New England Conservatory Festival

Schedule of Events:

4:30 pm: Presentation: Echoes of Existence: Influence of Ives’s Unanswered Question on Adams’s On the Transmigration of Souls

In this presentation, Xiaofeng Jiang ’22 MM, ’25 GD will discuss the profound influence of Charles Ives’s “The Unanswered Question” on John Adams’ composition “On the Transmigration of Souls.” The discussion will focus on the thematic connections between the two pivotal works, highlighting how Ives’s exploration of existential questions inspired Adams’s reflection on life, death, and the spiritual journey.

Location: Pierce Hall, 241 St. Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115

5:00 pm: NEC Exploring the Innovation in Music of Ruth Crawford Seeger: Diaphonic Suite I and Beyond

This event will honor the remarkable legacy of Ruth Crawford Seeger’s "Diaphonic Suite I" presenting a variety of student interpretations inspired by its third movement. The NEC community is invited to join students from the Post-Tonal Theories and Practices in composing and improvising short pieces that reflect Crawford's groundbreaking techniques. If you are interested in performing at this event, please reach out to Professors Efstratios Minakakis and Katarina Miljkovic for more details. Join us in celebrating this innovative composer and her enduring influence on contemporary music!

Location: Pierce Hall, 241 St. Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115

6 pm: NEC Opera Presents Later the Same Evening (Night 2)

New York City, 1932: Elaine plays piano while her husband ignores her. Jimmy is over the moon to see his first Broadway show. Estelle prepares for her first date since her husband’s death.

Figures from five Edward Hopper paintings come to life through intimate vignettes as imagined by John Musto and Mark Campbell in this chamber opera, based on "Room in New York," "Hotel Window," "Hotel Room," "Two on the Aisle," and "Automat.”

NEC’s Joshua Major is the stage director and Robert Tweten conducts the members of the NEC Philharmonia.

There will be no late seating for this production. Please make every effort to arrive on time, as we cannot accommodate late entry.

The live stream of this event is available to NEC Community members only. To watch the stream, please click the “Streaming Access” button at the top of the page and enter the NEC Community streaming password on the video window labeled “NEC-Produced Stream” when prompted.

Artist(s)

Friday cast:

Josie Larsen - Elaine
ZhanQi Wang - Gus
Sara Zerilli - Estelle
Melissa Pereyra - Ruth
Hengzuo Yan - Ronaldo
Spencer Bailen - Thelma
Kaeul Autumn Ahn - Valentina
Isabel Merat - Rose
Dongchen Xu - Sheldon
Morgan Mastrangelo - Jimmy
Isaac Hall - Joe

Location: Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre, 255 St. Botolph Street, Boston, MA 02115

8 pm: An Evening of Chamber Music with NEC’s Chamber Singers, Don and Vivian Weilerstein, and NEC’s Composition Department

Tonight's concert of chamber music features Donald Weilerstein, violin, and Vivian Hornik Weilerstein, piano, performing Ives' Third Violin Sonata and the NEC Chamber Singers, directed by Erica J. Washburn, singing Chant, 1930 by Ruth Crawford Seeger.  Additionally, Melissa Reardon, viola, will give the U.S. premiere of Kati Agóc’s Sun and Shield, Trio Eris - the newest NEC Piano Trio in Residence -  will perform Katherine Balch’s different gravities and Charles Ives’ Piano Trio, and the Meraki String Quartet will play Pozzi Escot's Jubilation.

Location: Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street, Boston, MA 02115