Manning the Canon

Songs of Gay Life — Back By Popular Demand!
One Night Only! Thursday, November 17, 2011, 8pm
Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY
Scott Murphree, tenor; Jesse Blumberg, Timothy McDevitt, baritones;
Matt Boehler, bass; Steven Blier, pianist

A tribute to gay composers and a celebration of the lives of gay men in songs by Poulenc, Tchaikovsky, Griffes, Bernstein, Porter, Blitzstein and many others. After last year's rapturously received performance, Anthony Tommasini wrote in The New York Times: "Such programs can easily fall into the trap of social politics and turn maudlin, agenda driven and campy. This one was insightful and imaginative, touching and funny." Read the raves >

Read the program notes >

Blier talks about Manning the Canon:"This is a program we debuted last season, after I had been longing to do it for about two decades. It explores two centuries of gay composers and gay-themed songs, and presents a wide variety of characters: experienced guys on the prowl for a good time; sensitive men grappling with their sexuality; hyper-males and drag queens; ecstatic lovers and those just awakening to their erotic nature. The composers come from seven countries and span 190 years, but they have one thing in common: they are all masters of words and music, and present a vital and engaging portrait of our gay heritage. The joys of gay brotherhood, the lacerating wit of our most brilliant writers, the subtle signals we've created to locate one another, and the crises we've faced and survived: these are the subjects of Manning the Canon."

Performed without intermission; approx. 90 min
Complimentary wine reception with the artists to follow.

Purchase tickets to Manning the Canon >

To purchase Real Deal tickets:
call the Merkin Box Office at 212-501-3330.

Manning the Canon will also be performed at the Gildenhorn Recital Hall in College Park, MD. Learn more >

..........................................................................................

NYFOS programs are made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.  The NYFOS Merkin Hall concert series is made possible, in part, by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.