The Rhapsody Project
The Knights announce Rhapsody, a new multi-year project inspired by the 2024 centennial of Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue.
Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez
“A Rhapsody is one of the most ecstatically joyful expressions of art. The combination of virtuosity, improvisation, and unfettered imagination that have characterized some of the great Rhapsodies of the past, like Gershwin’s, inspired us to ask some of today’s most imaginative voices to create their own. We can’t wait to see what emerges as The Knights join together in creative partnership with this diverse set of cultural voices!”
— Colin and Eric Jacobsen, Artistic Directors
Rhapsody is The Knights’ multi-year initiative that comprises commissions, performances, recordings, and educational initiatives, inspired by the example of George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and its centennial in 2024. Gershwin's strikingly original and imaginative work, combining influences from jazz and classical music, came to embody the cultural zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties. Through this project, The Knights will explore our current cultural moment in collaboration with some of today’s most animating cultural voices.
Over the next three years, The Knights will present a series of commissions and collaborations with a diverse group of composers and guest soloists who connect classical music with other musical traditions, and who are committed to using their art to explore and redefine today's classical music landscape. Confirmed participants include Chris Thile, Du Yun, Wu Man, Jessie Montgomery, Kyle Sanna, Kinan Azmeh, Michael Schachter, Aaron Diehl, Christina Courtin, Gabriel Kahane, Anthony McGill, Kayhan Kalhor, Allison Loggins-Hull, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus, with many more to be announced as the project unfolds.
In addition to highlighting The Knights' genre-blurring programming and virtuosic musicianship, Rhapsody will feature performances throughout New York City, across the country, and around the world, and it will include integrated educational components in partnership with youth orchestras, colleges and universities, young composers, and music students of all ages.
Witness Rhapsody at Carnegie Hall in the 2023-24 & 2024-25 seasons
October 26, 2023
Chris Thile: ATTENTION! featuring Chris Thile, mandolin and vocals
February 29, 2024
Du Yun: Ears of the Book - Concerto for Pipa and Orchestra, featuring Wu Man, pipa
May 16, 2024
Jessie Montgomery orch. Michi Wiancko: Rhapsody No. 2 for violin and orchestra featuring Colin Jacobsen, violin
August 31, 2024
Kyle Sanna: Undone Landscape, featuring Kinan Azmeh, clarinet
at the Clark Art Institute
October 24, 2024
Michael Schachter: Being and Becoming for piano and orchestra featuring Aaron Diehl, piano
DECEMber 8, 2024
Allison Loggins-Hull: New Work for flute and orchestra featuring Alex Sopp, flute
May 15, 2025
Christina Courtin: New Rhapsody for orchestra
Additional Rhapsody performance dates to be announced…
Gabriel Kahane: Rhapsody for clarinet and orchestra featuring Anthony McGill, clarinet
Colin Jacobsen: Rhapsody for orchestra featuring Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh, and Brooklyn Youth Chorus
Michael P. Atkinson: Folk Rhapsody for orchestra
Rhapsody and Education
The Rhapsody project's educational initiatives bring the concept of rhapsody to young musicians and artists of all ages. Each educational component gathers students around the ideas of joyful expression and improvisation, inspired by Gershwin’s masterpiece and the inherent, unfettered imagination of youth.
Artist-in-residency: Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts
At their annual artist-in-residency at Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts on Long Island in 2023, musicians from The Knights brought together Usdan students in Composition, Creative Writing, and Painting & Drawing around the theme of Rhapsody. The project culminated in a performance; a rhapsodic quilt of songs, visual art, and poetry celebrating the diverse viewpoints, backgrounds, and imaginations of the Usdan students.
To learn more about how you can support Rhapsody, please contact The Knights at info@theknightsnyc.com.
For media and press inquiries, please contact Zachary Haas at zachary@theknightsnyc.com.