from Into the Woods
About
The result is a brand new world-class piano repertory (LIAISONS: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano) that reveals Sondheim’s influence across multiple genres and generations. Composers hail from seven countries, range in age from 32 to 76, and span the worlds of classical, pop, jazz, opera, musical theater and film. See COMPOSERS for the complete list.
Since 2011 Mr. de Mare has been touring iterations of LIAISONS across the country, to widespread critical and popular acclaim. The first 32 pieces received their NYC premieres over the span of two sold-out concerts at Symphony Space. in April 2012 and March 2013, receiving rave reviews from Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times and others. Mr. Sondheim also gave a live interview at each concert. See WATCH/LISTEN for performance and interview excerpts.
At its essence, LIAISONS is an homage. But unlike any other Sondheim tribute to date, its focus is exclusively on the music. The Project leaves no doubt that, aside from his genius as a lyricist, Stephen Sondheim is one of the century's greatest and most influential composers.
Over the past two years, LIAISONS programs have played to sold-out crowds at concert halls and universities in major cities from Chicago and San Francisco to Portland, Kansas City, Fort Saskatchwan and Fort Worth. Performed exclusively by de Mare through 2016, individual pieces can be combined to form an infinite variety of concert, recital and residency programs. LIAISONS will ultimately be released as a 3-CD recording, currently in process, as well as a published collection.
For those new to Sondheim’s work, LIAISONS offers a delightful introduction to it; for those already familiar, the context of a concert hall inspries whole new insights and appreciations. Check CONCERTS for a performance near you!
Real-time news and updates can be found on our facebook page:
Composers
from Into the Woods
after "Putting it Together" from Sunday in the Park with George
after "Happiness" from Passion
from Company
from Assassins
after "Anyone Can Whistle" and "Send in the Clowns"
after "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" from Sweeney Todd
after "The Ballad of Sweeney Todd " from Sweeney Todd
from A Little Night Music
from Assassins
after "Children and Art" from Sunday in the Park with George
from A Little Night Music
from Pacific Overtures
after "A Weekend in the Country" from A Little Night Music
from Into the Woods
from A Little Night Music
from Company
after "Someone in a Tree" from Pacific Overtures
after "Good Thing Going" from Merrily We Roll Along
after "Worst Pies in London" and "A Little Priest" from Sweeney Todd
after "Losing My Mind" from Follies
from Sunday in the Park with George
from Sweeney Todd
from Sweeney Todd
from Company
from Sunday in the Park with George
from Company
from Company
from Follies
after "Beautiful" from Sunday in the Park with George
from Sweeney Todd
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
after "Liaisons" and "Send in the Clowns" from A Little Night Music
from Sweeney Todd
from Merrily We Roll Along
Commissions
Only one commission remains available. Please contact the Producer for more information (see CONTACT tab).
Liaisons is grateful to the following individuals and institutions for their visionary commissioning support (as of May 1, 2013):
Anonymous • The Banff Centre • Scott & Roxanne Bok • The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (University of Maryland) • Beth Rudin de Woody • Heather & Justin Frank, M.D. • Dan Gallagher & Peter Shearer, M.D. • The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival (Ann Arbor) • Frank K. Godcheaux & Mark Murashige • The Perry & Martin Granoff Family Foundation • Bob and Anna Livingston • James & Ellen Marcus • Martin L. & Lucy Miller Murray • Music in the Loft (Chicago) • Anthony Razzano • Ben & Donna Rosen • The Rudin Foundation • The Schubert Club (Minneapolis • The David and Alice Shearer Fund • The Shen Family Foundation • Annaliese Soros • Tom Spain • Richard and Linda Sweetnam • William E. Terry
Concerts
Upcoming Performances
Past Performances
Liaisons works by Nico Muhly, Mark Anthony Turnage, Mason Bates and Paul Moravec
Watch/Listen
Music
Video
promotional video
Highlights from LIAISONS I at Symphony Space, NYC 4/21/12
aired live at Symphony Space, March 9, 2013.
