On a recently released recording from BIS, Alan Gilbert conducts Rouse's Iscariot, Clarinet Concerto, and Symphony No. 1 with the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and soloist Martin Fröst.

As part of Alan Gilbert’s first season at its helm, the New York Philharmonic has commissioned a new piece from Rouse, Zhizn, which will receive its world premiere performances February 10-12, 16; 2010.

Christopher Rouse will attend the world premiere of his Oboe Concerto on February 5, 2009, performed by the Minnesota Orchestra and principal oboist Basil Reeve. Conductor Osmo Vänskä will lead the premiere at Orchestra Hall along with subsequent performances February 6-8, 2009.

Recently named Musical America Composer of the Year for 2009, Rouse celebrates his 60th birthday on February 15! Stay tuned to his MySpace for special Chris Rouse birthday giveaways!

Best,

Dan
Boosey & Hawkes

It's that time of year again, so in the spirit of the season we're posting several clips from my Christmas work for chorus and orchestra, "Karolju." My best wishes to you all for the happiest of holidays!

          CR

Hey Everyone,

Check out the below press release that we sent today!

Best,

Dan
Boosey & Hawkes

Christopher Rouse Named Musical America's Composer of the Year

Christopher Rouse has been named Composer of the Year by Musical America for 2009. Also recognized at the 2009 Musical America Awards at Lincoln Center next month will be Yo-Yo Ma as Musician of the Year, Marin Alsop as Conductor of the Year, Stephanie Blythe as Vocalist of the Year, and the Pacifica Quartet as Ensemble of the Year.

Rouse is celebrating his 60th birthday this season with performances around the globe, including the February 5 world premiere of his Oboe Concerto, led by Osmo Vänskä with the Minnesota Orchestra and soloist Basil Reeve. The composer will be in Minnesota to celebrate the premiere, which takes place just prior to his actual birthday (February 15). 

Best known for his masterful orchestral scores, Rouse has made a remarkable contribution to the repertoire with twenty-four symphonic works to date. His latest piece, the Concerto for Orchestra (which premiered at the Cabrillo Festival this past summer and will enjoy an East Coast premiere in Baltimore this Friday, November 21, led by Conductor of the Year Marin Alsop), marks Rouse's eleventh concerto.

His works have been performed by several orchestras this year including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra (Der gerettete Alberich), Dallas Symphony Orchestra (Symphony No. 2), Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Symphony (Trombone Concerto), and the New York Philharmonic (Rapture). Upcoming engagements include the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Rapture), the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (Friandises), the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (Der gerettete Alberich) and Aspen Music Festival (Oboe Concerto).

A Baltimore native, Rouse currently resides in his hometown and teaches composition at The Juilliard School, serves as Visiting Composer at the Peabody Institute, and is composer-in-residence at the Aspen Music Festival and School. With this award he joins previous Musical America Composers of the Year from Boosey & Hawkes: Elliott Carter (1993), John Adams (1997), Ned Rorem (1998), and Steve Reich (2001).

For more information please visit: http://www.boosey.com/rouse

Hey Everybody,

Check out the massive interview Chris did with Frank J. Oteri of NewMusicBox, www.newmusicbox.org.  It was also picked up on Arts Journal:

Christopher Rouse On The High Cost Of Writing Opera

"It's so much work. You spend years on this sucker. Then you have to deal with casting, and you have to deal with all of the egos and all of that. And yes, indeed, you do have to work with the singers, you have to work with the stage director, you need to work with the scene people, the lighting people, the musicians, the conductor, all of these extra people. And then it probably will be staged once, get ho hum reviews, and disappear forever. Uh, I don't know. There are other things I guess I'd rather be doing."

-Dan
Boosey & Hawkes, Inc.

Hi Everybody,

We're happy to let you know that Christopher Rouse's 2008-2009 season begins with the world premiere of his latest work, Concerto for Orchestra, at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. Commissioned by the Festival, Concerto for Orchestra is dedicated to long-time champion Marin Alsop in honor of the Festival's administrative leadership, Ellen Primack and Tom Fredericks. Alsop will lead the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra in the premiere performance at Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium in California on August 1.

For more information, please read the offical press release.

-Dan
Boosey & Hawkes

Seasons Greetings!

"Karolju" is a work I composed in 1990 It is intended to serve as a work that celebrates this very special time of year. The songs were all composed by me but were meant to sound like traditional carols; each is in a different language. I dedicated the work to my daughter Alexandra, who was celebrating her first Christmas that year. These excerpts were taken from a newly released recording of the piece on the Sony/BMG label. Christmas music by Lutoslawski and Rodrigo is also included.

My very best wishes to you all for much joy this holiday season!

                                                                   CR