Sunday, May 8th 8pm

National Sawdust honors composer David Lang by featuring a reimagination of Paolo Sorrentino’s critically acclaimed film, YOUTH, with works by David Lang, including his Oscar-nominated song, Simple Song No. 3, and NS Group in Residency, 1B1, a Grammy award winning Norwegian string orchestra, plus special guests.

Most movies include orchestral music in one form or another, but what happens when the narrative of the film takes the back seat as a mood setter, and the music in itself becomes the protagonist?

This is a night honoring the American composer David Lang by featuring a re-imagination of film director Paolo Sorrentino’s critically acclaimed, YOUTH, including Lang’s Oscar-nominated song, “Simple Song No 3.”, and NS group-in-residency, 1B1, a Norwegian Grammy-winning string orchestra, plus special guests.

Fans of Sorrentino’s and of Lang’s music are sure to treasure the opportunity to dive deeper into both the visuals and the soundtrack. Last november, when 1B1 performed a similar (sold out) show at National Sawdust (devoted to THE GREAT BEAUTY – another one of Sorrentino’s movies)., the ensemble, delivered a mesmerizing performance of the soundtrack together with Church of Trinity Choir Wall Street, accompanied by evocative screen projections of scenes from the film.

In addition to several works by Lang, the program also features music by David Byrne and italian opera composer Mercadante.

Saverio Mercadante (1795-1870): “Figlia, Tuo Scuoti” (from the opera Virginia)
· Liv Redpath (soprano) and Steven Beck (piano)

David Lang (1957): “Come Daughter” (from The Little Match Girl)
· Cantori Singers and Mark Shapiro (conductor)

David Byrne (1952): “Dirty Hair”
· 1B1 with guests

David Lang: “I Lie”
· Cantori Singers with Mark Shapiro (conductor)

David Lang: “Simple Song, No. 3”
· 1B1 with Liv Redpath, Steven Beck (piano) and Laura Weiner (horN) with Mark Shapiro (conductor)