Internationally acclaimed composer and harpist Anne LeBaron marks her illustrious tenure at CalArts with a retrospective concert at UCLA’s Lani Hall, on Wednesday, February 7, at 7 PM. The program, encapsulating four decades of pioneering music, will be followed by an enlightening talkback and reception.
The evening unfolds around LeBaron’s lifelong passions, weaving a tapestry of music with drama, environmental advocacy, sounds and stories from around the world, the recognition of women’s achievements, and the spirit of artistic collaboration. This much-anticipated event will feature world premieres alongside rarely performed works.
“The Heroine with a Thousand Faces,” a prodigious new multi-year endeavor aiming to create one thousand musical portraits, launches with five original solos honoring women whose momentous contributions have reshaped our history. The prestigious Davise Fund facilitates these tributes by commissioning musical homages to figures such as Australian Saint Mary Helen Mackillop, Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee, and the indomitable Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Extraordinary saxophonist Jan Berry Baker will present world premieres of five such portraits, composed expressly for her.
Showcasing an array of LeBaron's vocal compositions from her operatic oeuvre, the program includes chamber pieces that echo her deep commitment to environmental causes. Additionally, her improvisational prowess on the harp will be on display as she guides an ensemble through a graphic score, drawing inspiration from Marcel Duchamp's concept of 'the infrathin.’
This event is co-sponsored by the UCLA Department of Musicology, the Department of Music, the Center for Musical Humanities, the Center for the Study of Women/Streisand Center, and the UCLA Music Library Davise Fund.