Coming to the ISSUE Project Room

From New York’s ISSUE Project Room:

THU, OCTOBER 16 – 8:00PM
FRI, OCTOBER 17 – 8:00PM
Elliott Sharp: Port Bou

A newly commissioned opera by celebrated composer and performer Elliott Sharp premieres in two performances this Thursday and Friday. The work depicts the final moments of philosopher Walter Benjamin’s life in Port-Bou, at the French-Spanish border, as he flees Nazi-occupied France.

The opera stars the extraordinary bass/baritone Nicholas Isherwood, with pianist Jenny Lin and accordionist William Schimmel, and prerecorded electro-acoustic backgrounds by Sharp. Video projections by Janene Higgins provide the set and staging, as well as subtext and commentary.

WED, DECEMBER 3 – 8:00PM
Kim Gordon & Loren Connors
Gary War

ISSUE is pleased to welcome back rock icon Kim Gordon performing in a special first-time duo with the legendary Brooklyn-based guitarist Loren Connors. Electro-rocker Gary War, recently residing in New Zealand, opens the night.

Pre-sale for ISSUE Members begins Fri, Oct 17th, General Admission on sale Fri, Oct 24th.

Thu, October 23
Werner Dafeldecker & Valerio Tricoli: Williams Mix Extended
Solo sets by each, plus a new interpretation of Cage’s “Williams Mix”, approaching the score from a contemporary perspective.

Fri, October 24
Carol Robinson & Nate Wooley: Works of Eliane Radigue & Denis Dufour
American and World Premieres of new works by iconoclastic French composers.

Sat, October 25
Sun, October 26
Kye Showcase
Spotlight on Graham Lambkin’s label with Call Back the Giants, Malcolm Goldstein, Matt Krefting, Vanessa Rossetto, James Rushford & Lambkin.

Sun, October 26
Ne(x)tworks Plays New Works by Paul Pinto, Gelsey Bell, Miguel Frasconi
An opera scene stars Joan La Barbara as the posthumous spirit of Thomas Paine, plus graphic and visual scores written for our theater.

TUE, DECEMBER 9 – 7:00PM
Matmos perform Robert Ashley’s “Perfect Lives”
General Admission tickets are now on sale to ISSUE Members! Available to the public Wed, October 22nd.

ISSUE Project Room hosts a special benefit event featuring acclaimed electronics duo Matmos performing scenes from Robert Ashley’s groundbreaking television-opera Perfect Lives, with opening performance by 2014 ISSUE Artist-In-Residence Raúl de Nieves.

And let it be set down, [Robert Ashley] was one of the most amazing composers of the 20th century, and the greatest genius of 20th-century opera. — Kyle Gann