(1 of 3 short films by Crystal Arnette)
live performance, Symphony Space
March 9, 2013
live performance, Symphony Space
March 9, 2013
live performance, Symphony Space
April 21, 2012
live performance, Manhattan School of Music
February 2012
live performance, Symphony Space
April 21, 2012
live performance, Symphony Space
April 21, 2012
onstage interview, Symphony Space
April 21, 2012
Photos
Press
April 2012
“The adventurous [de Mare], a champion of contemporary music, merged his passion for Sondheim with his effort to expand the recital repertory. The resulting project required formidable virtuosity... de Mare’s playing was dynamic and stylish. I loved it.”
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August 2013
"After seeing de Mare’s triumphant performance, we definitely want to gain a deeper knowledge of the musicals. Moreover, we were impressed by de Mare’s ability to master everything from the most pyrotechnical classical compositions to the suave style of the jazz works..."
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March 2013
" An adventurous project... Mr. de Mare performed with vivid commitment throughout, fully plumbing the nuances of each work. "
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September 2012
“De Mare is a dynamic pianist, with technique and musicianship to burn. For those who love Sondheim and are interested in hearing new work from a variety of contemporary composers, [Liaisons is] a must-see occasion.
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September 2012
“The variety of the settings kept the audience engaged, and de Mare was formidable throughout. The evening was a refreshing alternative to the typical recital, and successfully promoted Sondheim's legacy as well...
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June 2012
“A thrilling program… filled with surprise and inventiveness.”
May 2012
“The concert offered a wide range of compositional styles and moods, highly colorful, and superbly played by de Mare.
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March 2012
“Liaisons is a revelation… a delightful recital with an exuberant close. De Mare’s playing was superb throughout, a combination of lyrical reflection and extroverted pyrotechnics.”
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February 2012
“Just when you thought that there wasn't anything new in piano recitals anymore, along comes Anthony de Mare … a first-class pianist whose list of composer friends is a virtual who's who of American music… each piece is a fascinating exploration of the composer's style.”
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January 2012
“The ambitious endeavor of Anthony de Mare to create liaisons between musical theater and so-called “art-music” brings out his formidable piano technique and his charming, easy manner.”
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August 2011
“If anyone still doubted Sondheim’s prowess as an instrumental composer, this project should firmly lay those doubts to rest… de Mare’s concert kicked off energetically and his illuminating stage comments relaxed the atmosphere.”
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Anthony de Mare
Mr. de Mare made his New York debut under the auspices of Young Concert Artists, prior to which he won First Prize and Audience Prize at the International Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in The Netherlands and The International Competition of Contemporary Piano Music in France. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at Zankel Hall in 2005 and has toured extensively with such popular programs as The American Piano, Missing Peace (commissioned by The Rubin Museum), COOL~A Journey into the Influence of Jazz and his solo show, Playing with Myself, which played for an extended run at HERE Arts Center.
Mr. de Mare is a Yamaha Artist with nearly twenty recordings in his discography and was short-listed for a Grammy Award in 2011 and 2005. He is presently Professor of Piano at Manhattan School of Music and New York University.www.anthonydemare.com
Booking
Single programs last from 60-90 minutes and contain approximately 11-14 pieces. As many as three consecutive twelve-piece programs can be offered. Mr. de Mare delivers brief commentary between pieces, illuminating the composers, process and origin of the pieces. For those new to Mr. Sondheim’s work the programs provide a delightful introduction; for those already familiar with it, the context of a concert hall allows for new insights and appreciation.
Two elegant and simple multi-media components are available to complement the LIaisons performance: background slides with animated text, and a four-minute excerpt of the live interview given by Mr. Sondheim’s at the NYC premiere. Technical requirements are a projector with a DVI, HDMI or VGA input and/or connection to a computer running Windows XP (or later) or Mac OS X. In addition, two pieces require CD or mp3 playback along with a stage audio monitor for the performer: Steve Reich’s Finishing the Hat and Jason Robert Brown’s Birds of Victorian England.
A master teacher and lecturer, Mr. de Mare can offer residencies and lectures as well as day-, week- or semester-long curricula based on Liaisons material.
Recording
To sign up for the release mailing list please fill out the form below.
Financing and distribution opportunities are available, and tax-deductible contributions toward recording expenses are gratefully accepted:
Contact
for booking, commissions and more information
Rachel Colbert, Producer
(212) 473-2288
rachel@liaisonsproject.com
for press inquires:
April Thibeault, Public Relations
AMT Public Relations
april@amtpublicrelations.com