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Michael Tilson Thomas Leads San Francisco Symphony in Morton Feldman’s Rothko Chapel

Feb. 01, 2011

On February 23, the San Francisco Symphony, led by Michael Tilson Thomas, presents Morton Feldman’s monolithic and ethereal work Rothko Chapel, the first performance of the piece in the orchestra's history. A work of both meditative intimacy and sweeping grandeur, Feldman's piece was commissioned to pay tribute to the Rothko Chapel, an interfaith chapel in Houston adorned with 14 large-scale paintings by Mark Rothko. Featured soloists include the SFS principal viola Jonathan Vinocour, principal percussionist Jack Van Geem, principal timpani David Herbert, keyboardist Robin Sutherland on celesta, soprano Kiera Duffy, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke as well as the San Francisco Symphony Chorus under the direction of Ragnar Bohlin.

Mark Rothko was commissioned by John and Dominique de Menil in 1964 to provide paintings for a Catholic chapel being planned in Houston and also to design the space itself. After completing the paintings in 1967, the artist was so eager to participate in their installation he even became involved in the finishing details of the structure. Before the chapel was completed, Rothko suffered a disabling aneurysm that sent his life in a downward spiral that ultimately resulted in the artist taking his own life one year before the chapel was complete. The chapel, then changed to interdenominational faith, opened with a dedicatory ceremony in February, 1971, at which time the de Menils asked Morton Feldman, Rothko’s good friend, to compose a work in tribute to Rothko. The music to Rothko Chapel was finished only a few months later.

Learn more on the life and music of Morton Feldman at www.universaledition.com.

Visit www.sanfranciscosymphony.org for information on the performance.

More on the Rothko Chapel, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of its opening this year, can be found at www.rothkochapel.org.

Morton Feldman
Rothko Chapel (1971)
for soprano, alto, mixed choir and instruments
celesta, viola and percussion
30’

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