Performer:
Diane Phoenix-Neal
Sherry Grant

This collaborative recital includes works by female composers of the 20th and 21st centuries from five different countries around the world: New Zealand, Taiwan, United States, Venezuela and Australia, including one world premiere. Three of the composers, Chihchun Chi-sun Lee 李志純 , Jessie Montgomery, and Johanna Selleck are living composers. This program invokes cultural traditions such as dance, songs and poetry and is curated in the form of a multimedia presentation, where portraits of each composer and matching poems with English translation are woven into the music. The Madrigal second movement and dance-like third movement of the Sonata para viola y piano by Modesta Bor provide an opening poetic duo, followed by Rhapsody No. 2 for solo viola by Jessie Montgomery. This work was transcribed from the violin version by the composer herself. New Zealand composer Dorothea Franchi’s unique Andante for viola and piano is an unknown gem. Chihchun Chi-sun Lee’s Multi-Cultural Songs, originally for mid-range voice and piano, “incorporates folk tunes from Korea, Russia, Japan, China and Indonesia. This music travels from country to country within a seamless path regardless of the language.”  The program concludes with a world premiere of Wondrous! by Australian composer Johanna Selleck for viola and piano about the wonder of nature. The entire program takes the audience on a global journey, promoting a message of unity and intercultural partnerships.