Victoria Bond-Composer and Conductor

Opera in Beijing

Victoria Bond conducted a gala concert on July 4th in Beijing China. Four prominent Chinese soloists, all with major careers in the United States, returned to honor the singing teacher with whom they all had studied at the Central Conservatory. The concert, which drew a record crowd, was televised nationally.

What’s The Point of Counterpoint?

Bond’s original story about a Tune who takes a trip to find a friend and visits the cities of rhythm, harmony and counterpoint was performed at The Music Festival of the Hamptons in July and before that at the John Drew Theater in Guild Hall in November as part of a Family Concert called Cutting Edge Kids.

A More Perfect Union

Victoria Bond's third opera, A More Perfect Union with libretto by Isaiah Sheffer and choreography by Ruth Kirstein, was given a workshop production by The Center For Contemporary Opera at Symphony Space, as part of the New York City Opera’s VOX 2004 AND FRIENDS. Anthony Tommasini called the work "genre-smashing" in the New York Times.

Newest CD: Yes

Victoria Bond’s CD on the Albany Label features Molly ManyBloom from the Molly Bloom portion of James Joyce’s Ulysses, and A Modest Proposal with text from the essay of the same name by Jonathan Swift, performed by tenor Paul Sperry and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony conducted by Bond. Reviewed in the February 19, 2004 Southampton Press, Fred Volkmer had this to say about the CD: Ms. Bond has set the text brilliantly, reflecting the ribaldry, the scathing fish-wifery, the wit, the tenderness, and the immense vitality of Molly Bloom. Molly was a singer, and Ms. Bond has interwoven popular songs of the period (“Love’s Old Sweet Song,” “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey,” and “Shall I Wear A White Rose”) into her musical fabric. The stunning soprano of the recording is Carol Meyer, who sang the role last summer at Guild Hall, and she is accompanied by a string quartet composed of violinists Shem Guibbory and Renee Jolles, violist Ronald Carbone, and cellist Maxine Neuman. Included on the CD is Ms. Bond’s “A Modest Proposal” for tenor and chamber orchestra. The text of which is, of course, from Jonathan Swift’s pamphlet of the same name in which he suggests that the children of the poor should be fattened to feed the rich, an offer he describes as “innocent, cheap, easy and effectual.” Ms. Bond sets some of the most grisly elements of Swift’s text to well known children’s songs, giving an additional twist to Swift’s satire. The very effective tenor is Paul Sperry, accompanied by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, who together commissioned the work.

Good-bye to Ray Charles

Having conducted numerous symphony concerts for the legendary singer throughout the world as well as recorded with him, on May 14 2003 Bond conducted what would be one of his last orchestra appearances. It was with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Center and the program concluded with an encore in which Bond and Ray played a duet at the piano. She is currently writing a string quartet for the group Ethel based on one of his songs.

Sacred Sisters

The American Society for Jewish Music has commissioned Bond to write a work which will be premiered on April 10, 2005 at The Center for Jewish History in New York City. Sacred Sisters uses musical motives from chant and draws its inspiration from three Biblical women, Esther, Ruth and Rebecca. It will be performed by Renee Jolles, violin and Susan Jolles, harp.

Cutting Edge Concerts

Now in its eighth year, the new music series in April will feature contemporary composers speaking about their music with host Bond followed by performances with outstanding soloists. This year’s composers include Samuel Adler, Derek Bermel, Victoria Bond, Donald Crockett, Cornelius Dufallo, Paul Yeon Lee, Paul Alan Levi, Paul Moravec and Moto Osada. The Duo Gelland will be coming from Sweden to perform contemporary Swedish composers. Other performers include The Janus Ensemble, Next Works, pianists Molly Mokorski and Justin Kolb.

	July 4, '04		Opera in Beijing Victoria Bond conducted a gala concert on July 4th in Beijing China. Four prominent Chinese soloists, all with major careers in the United States, returned to honor the singing teacher with whom they all had studied at the Central Conservatory. The concert, which drew a record crowd, was televised nationally.
	July 18, '04		What’s The Point of Counterpoint? Bond’s original story about a Tune who takes a trip to find a friend and visits the cities of rhythm, harmony and counterpoint was performed at The Music Festival of the Hamptons in July and before that at the John Drew Theater in Guild Hall in November as part of a Family Concert called Cutting Edge Kids.

