Christopher Theofanidis

Press Kit

Audio

Orchestra

Title Instrumentation Duration Listen & Watch
A Thousand Cranes (2015)
I. Stars and Sonnets
II. Wind Spirit
III. Sadako
For strings and harp ca. 30' Watch - A Thousand Cranes (excerpts)
East Coast Chamber Orchestra (ECCO) and Sivan Magen, harp. Performed at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas as part of Soundings: New Music at the Nasher, December 2015.
The Legend of the Northern Lights (2014) For narrator, child actor and orchestra (with film) ca. 25' Watch NHSO Interview
New Haven Symphony Orchestra Music Director William Boughton interviews composer Christopher Theofanidis. Watch Interview about The Legend of the Northern Lights with WFMT's Noel Morris
Christopher Theofanidis discusses a brand new piece, The Legend of the Northern Lights, with WFMT's Noel Morris on the eve of its world premiere by the Grant Park Orchestra in Chicago.
Heart of a Soldier (2011) Libretto by Donna Di Novelli
Francesca Zambello, director
Thomas Hampson, William Burden- lead roles
San Francisco Opera/ Patrick Summers, conducting
  Watch PBS NewsHour
Rick Rescorla saved lives during the Vietnam War, and again on 9/11, but he lost his life as a result. His story, told in the book "Heart of a Soldier" by James Stewart, has been recast as an opera in San Francisco. Spencer Michels reports. Watch preview from San Francisco Opera
Francesca Zambello, director; Thomas Hampson, William Burden - lead roles; San Francisco Opera/ Patrick Summers, conducting
Symphony (2009) For orchestra
Commissioned by Robert Spano for the Atlanta Symphony
ca. 35'
Listen - I
Listen - II
Listen - III
Listen - IV
Atlanta Symphony / Robert Spano, conducting
Concerto (2008) For violin and orchestra
Commissioned by the Pittsburgh Symphony for Sarah Chang
ca. 23'
Sarah Chang, violin
Pittsburgh Symphony / Andris Nelsons, conducting
Field of Infinite Forms (2008) For orchestra and digital playback
Electronics realized by Mark Wingate
Acoustic music realized by Christopher Theofanidis
ca. 20'
Austin Symphony / Peter Bay, conducting
Rex Tremendae Majestatis (2008) For solo organ, orchestral brass, and percussion
Commissioned by the Pacific Symphony for Paul Jacobs
ca. 8'
Paul Jacobs, organ
Pacific Symphony / Carl St. Clair, conducting
The Refuge (2007) Libretto by Leah Lax
For soloists, chorus, orchestra, and several non-Western ensembles
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera
ca. 90'
Libretto by Leah Lax; Houston Grand Opera: Albina Shagimuratova, Rebekah Camm, sopranos; Faith Sherman, Jamie Barton, mezzo-sopranos; Beau Gibson, tenor; Liam Bonner, baritone; Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone; Philip Evbomoen, tenor soloist; Julie Trinh Dang, dan bau and dan tranh; Ali Durrani, Qawwali singer; Chandrakantha Courtney, sitars; David Courtney, tabla; Giridahar Kalamanglam, Samhitha Murthy, tanpuras; Vadim Angerov, bayan; Gifted and Talented Vocal Ensemble; Spanish Choir, Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Chorus; Children’s Chorus and Orchestra of HOUSTON GRAND OPERA; Patrick Summers, conducting
Muse (2007) For strings and harpsichord
Commissioned by The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as part of their New Brandenburg Project.
ca. 12'
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Watch Muse for strings and harpsichord
Portland Youth Philharmonic / David Hattner, Musical Director; Wieden+Kennedy Building Portland, Oregon
Concerto (2006) For piano and chamber orchestra
Commissioned by Pro Musica Columbus for Donald Berman
ca. 21'
Donald Berman, piano
Pro Musica Columbus / Timothy Russell, conducting
The Here and Now (2005) For soloists, chorus, and orchestra
Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus
ca. 35'
Watch - The Here and Now
UNCG Symphony Orchestra and Choirs
Kevin M. Geraldi, conductor
Hila Plittman, soprano; Rick Clement, tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone Atlanta Symphony and Chorus/Robert Spano, conducting
The Invention of Music (2001) After the Sophocles Satyr Play, The Ichneutiae
Libretto by William M. Hoffman
For soloists, chorus, orchestra, rock singer and band, and dancers (may be performed in concert or stage version)
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic
ca. 40'
Libretto by William M. Hoffman based on a Sophocles Satyr Play. Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, tenor; Earle Patriarco, bass-baritone
Brooklyn Philharmonic / Robert Spano, conducting
Bassoon Concerto (1997/2002) For bassoon and chamber orchestra
Commissioned by the Absolute Ensemble for Martin Kuuskmann
ca. 23'
Mvt I. alone, inward
Mvt II. beautiful
Mvt III. threatening, fast
Martin Kuuskman, bassoon
Northwest Sinfonia / Barry Jekowsky, conducting
Rainbow Body (2000) For orchestra
Commissioned by the Houston Symphony
ca. 12' Listen
Atlanta Symphony / Robert Spano, conducting
Visions and Miracles (1997) For string quartet or string orchestra
Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for the Cassatt, Muir, and Cuartetto Latinoamericano String Quartets
ca. 17' Listen
String Orchestra of New York City (SONYC)
As Dancing is to Architecture (1996) For orchestra
Commissioned by the California Symphony
ca. 4'
California Symphony / Barry Jekowsky, conducting
 

