Orchestra of St. Luke’s Visionary Sounds centers women creators’ perspectives in 2024–25, the orchestra’s 50th anniversary season

(November 2024) – Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) – lauded for its “exceptionally fine and committed music-making” (The New York Times) and celebrating its 50th anniversary this season – presents three performances in the innovativeVisionary Sounds series at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music. Included are the world premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s Revelations of Divine Love, Chapter III for baritone and piano quintet, along with  Freya Waley-Cohen’s Spell Book Volume 2 (Dec 4); a concert featuring signature works by Courtney Bryan, Catherine Brookman, and John Zorn (Feb 19); and a program curated and featuring multiple compositions by Augusta Read Thomas that also includes music of Joan Tower, Tyson Gholston Davis, Chen Yi, and Paul Novak (April 30).

Visionary Sounds at DiMenna Center

OSL celebrates twelve women composers and creators during the 2024–25 season, six of them in the context of Visionary Sounds, which was launched in 2022-23 to spotlight twentieth- and twenty-first-century artists of singular vision. The first program, titled “Spells and Revelations,” comprises the world premiere of 2018 MacArthur Fellow and AMOC* co-founder Matthew Aucoin’s Revelations of Divine Love, Chapter III for baritone and piano quintet, sung by John Brancy, along with Volume 2 of the occult-inspired Spell Book by “at once intimate and visionary” (BBC Music) British American composer Freya Waley-Cohen, sung by mezzo-soprano Megan Moore with string quartet. The program is rounded out by Brancy singing two Schubert songs of the paranormal with pianist Margaret Kampmeier; Moore singing Aucoin’s “This Earth” and Purcell’s aria “When I Am Laid in Earth” from Dido and Aeneas, with Aucoin on piano; and Hildegard von Bingen’s sequence “Columba aspexit,” arranged for string quartet by OSL violinist Alex Fortes (Dec 4).

Vocalists Eliza Bagg, Catherine Brookman, Kayleigh Butcher, Charlotte Mundy, andKirsten Sollek are featured in the next performance, which also showcases Brookman as a composer, with her work The Narrows, The Falls, newly arranged for vocal quintet and OSL ensemble by Tony-nominated composer Timo Andres. Towering works by two distinguished composers and MacArthur “geniuses” bookend the program: Requiem by Courtney Bryan, “pianist and composer of panoramic interests” (The New York Times), and John Zorn’s The Holy Visions (Feb 19).

Augusta Read Thomas’s latest album, Terpsichore’s Box of Dreams, was named “Recording of the Month” in June 2024 by BBC Music magazine, with the accompanying review declaring that her music “fizzes with [a] vivid sense of energy; her complex, imaginative scores verily zing with life and colour, while readily charting profound emotional depths.” Thomas – who is also leading the fifth season of OSL’s DeGaetano Composition Institute along with conductor Brad Lubman – curates the third “Visionary Sounds” concert, which includes her chamber works Bebop Riddle V, …a circle around the sun, and Toft Serenade, as well as music by Joan Tower, Tyson Gholston Davis, Chen Yi – whose music is also the focus of the orchestra’s annual NYC Five Borough Tour this season – and Paul Novak, a composer selected to participate in the 2025 DeGaetano Composition Institute being led by Thomas (April 30).

Underwriting for OSL’s 2024-2025 Visionary Sounds has generously been provided by Alden Toevs