	May 27, '04		A More Perfect Union Victoria Bond's third opera, A More Perfect Union with libretto by Isaiah Sheffer and choreography by Ruth Kirstein, was given a workshop production by The Center For Contemporary Opera at Symphony Space, as part of the New York City Opera’s VOX 2004 AND FRIENDS. Anthony Tommasini called the work "genre-smashing" in the New York Times.

	Sept. 12, 19, '04		Ernani Victoria Bond returned to Chicago to conduct The Da Corneto Opera Company in a Verdi rarity. The Chicago Tribune praised her “lilting, vigorous account.”
			Newest CD: Yes Victoria Bond’s CD on the Albany Label features Molly ManyBloom from the Molly Bloom portion of James Joyce’s Ulysses, and A Modest Proposal with text from the essay of the same name by Jonathan Swift, performed by tenor Paul Sperry and the Cleveland Chamber Symphony conducted by Bond. Reviewed in the February 19, 2004 Southampton Press, Fred Volkmer had this to say about the CD: Ms. Bond has set the text brilliantly, reflecting the ribaldry, the scathing fish-wifery, the wit, the tenderness, and the immense vitality of Molly Bloom. Molly was a singer, and Ms. Bond has interwoven popular songs of the period (“Love’s Old Sweet Song,” “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey,” and “Shall I Wear A White Rose”) into her musical fabric. The stunning soprano of the recording is Carol Meyer, who sang the role last summer at Guild Hall, and she is accompanied by a string quartet composed of violinists Shem Guibbory and Renee Jolles, violist Ronald Carbone, and cellist Maxine Neuman. Included on the CD is Ms. Bond’s “A Modest Proposal” for tenor and chamber orchestra. The text of which is, of course, from Jonathan Swift’s pamphlet of the same name in which he suggests that the children of the poor should be fattened to feed the rich, an offer he describes as “innocent, cheap, easy and effectual.” Ms. Bond sets some of the most grisly elements of Swift’s text to well known children’s songs, giving an additional twist to Swift’s satire. The very effective tenor is Paul Sperry, accompanied by the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, who together commissioned the work.
			Good-bye to Ray Charles Having conducted numerous symphony concerts for the legendary singer throughout the world as well as recorded with him, on May 14 2003 Bond conducted what would be one of his last orchestra appearances. It was with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Center and the program concluded with an encore in which Bond and Ray played a duet at the piano. She is currently writing a string quartet for the group Ethel based on one of his songs.
			Sacred Sisters The American Society for Jewish Music has commissioned Bond to write a work which will be premiered on April 10, 2005 at The Center for Jewish History in New York City. Sacred Sisters uses musical motives from chant and draws its inspiration from three Biblical women, Esther, Ruth and Rebecca. It will be performed by Renee Jolles, violin and Susan Jolles, harp.
			Cutting Edge Concerts Now in its eighth year, the new music series in April will feature contemporary composers speaking about their music with host Bond followed by performances with outstanding soloists. This year’s composers include Samuel Adler, Derek Bermel, Victoria Bond, Donald Crockett, Cornelius Dufallo, Paul Yeon Lee, Paul Alan Levi, Paul Moravec and Moto Osada. The Duo Gelland will be coming from Sweden to perform contemporary Swedish composers. Other performers include The Janus Ensemble, Next Works, pianists Molly Mokorski and Justin Kolb.
			More Peculiar Plants Due to the success of last year’s premiere of Bond’s composition Peculiar Plants, harpsichordist Kenneth Cooper will perform it on May 7th in Saratoga, New York. Several additional species have been seeded and are sprouting in this unusual garden.
			Pater Patriae George Washington is the subject of this work for narrator and orchestra. Librettist Myles Lee has crafted a stirring tribute to our founding father, using Washington’s own words to bring him to life.
			Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra Bond has been commissioned to compose a triple concerto for the Aurea Trio and the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra. Based on a Civil War theme, the work will be premiered in 2007.

July 4, '04

Opera in Beijing

July 18, '04

What’s The Point of Counterpoint?

May 27, '04

A More Perfect Union

Sept. 12, 19, '04

Ernani

Newest CD: Yes

Good-bye to Ray Charles

Sacred Sisters

Cutting Edge Concerts

More Peculiar Plants

Pater Patriae

Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra