwayLes Miserables as Cesari in Guy Fredrick Glass’ world roles of Ian in Rooms: A Rock Romance. On Broadway, at New World Doug Stages,played JeanRichard Prouvaire Loeb in (Marius) Thrill Me:in the The original Leopold company and Loeb of Story the revival at the ofYork Theatre, Jordan. Off-Broadway, in Departure he Lounge created at the the Public Theatre, Jesus in Judas & Me at the NYMF, and Stu in Yank!, also at the NYMF.

as Todd in Swimming Upstream Doug has appeared twice in the NYC Fringe VeritasFestival, first in 2005 when he starred Outstanding Ensemble. , which earned him a Fringe Award for Outstanding Actor, and then in 2010 as Lester Wilcox in , which earned a Fringe Award for DANIEL TATAR

Paradise Lost, a role he also performed in the fully-staged production in Pasadena, Daniel Tatar made his Carnegie Hall debut as Fervio in the DCINYLife production Could Be a ofDream , both at the Hudson Mainstage and Laguna Playhouse. Other credits include: Barfee inCA. The Daniel 25th originated Annual Putnam the role County of Denny Spelling in the Be long-running hit Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman in Ray Charles Live e (McCoy-Rigby, OvationThe Lastnomination), Five Years (Pasadena Playhouse), the Reprise! concerts (Havok Theatre,of Elegies Ovation and Baby Award), (as Danny, Ahmet opposite Ertegun Kerry Butler), Mohammed (Pasadena in ThePlayhouse, Tale of theNAACP Allergist’s Award), Wife Jamie (Laguna in Playhouse), and Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s The Ballad of Little Jo (with Judy Kuhn).

SARA JEAN FORD

Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera. She starred as Luisa in the recent New Sara Jean Ford Thehas wowedFantasticks audiences and can as be Christine heard on Daae the originalin the classic cast recording.Andrew Lloyd She Finian’s Rainbow, Yorkand appeared revival of in the Chicago company of Wicked. She recently appeared in Stephen wasSondheim’s a cast member Anyone ofCan the Whistle critically at ENCORES! acclaimed atBroadway City Center. revival Regionally of she has starred as Cunégonde - Candide, Carrie Pipperidge - Carousel, and she created the role of Nellie Oleson in Little House on the Prairie - The Musical Carnegie Mellon. at the Guthrie Theatre. BFA - MARIE WALLACE performed at Carnegie Hall last summer and at the Theatre at Boston Court in its Marie Wallace is delighted to reprise her role as Aia with DCINY, which she performed Lucretia in the regional premiere of Assault of the Wicked. Her roles as a sopranoLos Angeles soloist premiere. include A Carmina versatile Burana performer and ofDona both Nobis music Pace andm stage, with the she Rochester recently Philharmonic. She has performed with the , the Berlin

Philharmonic and the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. Awards and nominations Musical).include the MM Backstage - Eastman Garland School Awards of Music; (Best BM Performance/Musical- Westminster Choir College. - Honorable Mention) and the Los Angeles Ticket Holder Awards (Best Supporting Actress/ RODOLFO NIETO a prominent and exciting emerging artist. The past two seasons he has worked as Bass-baritone and Chicago native Rodolfo Nieto is quickly establishingLa boheme himself and asErster Soldat in Salome; he will play Joseph in their upcoming production of Wuthering HeightsResident. Other Artist houses with Minnesota he has worked Opera, with performing are Chicago as Colline Opera inTheater, Opera Colorado, and Cedar Rapids Opera Theater. Rodolfo is proud to be performing again with Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings

, which he first premiered with the composer at GREGNorthwestern CHUN University in 2006 and has continued with ever since.

