3/7/21 3/7/21

Video Premiere: (Un)Wandering Souls

A timbrally-rich fusion of struck metal, wood, porcelain, and glass defines Vivian Fung’s(Un)Wandering Souls.

11/11/20 11/11/20

Metropolis Radio: Fill Your Day with Music

Introducing Metropolis Radio, our new ongoing series of curated Spotify playlists from the next generation of composers and performers.

9/30/20 9/30/20

Pausing to Experience House Music

After six months of pandemic, everyone is living in a time of pause. Engaging in something new reminds us all of the power of imagination.

3/26/20 3/26/20

Music Will Move Us Forward

Our new virtual project, House Music, features bite-sized performances of both new works from musicians sheltering in place around the world.

4/22/19 4/22/19

National Sawdust Log: Playlist (Waves of light)

“William Brittelle – Spiritual America – Wye Oak, Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Metropolis Ensemble/Andrew Cyr (New Amsterdam/Nonesuch; due May 3, 2019)”

4/19/18 4/19/18

New York Times: A Room-Size Painting Becomes a Cello Concerto About Versailles

Timo Andres’ piece, which features the cellist Inbal Segev performing with the Metropolis Ensemble, is based on John Vanderlyn’s “Panoramic View of the Palace and Gardens of Versailles” (1818-19), a massive painting on nearly 2,000 square feet of canvas that requires its own circular gallery in the Met’s American Wing.

6/6/16 6/6/16

Village Voice: Classical Music Gets Casual

“It’s not about gimmicks, it’s about feeling allowed to break with convention and enjoy the music as you like.”

1/27/15 1/27/15

Wall Street Journal: Walk and Listen

In the Upper East Side townhouse that the American Irish Historical Society calls home, a violinist ambled down the stairs while tuning her instrument and a harpist improvised with electronic sounds that came from the walls.

9/7/14 9/7/14

Portland Press Herald: Victoria Mansion will become a stage for the Metropolis ensemble’s ‘Brownstone’

The New York-based ensemble, with roots in Maine, will perform at the Portland mansion on Oct. 3.

9/2/14 9/2/14

Bates: Andrew Cyr ’96 and Metropolis offer concert, workshops

“With its performers dispersed throughout the Olin Arts Center at Bates College, Metropolis presents the innovative site-specific piece Brownstone.”

6/2/14 6/2/14

Washington Post: "Bold, Engaging, Powerful, and Forceful"

5/26/14 5/26/14

Washington Post: Phillips Camerata and guests perform a trio of Washington premieres

The Washington premiere Sunday of a bold new harp concerto capped an engaging and powerful performance of recent music by members of the Phillips Camerata, the resident ensemble of Washington’s Phillips Collection; the Quartet Senza Misura; and musicians from the New York-based Metropolis Ensemble.

5/17/14 5/17/14

New York Times: "Resolutely Optimistic"

5/14/14 5/14/14

New York Times: A Haunting History Lesson With Your Hip-Hop

The musicians weren’t the same Roots band seen regularly on NBC’s “Tonight” show with Jimmy Fallon. They included the Metropolis Ensemble — the conductor Andrew Cyr, a string quartet and four singers — and the jazz pianist D. D. Jackson, who wrote dramatic, somberly dissonant arrangements for the ensemble.

12/9/13 12/9/13

I Care If You Listen: 5 Questions to Luke Rinderknecht

Andrew Cyr continually fosters young composers and emerging talents, and I’ve been honored to premier an incredible amount of music by some wonderful composers.