William Maselli is a New York-based composer who has written principally for voice, including the song cycles Easter Songs, Dreams of Love, and Flowers. Maselli has also written an opera, Spirit Fire, dealing with subjects of politics, romance, eroticism, racial relations and spirituality against a backdrop of the French Revolution in Paris and early American life in New York and Monticello, Virginia, which is being recorded with soprano Adina Aaron, tenor Marc Heller, and bass Aaron Borst. He is also no stranger to the world of pop and rock, having composed and performed in both of those genres, and released several albums of contemporary music. Maselli is currently composing a new opera, a Raskolnikov-inspired drama dealing with the morality of murder and the unbridled passions of artistic frustration and erotic obsession. Information concerning Maselli’s compositions, including texts as well as philosophical and political essays, may be found on www.worldkrystal.com.
The world premiere performance of John F. Kennedy: Requiem, by William Maselli, was at Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall on Sunday November 21, 2004. The Kennedy Requiem represents the best in American contemporary music, incorporating diverse musical influences within a traditional classical style. The Requiem consists of a series of fifteen vocal pieces with orchestra, here a chamber orchestra conducted by the composer. The performance featured four vocal soloists, including Aaron Borst, bass, and Eric Fennell, tenor. The Requiem is in essence a spiritual journey, embracing aspects of mortal life but more firmly rooted in the transcendent journey of the soul. The music passes from gentle introductions to severe exclamations to lyrical loving sentiment to uplifting musical/spiritual journeys.
The Kennedy Requiem is specially important at this moment, a social and political crossroad in the history of America and of the world. The messages contained within: faith, hope, and the indomitable will of mankind in the face of perpetual struggle, will perhaps speak to this generation of music-lovers who have moved far beyond popular culture yet feel cold and unmoved by musical styles born from other cultures or from the cold and analytical approach of most contemporary music.
Krystal Classical Productions presented other works by William Maselli at Weill Hall. The first was the very successful Easter Recital featuring soprano Adina Aaron, and also featuring the Berlin-born cellist Claudia Benker who is a protégé of Claudio Abbado and who is currently performing in the internationally renowned Lucerne Festival Orchestra. The Easter Recital highlighted works by Ricky Ian Gordon and Stefania de Kenessey, and also presented the premiere of William Maselli’s song cycles, Easter Songs and Dreams Of Love. Also highly successful was the April 16th concert featuring tenor Marc Heller and presenting music of John Musto, Alfred Heller, and William Maselli.
A consistent theme of all three concerts was the presentation of new, challenging, and quality American contemporary music. The Kennedy Requiem employs an English-language text written by the composer. A special feature of this work, as well as Maselli’s other compositions, is the magical interaction between the English language text and the musical style, creating what may rightfully be called a new direction for American classical music.Krystal Productions is committed to presenting to the public the finest artistic musical and theatrical performances in the world today, specializing in contemporary artistic expression representing eternal artistic and spiritual values and dedicated to challenging the conventions of the dramatic musical theatre. Rather than attempting to impose foreign or radical structures for shock or novelty, Krystal recognizes the organic process of spiritual and artistic evolution and seeks to establish artistic strength and power through a coalescence of evolving consciousness with the traditions and culture of our civilization.
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