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(HUDSON, N.Y.) – String quartet ETHEL will present a free work-in-progress concert at the Second Ward Foundation on Friday, August 19 at 8pm, where they will perform selections from “Circus!,” a new work in development inspired by the magic of the Big Top.
The performance is the culmination of a week-long residency sponsored by the Hudson Opera House.
In its final form, ETHEL – Circus!, directed by acclaimed projection designer and director Grant McDonald, will be a multimedia concert experience inspired by the heroes behind the magic of the Big Top, told through a seamless interaction between original music, immersive projection and, in some productions, live circus performance.
The work will pair stunning archival images and films from the Ringling Museum’s expansive archives with intricate projection mapping and original music from ETHEL (the Ringling Museum is the commissioning organization for this work).
Circus! will expand and transcend the concept of “concert” through the animating force of visual/musical juxtapositions that embody the spirit of the individuals who brought fantasy, excitement and mystery to the three rings.
Seating is limited and reservations are encouraged. To reserve your seat, email info@hudsonoperahouse.org or call (518) 822 1438. More information can be found at.
At the heart of ETHEL lies a quest for a common, creative expression that can only be forged through the celebration of community. Known worldwide for transcending the limits of tradition, ETHEL actively, aggressively, and joyfully adapts its masterful skill-set to the presentation of virtuosic, boundary-crossing works of musical and cultural diversity. The quartet invigorates today’s indie-classical scene as cultural and musical “pollinators” via genre and culture-crossing initiatives and innovative community engagement activities, such as their 2016 Circus! residency at the Hudson Opera House.
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Together, members Ralph Farris (Co-Artistic Director, Viola), Dorothy Lawson (Co-Artistic Director, Cello), Kip Jones (Violin) and Corin Lee (Violin), invigorate the contemporary music scene with their exuberance, intensity and exceptional artistry.
Acclaimed as “unfailingly vital” (The New York Times), “brilliant” (The New Yorker), and “one of the most exciting quartets around” (The Strad), ETHEL has appeared on stages as varied as the Venice Biennale, Sydney Opera House, Lincoln Center, Toronto’s Royal Conservatory, Kennedy Center, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw.
Grant McDonald is the Artistic Director and lead Projection Designer for NYC’s immersive theater company, Rescue Agreement. Favorite recent projects include Black Mountain Songs (World Tour), Alt-J (World Tour) and Dolce & Gabbana’s Tirelli Tribute. His design for Deepest Man earned him the nomination for the American Theatre Wing’s Henry Hewes Design Award. McDonald studied Theatre, Law & Psychology at New York University and serves as a design mentor and guest lecturer at NYU & Columbia University.
The Hudson Opera House is a cultural beacon in the Hudson Valley, offering a dynamic year-round schedule of music, theater, dance, literature, workshops for youth and adults, as well as family programs and large-scale community events such as Winter Walk.
Located in an historic landmark that houses New York State’s oldest surviving theater, the Opera House is currently undergoing a complete transformation, starting with the restoration of its magnificent performance hall. Opening with an inaugural season in spring 2017, the new Hudson Opera House will reflect Hudson’s rich history in a modern facility that welcomes residents and visitors from throughout our local community, across the nation, and around the globe.
327 Warren St.
Hudson, NY 12534
(518) 822-1438