Left Coast Chamber Ensemble (LCCE) presents Myth & Memory: Berio Folk Songs with New Companions, celebrating Luciano Berio’s 1964 song cycle exploring the rich materials of folklore with arrangements of folk music from all over the globe - from Black is the Color of My True Love’s Hair to the Azerbaijan Love Song. New commissions by Left Coast remix additional folk songs to complement Berio’s masterpiece, and Carl Schimmel’s Ladle Rat Rotten Hut gives a topsy-turvy resetting of the classic Little Red Riding Hood story for the 21st century.
“Berio’s Folk Songs create a seemingly timeless connection between past and present, and form a central part of the 20th century chamber music repertory,” explains Matilda Hofman, LCCE conductor. “We saw programming these songs as an opportunity to expand on the potential of Folk Song to communicate between past and present, by inviting five composers to create their own folksongs, inspired by Berio’s medium.”
The ten new folk songs by five different composers will form a set that converses with Berio’s song cycle, creating a variety of listening experiences. Composers Chris Castro, Seong Ae Kim, Hiroya Miura, Linda Caitlin Smith, and Ingrid Stölzel have been commissioned by Left Coast to present different approaches to the idea of what a folk song can be and to explore the power folk songs can have in the world today. In addition, Carl Shimmel’s humor, love of words, sounds, nonsense, and the connection between the three are on full display in his riotous approach to Little Red Riding Hood, “Ladle Rat Rotten Hut.”
“I’m looking forward to collaborating with these amazing composers in a present day “homage” to Berio’s deep love for folk songs. The range and uniqueness of compositions will assuredly add and enhance the folk song experience,” said LCCE soprano Nikki Einfeld. “I’m also looking forward to revisiting Carl Schimmel’s witty and unique setting of Ladle Rat Rotten Hut- with text written cleverly in Anguish Languish! It’s a retelling of a childhood story that you don’t want to miss.”