Celebrating its 55th Anniversary, the 2024 Newport Classical Music Festival (July 4-21) today announced that it will present the world premiere of GRAMMY®-nominated Brazilian-American powerhouse composer Clarice Assad’s “Whispers from the Pirate Queen” performed by multi-GRAMMY®-nominated PUBLIQuartet and GRAMMY®-winning mezzo-soprano Renée Rapier on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 8:00 pm at The Breakers.
The concert also features PUBLIQuartet’s What is American, the intrepid ensemble’s improvisation on Antonin Dvořák’s String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, known as his “American” String Quartet, as well as contemporary works including Jessie Montgomery’s Voodoo Dolls, Fodé Lassana Diabaté’s Sunjata’s Time, Vijay Iyer’s Dig the Say, Duke Ellington’s Come Sunday for string quartet and mezzo-soprano, Julia Perry’s Prelude (arr. by Hamilton Berry), and PUBLIQuartet’s MIND | THE | GAP: Wild Women, improvisations on the music of Tina Turner, Betty Davis, Alice Coltrane, and Ida Cox. The performance explores the resonance between contemporary, blues, jazz, free, and rock-inflected music – all trace their roots back to the Black and Indigenous music that inspired Dvořák’s “American” String Quartet.
A powerful communicator renowned for her musical scope and versatility, Clarice Assad is a significant artistic voice in the classical, world music, pop, and jazz genres. The composer, celebrated pianist, inventive vocalist, and educator is acclaimed for her evocative colors, rich textures, and diverse stylistic range. With her talent sought after by artists and organizations worldwide, the polyglot musician continues to attract new audiences both onstage and off.
Assad’s new piece, “Whispers from the Pirate Queen,” was commissioned by Newport Classical. The work is part of Assad’s series Chronicles of Ghosts, which explore the lives of extraordinary but often unsung women throughout history, showcasing their feats and biographical details as recorded in history. “Whispers from the Pirate Queen” dramatizes the imagined bond between two remarkable women transcending time and place: Grace O’Malley, the legendary 16th-century Irish pirate queen, and Anne Hutchinson, the influential Puritan spiritual leader and pioneer of the 17th century, who lived in what is now Rhode Island in the 1630s.
Assad explains, “Through a series of mystical encounters and dreams, Grace O’Malley’s spirit reaches across time to guide, inspire, and empower Anne Hutchinson in her journey of courage and resilience. The story weaves together fact and fiction, history and fantasy to create a multi-layered narrative that speaks to the enduring power of female strength, solidarity, and legacy. As Grace O’Malley’s whispers echo through the ages, she symbolizes the unbreakable spirit of women who dare to challenge societal norms and fight for their convictions.”
“Whispers from the Pirate Queen” was commissioned by Newport Classical as part of its ongoing initiative, launched in 2021, to commission a new work by a Black, Indigenous, person of color, or woman composer as a commitment to the future of classical music. In addition to Assad, Newport Classical has commissioned and presented the world premiere of works by Stacy Garrop, Shawn Okpebholo, and Curtis Stewart.
Set against the picturesque backdrop of the City-by-the-Sea, the Newport Classical Music Festival presents 27 concerts held in 11 historic venues over 18 days from July 4-21, featuring 120 musicians from around the world. Patrons can easily craft a Festival itinerary tailored to their preferences – be it the discovery of a new composer, the rhythm of percussion, or revisiting a beloved work with a fresh perspective. For 55 years, Newport Classical has been a beacon for artistry, drawing in countless concertgoers to revel in exceptional performances within unique and intimate settings.
Highlights include Opening Night with the dynamic and inspiring Sphinx Virtuosi and cello soloist Thomas Mesa; the return to Newport of Chanticleer, Canadian Brass, and A Far Cry with special guests Kinan Azmeh and Dinuk Wijeratne; the Music Festival debut of the storied Handel and Haydn Society; two enchanting evenings with Tony Award-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti; plus performances by star pianists Lara Downes, Joyce Yang, Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner, Drew Petersen, and Daniel del Pino; and appearances by numerous celebrated chamber ensembles including the Isidore String Quartet; PUBLIQuartet; Duo Kayo; Lincoln Trio; Poulenc Trio with accordionist Hanzhi Wang; and Sō Percussion with vocalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Caroline Shaw.
For Newport Classical’s complete concert calendar, visit www.newportclassical.org/concerts
