A FUNNY thing happened at the premiere of Steven Paulus's oratorio, "Voices of Light".
The twist of this collaboration with Mr. Einhorn, best known for his oratorio "Voices of Light" (1994), came with the laser pointer that each audience member was given on walking into the space.
Later concerts include a performance by the flutist Eugenia Zukerman, compositions by Thea Musgrave, Clara Schumann and Mrs. H. H. A. Beach and a screening of Carl Dreyer's "Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928), accompanied by "Voices of Light," Richard Einhorn's specially created score.
Tonight, in conjunction with a screening of the 1928 film "The Passion of Joan of Arc," Marin Alsop conducts the orchestra in Richard Einhorn's "Voices of Light," written to accompany it.
Mr. Flummerfelt, the director of the Westminster Symphonic Choir and the professional New York Choral Artists, will conduct the Philharmonic and the symphonic choir in the premiere of "Voices of Light" by the American composer Stephen Paulus.
A production of the piece by Carl Orff, performed by the church choir, the Voices of Light Children's Ensemble, the New Jersey Children's Chorus, the Journey Dancers from the Brooklyn Music School and soloists.
Among the other performances will be "The Shooting Gallery," an interactive installation by the filmmaker Bill Morrison ("Decasia") and the composer Richard Einhorn ("Voices of Light") that will incorporate laser pointers, and "All That Fall," a performance of Samuel Beckett's first radio play in which audiences will be seated in rocking chairs.
He does so here in the premiere of Stephen Paulus's "Voices of Light," a choral work based on poetry by two medieval mystics, Mechtilde of Magdeburg and Hadewijch II, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the college and Mr. Flummerfelt's 30 years of service there.
In February 2006 he conducted Richard Einhorn's Voices of Light as the score to Carl Theodor Dreyer's 1928 silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc at the Winter Garden Atrium in Manhattan as part of the World Financial Center's Arts + Events series.
Voices of Light was a celebration of religious and personal freedom during a time of war in France, exacerbated by the militarism of a powerful, self-interested country (England) that sought to become an empire.
After effectively winning the hearts of many with Voices of Light, his oratorio written to accompany Carl Theodor Dryer's 1928 silent film "The Passion of Joan of Arc", Richard Einhorn is writing a new composition more personal to him with a brand new palette of musical theme and shades.