About Orchestra of St. Luke’s

Celebrating 50 years during the 2024-2025 season, Orchestra of St. Luke’s (OSL) features New York City’s most talented concert musicians and makes its artistic home at Carnegie Hall, where it has performed more than any other orchestra since its premiere there in 1983. Bernard Labadie, an internationally renowned specialist in 18th-century music, was named Principal Conductor in 2018 and steps down in 2025, concluding an expansive and critically acclaimed tenure. OSL’s annual season features concert series in each of Carnegie Hall’s three venues as well as the Visionary Sounds and DeGaetano Composition Institute programs focused on contemporary composers at The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, the rehearsal, recording, and performance facility OSL built in 2011 and continues to operate in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards neighborhood. OSL proudly collaborates with Paul Taylor Dance Company for their Lincoln Center season each year and performs with a variety of artistic partners at venues throughout the city and beyond. Founded in 1974 when a group of virtuoso chamber musicians began performing together in Greenwich Village at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, the ensemble later expanded into an orchestra before catching fire on New York’s classical music scene. OSL has participated in 120 recordings, four of which have won Grammy Awards, has commissioned more than 75 new works, and has given more than 200 world, U.S., and New York City premieres. OSL champions composers from historically underrepresented groups in classical music. In recent seasons, it has presented works by Kinan Azmeh, Margaret Bonds, Valerie Coleman, Julius Eastman, Wynton Marsalis, Florence Price, Rita Dove, and Chen Yi, among others. Central to OSL’s mission, the Education and Community Engagement program presents free concerts for thousands of New York City public school students each year; offers the 120-student strong Youth Orchestra of St. Luke’s (YOSL), the city’s only youth orchestra under the umbrella of a professional group; provides a mentorship program for pre-professional musicians; and brings accessible concerts to all five boroughs. To learn more, visit OSLmusic.org or follow @OSLmusic on YouTube, Spotify, Instagram, Facebook, or TiKTok. 

Orchestra of St. Luke’s: 2024-25 Visionary Sounds

Dec 4
New York, NY
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (Cary Hall)
OSL Presents: Visionary Sounds
“Spells and Revelations”
John Brancy, baritone
Megan Moore, mezzo-soprano
Matthew Aucoin, piano
Margaret Kampmeier, piano
Freya WALEY-COHEN: Spell Book Volume 2
SCHUBERT: “Des Fischers Liebesglück,” D933
SCHUBERT: “Der Doppelgänger,” D957
VON BINGEN (arr. Alex Fortes for string quartet): “Columba aspexit”
PURCELL: “Thy Hand Belinda … When I Am Laid in Earth” from Dido and Aeneas
Matthew AUCOIN: “This Earth”
Matthew AUCOIN: Revelations of Divine Love, Chapter III for baritone and piano quintet (world premiere)

Feb 19
New York, NY
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (Cary Hall)
OSL Presents: Visionary Sounds
“Rites and Visions”
Vocalists Eliza Bagg, Catherine Brookman, Kayleigh Butcher, Charlotte Mundy, and Kirsten Sollek
John ZORN: The Holy Visions
Catherine BROOKMAN (arr. Timo Andres): The Narrows, The Falls
Courtney BRYAN: Requiem

April 30
New York, NY
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (Cary Hall)
OSL Presents: Visionary Sounds
“Thoughts and Riddles”
Curated by Augusta Read Thomas
Augusta READ THOMAS: Bebop Riddle V
Joan TOWER: For Marianne
Tyson GHOLSTON DAVIS: Grey Fireworks
Chen YI: Night Thoughts
Augusta READ THOMAS: …a circle around the sun
Paul NOVAK: entwining
Augusta READ THOMAS: Toft Serenade

Orchestra of St. Luke’s: 50th anniversary season performances

Nov 13–Nov 24
New York, NY
Paul Taylor Dance Company Season (remaining)
Lincoln Center (David H. Koch Theater)
Paul Taylor Dance Company
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Schedule subject to change:

Nov 13
   Echo, choreo. by Lauren Lovette, music by Kevin Puts with special guests Time For Three
   The Word, music by David Israel
   Promethean Fire, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 14
   Images, music by Claude Debussy
   Chaconne in Winter, choreo. by Lauren Lovette, music by J.S. Bach and Justin Vernon
with special guests Time For Three
   Vespers, choreo. by Ulysses Dove, music by Mikel Rouse
   Funny Papers, music of Novelty Tunes

Nov 15
   Echo, choreo. by Lauren Lovette, music by Kevin Puts with special guests Time For Three
   The Word, music by David Israel
   Rush Hour, choreo. by Larry Keigwin, music by Adam Crystal

