| 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' |
Watch - Mvt 2 Watch - Mvt 3 Watch - Mvt 3 Texas Music Festival / Barry Jekowsky, conductor 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' |
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' |
|
| Rex Tremendae Majestatis (2008) |
For solo organ, orchestral brass, and percussion Commissioned by the Pacific Symphony for Paul Jacobs |
ca. 8' |
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' |
|
| Muse (2007) |
For strings and harpsichord Commissioned by The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as part of their New Brandenburg Project. |
ca. 12' |
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' |
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' |
UNCG Symphony Orchestra and Choirs Kevin M. Geraldi, conductor
|
| 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' |
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 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 |
| 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
|
| As Dancing is to Architecture (1996) |
For orchestra Commissioned by the California Symphony |
ca. 4' |
|
| 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' |
|
| The Here and Now (2005) |
For soloists, chorus, and orchestra Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus |
ca. 35' |
|
| 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' |
Brooklyn Philharmonic / Robert Spano, conducting |
| 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' |
|
| All dreams begin with the horizon (2007) |
For solo piano Commissioned by Meet the Composer for Tanya Bannister |
ca. 10' |
|
| Muse (2007) |
For strings and harpsichord Commissioned by The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra as part of their New Brandenburg Project. |
ca. 12' |
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' |
|
| O Vis Aeternitatis (2000) |
For string quartet and piano Commissioned by the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival for Speculum Musicae |
ca. 15' |
|
| Song of Elos (1999) |
On a poem by Judith Freeman For soprano, string quartet, and piano Written for Camille Zamora |
ca. 10' |
|
| 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
|
| Flow, my tears (1997) |
Version for solo violin, viola, or ‘cello Written for Carol Rodland in memory of Jacob Druckman |
ca. 10' |
|
| Etenraku (1996) |
For winds, piano, and percussion
Commissioned by the National Symphony |
ca. 3' |
|
| Ariel Ascending (1995) |
For string quartet Commissioned by the Fromm Foundation and Tanglewood for the Henschel Quartet |
ca. 15' |
|
| 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. |
| Raga (1992) |
For flute, clarinet, violin, 'cello, piano, and two percussion Written for the Eastman Musica Nova |
ca. 6' |
|
| Statues (1992) |
For solo piano Written for Mauricio Nader |
ca. 10' |
|
| Messages to Myself (2007) |
For SSAATTBB, a capella chorus
Commissioned by the Houston Chamber Choir |
ca. 15' |
|
| The Refuge (2007) |
Libretto by Leah Lax For soloists, chorus, orchestra, and several non-Western ensembles Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera |
ca. 90' |
|
| The Here and Now (2005) |
For soloists, chorus, and orchestra Commissioned by the Atlanta Symphony and Chorus |
ca. 35' |
|
| Rex Tremendae Majestatis (2008) |
For solo organ, brass, and percussion Commissioned by the Pacific Symphony for Paul Jacobs |
ca. 8' |
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 |
| Etenraku (1996) |
For winds, piano, and percussion
Commissioned by the National Symphony |
ca. 3' |
Listen |
Biography