Made Real
In our final program of the season, we turn to a longtime friend—the brilliant guitarist Nicolò Spera—to help us premiere a brand new work by composer Christopher Theofanidis titled Door Out of the Fire. Often celebrated for his colorful, inventive, and magnetic compositions, Theofanidis turns his musical spotlight in a new direction, applying all the communicative power of one obsessed with the world’s sonic texture to a dark and deepening reality: earth’s changing climate.
The program also includes Ildebrando Pizzetti’s glorious Requiem, presented on the 100th anniversary of its composition. The Requiem for double choir begins with Gregorian plainchant, and includes references to 15th- and 16th-century Renaissance polyphony including Venetian multiple choruses. Stark melodies and two-part textures suddenly blossom into glowingly radiant complex harmonies.
Special Guests: Nicolò Spera, guitar and Abigail Nims, mezzo-soprano
Program
- Immortal Bach – J.S. Bach/Knut Nystedt
- Requiem (1922) – Ildebrando Pizzetti
I. Requiem Aeternam
II. Dies Irae
III. Sanctus
IV. Agnus Dei
V. Libera Me - Fantasia No. 1 – Georg Philipp Telemann
- Door Out of the Fire (2021) – Christopher Theofanidis
Guitar Prelude
I. Burning Cathedral
Guitar Interlude I
II. The Book of Rahul
Guitar Interlude II
III. Ruth’s Aria
Guitar Interlude III
IV. Migration Patterns
Download a digital version of the concert program here.

Nicolò Spera
Guitar
Italian guitarist Nicolò Spera brings to his teaching and performing a unique synthesis of European and American traditions. Nicolò is one of the few guitarists in the world to perform on both…

Abigail Nims
Mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Abigail Nims has established herself as a musician of integrity and versatility, garnering praise for her performances of repertoire from the Baroque to contemporary premieres. Acclaimed for her committed…

Christopher Theofanidis
Composer
Christopher Theofanidis (b. 12/18/67 in Dallas, Texas) has had performances by many leading orchestras from around the world, including the London Symphony, the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Atlanta…

Melissa Studdard
Poet
Melissa Studdard is the author of five books, including the poetry collection I Ate the Cosmos for Breakfast, the poetry chapbook Like a Bird with a Thousand Wings, and the young adult novel Six Weeks…
Ildebrando Pizzetti
Composer
Pizzetti was born in Parma in 1880. He was part of the “Generation of 1880” along with Ottorino Respighi, Gian Francesco Malipiero, and Alfredo Casella. They were among the first Italian composers in some time…