Greg first met Eric when he was honored with the Harold Arlen Film & TV Award for his participation in the 2004 ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop. Since then he has created music for an array of television shows, commercial campaigns, independent films, and video games. He currently serves as Executive Music Director for Sanrio Digital, Inc. GregHis work is thrilled on the to 2007 be part Los of Angeles this latest production Paradise of Lost Paradise production Lost earned with DCINY. him a Backstage West Garland Award and an L.A. Ovation Award nomination for Best Musical Direction. ON ENSEMBLE ON ENSEMBLE (pronounced “Ohn”) takes the ancient instruments of taiko into new realms, infusing the powerful rhythms of ensemble Japanese drumming with elements of hip-hop, rock and electronica. On Ensemble’s members, Masato Baba, Kristofer Bergstrom, and Shoji Kameda, are

individually recognized as leading artists in their field and sought after as teachers, workshop leaders, composers, and performers. As On Ensemble rockthey combinebassists to their create study a repertoire and deep ofappreciation ground-breaking of tradition music. with equally formative experiences as DJs, electronic music producers, jazz drummers, and FANG FANG XU

of Southern California. She has performed at Schleswig-Holstein International Music Dr. Fang Fang Xu earned a Doctoral degree in Cello Performance from the University

Festival in Germany and Guadalajara Music Festival in Mexico with eminent conductors Christoph Eschenbach and Mstislav Rostropovich, and as guest soloist with the Pacific Symphony and the USC Thornton Symphony among others. As an orchestral player, Dr. California’sXu plays with Pasadena the L.A. branch,Philharmonic and is anda faculty the L.A. member Chamber at Opus Orchestra. 119 School She maintains of Music ina private studio in South Pasadena, serves as chair of the Music Teachers’ Association of

JIrvine.ason Crystal Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings Eddie Izzard: Live in New York (Westbeth), Kiss Me Kate (Light Opera Works), Electra in a One-Piece (Good Company). Broadway (Carnegie associate: Hall, Auditorium Bengal Tiger Theatre, at the Disney Baghdad Hall), Zoo (Tony, Drama Desk nominations), Lombardi, The Addams Family. Upcoming national tour of The Addams Family Was, The Boys Are Coming Home, Asphalt Beach Shakespeare in the Park (The Public Theater), Minsky’s (CTG), Back. American to Bacharach Music Theatreand David Project: . Assistant Sound Design: (Music Box). A proud graduate of Northwestern University. DISTINGUISHED CONCERTS INTERNATIONAL NEW YORK (DCINY)

Founded by Iris Derke (General Director) and Jonathan Griffith (Artistic Director and Principal Conductor) Distinguished Concerts International is driven by passion, innovative vision, a total belief in its artists, and star-maker,unwavering andcommitment a presenter to ofbringing broadly forth accessible, unforgettable world-class audience musical experiences. entertainment. With more For more than information25 combined about years of experience, DCINY is a creative producing entity with unmatched integrity that is a talent incubator, a

Distinguished Concerts International in New York and upcoming DCINY musical events around the world, please DISTINGUISHEDvisit: DCINY.org, or CONCERTS call toll free: SINGERS 1-877-MYDCINY. INTERNATIONAL Nathan Rudolph, Director

Blue Springs High School Chamber Choir and Women’s Robert Istad, Ensemble Director (MO), Cabrillo College Chorus (CA), Cheryl Anderson, DirectorJonathan Talberg, Director California State University at Fullerton Christy Owen, (CA), Director California State University at LongbeachKen Rawdon, (CA), Director Carlsbad High School Choir (CA), Paul Hurst, Director Chabot College Chamber Choir (CA), Reginal Wright, Director Foster City Community Chorus (CA), Elliott Jones, Director Mansfield High School Choir (TX), Cameron S. Clarno, Director Santa Ana College Chamber Ensemble (CA), Santa Ynez Valley Union High School Vocal Ensemble (CA), and individuals from around the globe. DCINY Administrative Staff Iris Derke, General Director

Jonathan Griffith, Artistic Director Johanna B. Kodlick, Director of Artistic Operations Sara Sarakanti, Director of Promotions and Audience Development NaghmaDanuta Gross, Husain, Director Director of ofFinance Design and and Administration Promotions NicoleJeffery Cotton, R. Thyer, Production Program StageDevelopment Manager Coordinator

Andrea Rush, Program Development Lynn Tsai, Executive Assistant

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Eric Whitacre is represented by: Claire Long, General Manager | Musical Productions Ltd. | +44 1753 646100 | [email protected]