Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Presented by The Roger Smith Hotel
Co-Sponsored by New York City Classical Guitar Society

Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York City (see map)

Tickets: $15

The Olson/De Cari Duo, a husband-and-wife ensemble, is dedicated to performing and expanding the repertoire for classical guitar and voice. Their unique and intimate approach to song performance comes from soprano Gioia De Cari's background as both a film/theater actor and a classical singer, and guitarist John Olson's sensitive and intelligent approach to both new and traditional repertoire. NYlon Review described a recent performance as "superb . . . served up with style and elegance."

They recently released their debut CD, Quiet Songs, which features the world premiere recording of David Leisner's song cycle Outdoor Shadows, as well as the first American recordings of John W. Duarte's Five Quiet Songs and his arrangements of Gershwin songs. In addition, the CD includes music by Frederic Hand, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and J. S. Bach. The Duo has performed throughout the United States at venues and series that include the MIT Chapel Concert Series, The Monkey in New York City, and the Hamptons Guitar Festival.

The Olson/De Cari Duo is actively creating new music for voice and guitar through their Science/Music Commissioning Project, which seeks to further public understanding and appreciation of science by exploring the process of scientific discovery and the human side of science through song. The Project's first commission, Abyss of the Stars: A Mass for Voice and Guitar, was written by noted composer Terry Champlin, faculty member at Mannes College of Music and Vassar College. The piece sets texts by renowned scientists Albert Einstein, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Richard Feynman in the context of the traditional mass, and underscores the sense of wonder that can accompany scientific understanding.

Read an interview with the Olson/De Cari Duo at Urban Guitar.