ICE at Merkin
In what is most likely a rarity, I infiltrated the inner sanctum of the Oberlin brotherhood last night and performed with the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) at Merkin Concert Hall. ICE was ensemble-in-residence at NYU this week, which culminated with a concert of six world premieres by NYU graduate students. I played on the last piece, Leaving Santa Monica by Jenny Olivia Johnson, an intense and powerful work for two female voices and chamber ensemble, so I got to hear most of the concert save Matthew Quayle’s string quartet. On the first half of the show, Paula Matthusen’s the distances and Sophocles Papavasilopoulos’ Pasa Pnoi stood out. I was impressed by the variety and distinctiveness of the compositional voices on display tonight. And ICE is a wonderful group.