Coming Fall 2022 on “The Concert Haul”
The Juliet Letters
Neo Camerata and Sergio Cepeda, tenor
Neo Camerata performs the profoundly moving early 1990’s song cycle collaboration between Elvis Costello, one of the era’s greatest pop rock singer-songwriters, and the Brodsky String Quartet, one of Britain’s leading classical string quartets of the time, in a concert presented by Voces Intimae and the Open Classical Artist Series.
Inspired by the real-life story of letters addressed simply to “Juliet Capulet, Verona”, the work takes us on an imagined journey of correspondence written specifically for those that can not or will not reply - messages of enduring love, family disputes, chain letters, and suicide notes.
Now seen by many as one of the most important classical song cycles of the past 50 years, it has been presented more and more on classical art song recitals and by opera organizations, despite the decidedly non-operatic voice its original interpreter. It was the first of its kind to find an important bridge between the pop and classical genres.
Classical tenor Sergio Cepeda joins Neo Camerata to bring this work to life in a special adaptation arranged by the group’s founder and composer, Mark Landson. The concert also features Landson’s string quartet “Travels”, grand prize winner at The Ear 2016 competition in NYC, and a set by singer-songwriter Rahim Quazi with string quartet accompaniment.
Formed in 2003, Neo Camerata has performed at the Cannes Film Festival in France, Elton John’s Life Ball in Vienna, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on classical chamber music series in the US, as well as with orchestras like the Irving and East Bay Symphonies.
Inspired by the real-life story of letters addressed simply to “Juliet Capulet, Verona”, the work takes us on an imagined journey of correspondence written specifically for those that can not or will not reply - messages of enduring love, family disputes, chain letters, and suicide notes.
Now seen by many as one of the most important classical song cycles of the past 50 years, it has been presented more and more on classical art song recitals and by opera organizations, despite the decidedly non-operatic voice its original interpreter. It was the first of its kind to find an important bridge between the pop and classical genres.
Classical tenor Sergio Cepeda joins Neo Camerata to bring this work to life in a special adaptation arranged by the group’s founder and composer, Mark Landson. The concert also features Landson’s string quartet “Travels”, grand prize winner at The Ear 2016 competition in NYC, and a set by singer-songwriter Rahim Quazi with string quartet accompaniment.
Formed in 2003, Neo Camerata has performed at the Cannes Film Festival in France, Elton John’s Life Ball in Vienna, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on classical chamber music series in the US, as well as with orchestras like the Irving and East Bay Symphonies.
PROGRAM
“Travels” string quartet by Mark Landson
- performed by Neo Camerata
Intermission
“The Juliet Letters” by Elvis Costello and the Brodsky Quartet
- performed by Sergio Cepeda and Neo Camerata