It’s hard to process the reality that Joel Sachs has decided to retire as of June 30 after 52 years of teaching and music making at Juilliard; he will hold the status of professor emeritus. Generations of musicians and musical thinkers have been mentored by Sachs, who as a conductor, pianist, and curator has also made invaluable contributions to new music. I’ve been immensely privileged over the years to benefit from his incredible wisdom while editing the programs he single-handedly writes for Juilliard’s always-stimulating Focus festival at the beginning of the year. Zachary Woolfe wrote about Sachs and the 2022 edition of Focus in The New York Times here.
Sachs tonight conducts the New Juilliard Ensemble, which he founded and has led for 29 seasons, in their final concert of the season and his own farewell concert (at 7.30 pm ET).
The program, which will be live-streamed, is characteristically intriguing and full of discoveries:
Yangfan XU Fantastic Creatures of the Mountains and Seas
Lennox Thuy Duong, Narrator
Paul FREHNER Sometimes the Devil Plays Fate
Mary Beth Nelson, Mezzo-Soprano
Diana SYRSE The Invention of Sex
Diana Syrse, Soprano
Paul DESENNE Sinfonía Burocràtica ed’Amazzònica
A digital program can be found accesible digital program.
Writes Sachs in his farewell announcement: “Of course, I have mixed feelings–making music with our great young performers is always a huge pleasure. But having arrived at age 82 in excellent health, it struck me as time to move on to other projects–recording, performing as a pianist, and writing–and to indulge in luxuries that come with an open schedule, such as more traveling and more time with my children and grandchildren.”
I’m looking forward to the next project Joel Sachs will be sharing with us. In the meantime, warmest congratulations!
Filed under: Joel Sachs, Juilliard, music news, new music
MEMETERIA by Thomas May 