Opera / Oratorio

Title Instrumentation Duration Listen
Heart of a Soldier (2011) Libretto by Donna Di Novelli
Francesca Zambello, director
Thomas Hampson, William Burden- lead roles
San Francisco Opera/ Patrick Summers, conducting
  Watch PBS NewsHour
Rick Rescorla saved lives during the Vietnam War, and again on 9/11, but he lost his life as a result. His story, told in the book "Heart of a Soldier" by James Stewart, has been recast as an opera in San Francisco. Spencer Michels reports. Watch preview from San Francisco Opera
Francesca Zambello, director; Thomas Hampson, William Burden - lead roles; San Francisco Opera / Patrick Summers, conducting
The Refuge (2007) Libretto by Leah Lax
For soloists, chorus, orchestra, and several non-Western ensembles
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera
ca. 90'
Libretto by Leah Lax; Houston Grand Opera: Albina Shagimuratova, Rebekah Camm, sopranos; Faith Sherman, Jamie Barton, mezzo-sopranos; Beau Gibson, tenor; Liam Bonner, baritone; Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone; Philip Evbomoen, tenor soloist; Julie Trinh Dang, dan bau and dan tranh; Ali Durrani, Qawwali singer; Chandrakantha Courtney, sitars; David Courtney, tabla; Giridahar Kalamanglam, Samhitha Murthy, tanpuras; Vadim Angerov, bayan; Gifted and Talented Vocal Ensemble; Spanish Choir, Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Chorus; Children’s Chorus and Orchestra of HOUSTON GRAND OPERA; Patrick Summers, conducting
The Here and Now (2005) For soloists, chorus, and orchestra
Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus
ca. 35'
Hila Plittman, soprano; Rick Clement, tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone Atlanta Symphony and Chorus / Robert Spano, conducting
The Invention of Music (2001) After the Sophocles Satyr Play, The Ichneutiae
Libretto by William M. Hoffman
For soloists, chorus, orchestra, rock singer and band, and dancers (may be performed in concert or stage version)
Commissioned by the Brooklyn Philharmonic
ca. 40'
Libretto by William M. Hoffman based on a Sophocles Satyr Play. Heidi Grant Murphy, soprano; Nathaniel Webster, tenor; Earle Patriarco, bass-baritone
Brooklyn Philharmonic / Robert Spano, conducting
 

