June 27th — Congratulazioni a Hannah Kendall (CRF 2021) on the release of her debut album “shouting forever into the receiver” today, June 27th. The album spans recent solo and ensemble works that explore the global legacy of the plantation system, its enduring presence in contemporary life, and faith in the possibility of change.
The title of the album comes from the name of one of the pieces—which in 2023 won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Large Ensemble Composition—and is taken from Ocean Vuong’s (CRF 2016, DG 2022) novel “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.” This work and others on the album explore the mechanisms of the Plantation Machine as defined by Cuban writer Antonio Benítez-Rojo. The album also features performances by Ensemble Modern, Wavefield Ensemble, loadbang, and others, as well as solo pieces drawing on the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, including “Tuxedo: Crown; Sun King,” wherein violinist Jonathan Morton uses various objects associated with Afro hair to transform the sound of his instrument.
Upon leaving her residency at Civitella, Kendall said, “Writing my first opera was the most stressful thing I’ve ever done. Starting my second at Civitella almost felt like a breeze.” Swipe for a peek at “Tuxedo: Crown; Sun King” and Kendall at Civitella.
Learn more and get your copy of the album here.