April 18, 2015 | 8 p.m.

Listen to the live broadcast online by clicking the "Listen Live" button at the top of your screen, or by tuning your radio to 89.5 FM on April 18, 2015. Commentary from Renee Beale and Chris Johnson will begin just before 8 p.m.


About the Program

KMFA 89.5 is proud to partner with Texas Performing Arts to present a first-ever performance collaboration by two of Austin’s most prominent arts organizations, Conspirare and Austin Classical Guitar, in a world premiere work by Nico Muhly. How Little You Are, written for voices and guitars, will be conducted by Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare’s artistic director, and will feature three world-class guitar quartets engaged by Matthew Hinsley, executive director of Austin Classical Guitar. The program will also include performances with the Conspirare Youth Choir and Austin Classical Guitar Youth Orchestra. 

Nico Muhly has been described as “a leading light of contemporary classical music,” and is one of the most sought-after young composers in the new music world today. In this new work, How Little You Are, he uses music and text to capture the sense of hope, fear, and loneliness that defined the experience of Texas’ original settlers as they pursued the promise of a better life.

This world premiere performance will take place at Bass Concert Hall on April 18th at 8 p.m. The performance will be streamed live on KMFA 89.5. Listen to the live broadcast online by clicking the "Listen Live" button at the top of your screen, or by tuning your radio to 89.5 FM on April 18, 2015. Commentary from Renee Beale and Chris Johnson will begin just before 8 p.m.

This broadcast is part of our Listen Local series. This project is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the Still Water Foundation, Estes Audiology Hearing Centers, and Tito's Handmade Vodka.

Program Notes

"How Little You Are" Texts

Nico Muhly's comments on "How Little You Are"

 

About the performance

[from Texas Performing Arts]:

How Little You Are
For voices and guitars
Nico Muhly, composer
Craig Hella Johnson, conductor

Presented in partnership with Conspirare, Austin Classical Guitar, and KMFA 89.5 with support from Michael and Carol Fields, and Steve and Rebecca Guengerich. Support for the commissioning of “How Little You Are” by Nico Muhly was provided by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

This program is made possible by a generous grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

featuring

Conspirare
Craig Hella Johnson and Company of Voices

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet 
John Dearman | Matthew Greif | William Kanengiser | Scott Tennant

Dublin Guitar Quartet 
Brian Bolger | Pat Brunnock | David Creevy | Tomas O’Durcain

Texas Guitar Quartet 
Isaac Bustos | Jonathan Dotson | Alejandro Montiel | Joseph Williams II

Learn more about Nico Muhly's current and past repertoire with a collection of interviews and music curated by KMFA.

View show archive