Nov 16m
   Arden Court, music by William Boyce
   Vive La Loïe!, choreo. by Jody Sperling, in homage to Loïe Fuller, music by Max Richter
   Syzygy, music by Donald York

Nov 16
   Aureole, music by George Frideric Handel
   Clair de Lune, choreo. by Jody Sperling in homage to Loïe Fuller, music by Claude Debussy
   Vespers, choreo. by Ulysses Dove, music by Mikel Rouse
   Esplanade, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 17m
   Images, music by Claude Debussy
   The Word, music by David Israel
   Promethean Fire, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 19
   Arden Court, music by William Boyce
   Clair de Lune, choreo. by Jody Sperling in homage to Loïe Fuller, music by Claude Debussy
   Recess, choreo. by Lauren Lovette, music by Errollyn Wallen
   Esplanade, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 20
   Images, music by Claude Debussy
   Dust, music by Francis Poulenc
   Promethean Fire, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 21
   Arden Court, music by William Boyce
   The Word, music by David Israel
   Syzygy, music by Donald York

Nov 22
   Aureole, music by George Frideric Handel
   Vive La Loïe!, choreo. by Jody Sperling, in homage to Loïe Fuller, music by Max Richter
   Recess, choreo. by Lauren Lovette, music by Errollyn Wallen
   Esplanade, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 23m
   Dust, music by Francis Poulenc
   Clair de Lune, choreo. by Jody Sperling in homage to Loie Fuller, music by Claude Debussy
   Vespers, choreo. by Ulysses Dove, music by Mikel Rouse
   Funny Papers, music of Novelty Tunes

Nov 23
   Images, music by Claude Debussy
   Lost, Found and Lost, “Elevator music” re-orchestrated by Donald York
   Rush Hour, choreo. by Larry Keigwin, music by Adam Crystal

Nov 24m
   Arden Court, music by William Boyce
   The Word, music by David Israel
   Esplanade, music by J.S. Bach

Nov 14
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage)
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
“Louis Langrée Conducts Beethoven”
Louis Langrée, conductor
Sterling Elliott, cello
Valerie COLEMAN: Fanfare for Uncommon Times (2021 OSL Commission)
HAYDN: Cello Concerto No. 2 in D
BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 7

Dec 11
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall)
OSL Presents: Chamber Music Series
“Piazzolla with Julien Labro”
St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble
Julien Labro, bandoneon
PIAZZOLLA: Contemporaneo, Triunfal, Concierto para quinteto, Tres minutos con la realidad, Celos, Oblivion
GINASTERA: Doce Preludios Americanos, Op. 12
Dino SALUZZI: Minguito
Diego SCHISSI: Astor de Pibe

Dec 11–13
New York, NY
Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture
Free School Concerts
“The Sounds Around Us with Kinan Azmeh”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Tito Muñoz, conductor
Aya Aziz, host
Kinan Azmeh, clarinet
John Hadfield, percussion
KINAN AZMEH: Suite for Improvisor & Orchestra
ELLINGTON (arr. A. ROITSTEIN): Harlem Airshaft
BARTOK (arr. A WILLNER): Romanian Folk Dances
SOLHI AL-WADI: Love Poem

Jan 23
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage)
“Mein Traum (My Dream): Schubert, R. Schumann, C. Weber”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Raphaël Pichon, conductor
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Ying Fang, soprano
Ensemble Altera
Christopher Lowrey, Artistic Director
SCHUBERT: Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759, “Unfinished”
Songs and arias of SCHUBERT, SCHUMANN AND WEBER

Jan 29
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage)
“Bernstein’s ‘Kaddish’”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Bard Festival Chorale
Brooklyn Youth Chorus
James Conlon, conductor
Diana Newman, soprano
Judith and Leah Pisar, narrators
BERNSTEIN: Kaddish