Chamber + Solo

Lakshmi and the Seed of Divine Desire (2017) For flute and piano ca. 14' Watch - Lakshmi and the Seed of Divine Desire
Benjamin Smolen, flute; Jennifer Hsiao, piano
Aria (2016; adapted from Concerto for Marimba and Wind Sinfonietta 2013) For solo marimba
Written for Sam Um
ca. 7' Watch - Aria (2016) for solo marimba
Sam Um, Marimba
Summer Verses (2009) For violin and ‘cello
commissioned by the Seattle Chamber Music Society
for James Ehnes and Robert DeMaine
ca. 20'
James Ehnes, violin; Robert DeMaine, ‘cello
All dreams begin with the horizon (2007) For solo piano
Commissioned by Meet the Composer for Tanya Bannister
ca. 10'
Tanya Bannister, piano
Muse (2007) For strings and harpsichord
Commissioned by The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as part of their New Brandenburg Project.
ca. 12'
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Watch Muse for strings and harpsichord
Portland Youth Philharmonic / David Hattner, Musical Director; Wieden+Kennedy Building Portland, Oregon
The world is aflame (2006) For violin and ‘cello
Commissioned by Juilliard for their centennial
for Curtis Macomber and Norman Fischer
ca. 10'
Curtis Macomber, violin; Norman Fischer, ‘cello
O Vis Aeternitatis (2000) For string quartet and piano
Commissioned by the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival for Speculum Musicae
ca. 15'
Curtis Macomber, Carol Zeavin, violins; Lois Martin, viola; Christopher Finckel, ‘cello; Aleck Karis, piano
Song of Elos (1999) On a poem by Judith Freeman
For soprano, string quartet, and piano
Written for Camille Zamora
ca. 10'
Elizabeth Weigle, soprano; Peabody Piano Quintet
Visions and Miracles (1997/2002) For string quartet or string orchestra
Commissioned by the Barlow Endowment for the Cassatt, Muir, and Cuartetto Latinoamericano String Quartets
ca. 17' Listen
String Orchestra of New York City (SONYC)
Flow, my tears (1997) Version for solo violin, viola, or ‘cello
Written for Carol Rodland in memory of Jacob Druckman
ca. 10'
Jennie Press, violin
Etenraku (1996) For winds, piano, and percussion
Commissioned by the National Symphony
ca. 3'
Columbus State Wind Ensemble / Robert Rumbelow, conducting
Ariel Ascending (1995) For string quartet
Commissioned by the Fromm Foundation and Tanglewood
for the Henschel Quartet
ca. 15'
the Henschel String Quartet
Kaoru (1994) For two flutes
Written for Kaoru Hinata and Christopher Vaneman
ca. 12' Watch Kaoru for two flutes
Benjamin Smolen, Johanna Borenstein, flutes Watch Kaoru for two flutes
Performed by Andrew Robson and Felice Doynov as part of the NY Philharmonic's 2016 Biennial at Greene Space in New York City. Watch Q2 Interview about Kaoru with Helga Davis
Q2's Helga Davis interviews Christopher Theofanidis about his work Kaoru (1994) for two flutes as part of the NY Philharmonic's Biennial at Greene Space in New York City.
Christopher Vaneman, Kaoru Hinata, flutes
Raga (1992) For flute, clarinet, violin, 'cello, piano, and two percussion
Written for the Eastman Musica Nova
ca. 6'
Denise Cohen, flute; Christian Ellenwood, clarinet; Adrian Justus, violin; James Holland, ‘cello, Mauricio Nader, piano; Gareth Farr, Stefon Harris, percussion; Shafer Mahoney, conducting
Statues (1992) For solo piano
Written for Mauricio Nader
ca. 10'
Mauricio Nader, piano
 

Chorus

Messages to Myself (2007) For SSAATTBB, a capella chorus
Commissioned by the Houston Chamber Choir
ca. 15'
Houston Chamber Choir / Robert Simpson, conducting
The Refuge (2007) Libretto by Leah Lax
For soloists, chorus, orchestra, and several non-Western ensembles
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera
ca. 90'
Houston Grand Opera: Albina Shagimuratova, Rebekah Camm, sopranos; Faith Sherman, Jamie Barton, mezzo-sopranos; Beau Gibson, tenor; Liam Bonner, baritone; Ryan McKinny, bass-baritone; Philip Evbomoen, tenor soloist; Julie Trinh Dang, dan bau and dan tranh; Ali Durrani, Qawwali singer; Chandrakantha Courtney, sitars; David Courtney, tabla; Giridahar Kalamanglam, Samhitha Murthy, tanpuras; Vadim Angerov, bayan; Gifted and Talented Vocal Ensemble; Spanish Choir, Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral Chorus; Children’s Chorus and Orchestra of Houston Grand Opera; Patrick Summers, conducting
The Here and Now (2005) For soloists, chorus, and orchestra
Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus
ca. 35'
Hila Plittman, soprano; Rick Clement, tenor; Brett Polegato, baritone; Atlanta Symphony and Chorus/Robert Spano, conducting
 

Wind Ensemble

Rex Tremendae Majestatis (2008) For solo organ, brass, and percussion
Commissioned by the Pacific Symphony for Paul Jacobs
ca. 8'
Paul Jacobs, organ
Pacific Symphony / Carl St. Clair, conducting
I wander the world in a dream of my own making (2005) For wind ensemble
Commissioned by a consortium of 11 wind ensembles
ca. 8' Listen
Columbus State Wind Ensemble / Robert Rumbelow, conducting
Etenraku (1996) For winds, piano, and percussion
Commissioned by the National Symphony
ca. 3' Listen
Columbus State Wind Ensemble / Robert Rumbelow, conducting