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

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.

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

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

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. 

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Dreamscapes is magnificent with virtuosic performances… a spectacular sounding disc… by one of today’s most eclectic composers.

Andrew Cyr and David Bruce talk over the score on stage for “The Firework Maker’s Daughter.”

The two concertos were recorded at Tanglewood’s Seiji Ozawa Hall by Charlie Post and Tim Martyn with a “you-are-there” feeling.