cello21c

Legend of Sigh is a brand new multimedia, immersive piece for cello and electronics written for Inbal by Razaz with video and projection design by filmmaker Carmen Kordas. It was workshopped in May 2015 as part of VisionIntoArt’s second annual FERUS Festival at Pioneer Works in Brooklyn and premiered in February 2016 at National Sawdust in Brooklyn. Legend of Sigh explores the themes of birth, transformation, and death through the retelling of an old Azerbaijani folktale about a mysterious being, Sigh, who appears every time someone lets out a heartfelt sigh, unknowingly calling out to him. In Razaz’s adapted version, the main character is a widow, who despite her wealth and social status, lives in isolation and loneliness. Overwhelmed with discontent and a desire to end her life, she unknowingly calls upon Sigh. With his help, she is transformed into the body of another woman, receiving another chance at life only to become disillusioned again. With the help of Sigh, the woman travels through numerous lives, learning more about the human spirit each time through her experiences.

composerbiography: GityRazaz

Iranian-American composer Gity Razaz started her musical studies in piano at a young age and began composing music intuitively at age nine. Ms. Razaz attended he Juilliard School on full scholarship, and received her Bachelor and Master of Music in Composition under the tutelage of Samuel Adler, Robert Beaser, and John Corigliano.

Hailed by the New York Times as “ravishing and engulfing,” Gity Razaz’s music ranges from concert solo pieces to large symphonic works. With intense melodies and inventive harmonic languages, Gity’s compositions are often dramatically charged. As described by John Corigliano: “…her Middle Eastern roots have merged with her Western sensibilities to produce music that is both original and startling. She is on her way to becoming a major force in contemporary music.” Gity is an active collaborator involved in projects across disciplines from opera and modern ballet to electro-acoustic sonic landscapes.