Photo Credit: Stephen Kahn

The Knights
Colin Jacobsen, Artistic Director
Eric Jacobsen, Artistic Director and Conductor
Wu Man, Pipa
Christina Courtin, Vocals
Magos Herrera, Vocals

Continuing a long-standing relationship with pipa legend Wu Man, this program will feature the world premiere performance of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Du Yun’s new work for pipa and orchestra and explore themes of cultural memory, transformation of old into new, and a sense of theatricality within both instrumental and vocal music.

Ravel’s Le tombeau de Couperin was written in loving memory of friends he lost in World War I and channels the forms and clean lines of the French Baroque style. Du Yun’s piece is inspired by regional Chinese opera styles, which are increasingly in danger of being lost in modern China. The young Kurt Weill’s Weimar-era Symphony No. 1 (‘Berliner”) contains some of the hallmarks of what were to become his operatic, cabaret style in songs like Alabama Song and Pirate Jenny, which in turn went on to influence artists as diverse as American folk icon Bob Dylan, rock-band The Doors, and the beloved Brazilian songwriter Chico Buarque.

Program:

Maurice Ravel Le tombeau de Couperin 

Du Yun Ears of the Book - Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra, featuring Wu Man (World Premiere, co-commissioned by Carnegie Hall) 

Kurt Weill Symphony No. 1, “Berliner Symphonie” 

Bob Dylan, arr. Christina Courtin “When the Ship Comes In”

Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht, arr. Christina Courtin "Alabama Song"

Chico Buarque, arr. Colin Jacobsen “Geni e o Zepelim” featuring Magos Herrera, vocals

Additional tickets not available online are available over the phone (212-247-7800) and at the Carnegie Hall Box Office.

The Knights thank Gary L. Wasserman and Charles A. Kashner for their generous sponsorship support of the 2023/24 Knights Concert Series at Carnegie Hall.