Feb 13
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage)
“Marc-André Hamelin Performs ‘Emperor’”
Bernard Labadie, Principal Conductor
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Marc-André Hamelin, piano
HAYDN: Introduzione from The Seven Last Words of Christ, Hob. XX: 2
MOZART: Symphony No. 39 in E-flat, K. 543
BEETHOVEN: Piano Concerto No. 5, “Emperor”

March 5
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall)
OSL Presents: Chamber Music Series
“Beethoven, Barber and Mozart”
St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble
Zhu Wang, piano
BARBER: Summer Music, Op. 31
MOZART: Quintet for piano and winds in E-flat, K. 452
BEETHOVEN: Piano Trio in B-flat, Op. 11, “Gassenhauer”
STRAUSS (arr. David Carp): Till Eulenspiegel

March 23–29
New York, NY
OSL Presents: NYC Five Borough Tour
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
“The Music of Chen Yi”
St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble
Chen Yi, composer and speaker
Jeffrey Zeigler, cello
Chen Tao, xiao
Liu Li, guqin
Chen YI: Sprout
Zhou LONG: Chinese Folk Songs
Chen YI: Sound of the Five
Works for traditional Chinese instruments
March 23: Snug Harbor Newhouse Center for Contemporary Art, Staten Island
March 25: Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, Bronx
March 27: New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center), Manhattan
March 28: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Library, Brooklyn
March 29: Flushing Town Hall, Queens

April 10
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage)
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
“J. S. Bach’s St. John Passion”
Bernard Labadie, Principal Conductor
Evangelist: Andrew Haji, tenor
Jesus: Philippe Sly, bass-baritone
Soprano: Joélle Harvey
Countertenor: Hugh Cutting
Tenor: Samuel Boden
Baritone: William Thomas
La Chapelle de Québec
BACH: St. John Passion 

April 16
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Weill Recital Hall)
OSL Presents: Chamber Music Series
“Susan Graham Performs A Standing Witness”
St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble
Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano
Michael Boriskin, piano
Richard DANIELPOUR: A Standing Witness (New York premiere)

April 28
New York, NY
GALA
Honoring OSL musicians

May 8 
New York, NY
Baryshnikov Arts Center (Jerome Robbins Theater)
(co-produced w/ Baryshnikov Arts)
Jennifer Tipton, lighting designer
St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble
Program to include
VIVALDI: The Four Seasons
Angélica NEGRÓN: Marejada
Anna CLYNE: Woman Holding a Balance

June 3
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall)
OSL Presents: OSL Bach Festival
“J.S. Bach’s Stabat Mater”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Lionel Meunier, conductor
Gemma Nha, soprano
Reginald Mobley, countertenor
VIVALDI: Nulla in mundo pax sincera, RV 630
VIVALDI: Nisi Dominus
BACH: “Tilge, Höchster, meine Sünden,” BWV 1083 (arr. of Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater)

June 10
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall)
OSL Presents: OSL Bach Festival
“Bach & the French Baroque”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Théotime Langlois de Swarte, violin & conductor
Program to include:
BACH: Violin Concerto in A minor, BWV 1041
LECLAIR: Violin Concerto in A minor, Op. 7, No. 5

June 17
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall)
OSL Presents: OSL Bach Festival
“J.S. Bach and Mozart”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s
Angela Hewitt, piano & conductor
BACH: Concerto in G minor, BWV 1058
MOZART: Concerto No. 17 in G, K. 453
MOZART: Quintet for piano and winds, K. 452
BACH: Concerto in D minor, BWV 1052

June 24
New York, NY
Carnegie Hall (Zankel Hall)
OSL Presents: OSL Bach Festival
“J.S. Bach’s Complete Brandenburg Concerti”
Orchestra of St. Luke’s (unconducted)
BACH: Brandenburg Concertos 1-6

July 29
New York, NY
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music (Cary Hall)
World Premieres for Orchestra
DeGaetano Composition Institute composers (OSL commissions)
World premieres for chamber orchestra by LUKÁŠ JANATA, PAUL NOVAK, SOFIA JEN OUYANG, and ZIHAN WU