Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

1973

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Vocal

 

Luna Pearl Woolf is a Canadian-American composer, cellist, and vocalist who has made a significant impact on the classical music scene. Born on October 17, 1973, in Montreal, Quebec, Woolf grew up in a family of musicians. Her father, David Woolf, was a composer and conductor, and her mother, Vivian Perlis, was a musicologist and founder of the Oral History of American Music at Yale University. Woolf began playing the cello at the age of six and went on to study at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal and the Juilliard School in New York City. She also studied composition with John Corigliano and George Tsontakis at the Manhattan School of Music. Woolf's compositions are known for their emotional depth and social consciousness. She has written works for a variety of ensembles, including orchestras, chamber groups, and vocalists. Her music often explores themes of social justice, human rights, and the environment. One of Woolf's most notable works is her opera, "The Pillar," which premiered in 2017 at the Washington National Opera. The opera tells the story of a Palestinian woman who is forced to leave her home and seeks refuge in a church. The work explores themes of displacement, identity, and the power of community. Another significant work by Woolf is her cello concerto, "Après moi, le deluge," which was commissioned by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and premiered in 2014. The concerto is a response to Hurricane Katrina and the devastation it caused in New Orleans. The title, which translates to "After me, the flood," is a reference to a quote attributed to Louis XV of France, who reportedly said, "Après moi, le deluge," meaning that he did not care what happened after his reign ended. Woolf's music has been performed by a variety of ensembles, including the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Kronos Quartet. She has also collaborated with a number of artists, including the poet Alice Notley and the choreographer Mark Morris. In addition to her work as a composer, Woolf is also an accomplished cellist and vocalist. She has performed as a soloist with a number of orchestras, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra. She has also recorded several albums as a vocalist, including "Angel Heart," which features her own compositions as well as works by other composers. Woolf's contributions to the classical music world have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. She has received grants from the Canada Council for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as commissions from the New York Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, she was awarded the Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music for her work, "After the Wave." Overall, Luna Pearl Woolf is a composer who has made a significant impact on the classical music world. Her music is known for its emotional depth and social consciousness, and she has tackled a variety of themes in her compositions. With her talent and dedication to her craft, Woolf is sure to continue making waves in the world of classical music for years to come.

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