Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at 7:30 PM
Diller-Quaile School of Music, 24 East 95th Street, New York City
Music for guitar and voice
“Nancy Knowles is a wonderful mezzo-soprano who sings with passion and clarity…Frank Wallace’s instrumental works and song accompaniments are exemplary” — American Record Guide
Program:
WALLACE Woman of the Water (selections); Fünf Kleine Stücke; Mi Jardín de Calla; Music for Bernarda Alba: Ovejita; Syzygy (selections); The Chimes: Goodnight, Goodbye
MERTZ Romanza
TÁRREGA Prelude No. 5
SAGRERAS La Ideal
VILLA-LOBOS Prelude No. 1
Guitarist/composer Frank Wallace and mezzo-soprano/poet Nancy Knowles are a rare duo pioneering their own outstanding body of original contemporary art song with classical guitar. Touring throughout North and South America and Europe since 1979, they have numerous recordings on the Gyre label.
Legendary for his versatility, Soundboard calls Frank Wallace “an impressive talent in every respect; he is a strong guitarist, a composer with a distinct voice, and a confident vocalist.” As a performer, Wallace has distinguished himself as a soloist and accompanist on classical and romantic guitars, vihuela de mano and lute. With his rich baritone voice, he is also a master of self-accompaniment on his own songs and works of renaissance Italy and Spain, Dowland and Schubert.
Wallace’s award-winning works for guitar (solo and ensemble), lute, voice and chamber ensembles are the fruit of his colorful performing career both as a soloist and with Nancy Knowles: “… a fascinating array of styles and influences” (ClassicsToday.com). Their creative collaboration as composer and poet has produced over a hundred songs in cycles that reflect diverse influences, from medieval, jazz, blues, and Latin to classical music from Ravel to avant garde. The poetry comes from many sources ancient and modern, including Roethke, Creeley, and Knowles’s own. (For scores, recordings, videos visit gyremusic.com)
“Knowles’ exceptionally beautiful voice carried the evening in song and declaimed poetry.” (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Nancy Knowles is widely known for her multiple talents as singer, actress, poet, playwright and visual artist. In addition to Wallace’s songs, her poetry has been set in song cycles by Ed Mascari and Herman Weiss. Her solo performances weave a cappella solo song with theater. Her current one-woman play A Gift of Madness has garnered raves (more info at agiftofmadness.com).
