Kathy Hovis interviewed Zachary about his brand-new orchestration of Maurice Ravel’s Piano Trio for Cornell University. The piece will be premiered by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on October 24, 25, and 26, with performances in Carnegie Hall, at Cornell University, and at Lafayette College in Easton, PA.
Writing in the Calgary Herald, Kenneth DeLong praised a recent performance by Luminous Voices and tenor Lawrence Wiliford of Zachary’s cantata The Far West, writing:
“Since the topic of The Far West is the preciousness of life in the context of imminent death, and with it the invocation of an eternal horizon (the far west as an image and metaphor), the Bach connection is apt. But this connection is through a mode of writing that lies closer to Benjamin Britten and his unique mixing of aria and recitative, a style of writing familiar from Britten’s choral works, especially the powerful Requiem.
Lawrence Wiliford was the solo tenor for the cantata, and it would be hard to find a better singer for the role. Wiliford’s gentle tenor is exceptionally clear, permitting him to enunciate the highly poetic text by Tim Dlugos (who died from AIDS at an early age) clearly and with fine dramatic effect. The smooth transition from dramatic singing to lyrical singing was accomplished with sophistication, with one phrase spanning a wide range of expression. Wiliford’s control of voice and expression is possible only with a singer who truly understands both the text and music and who has the vocal means to render the essence of the music and its message.
The choral element, expertly composed by Wadsworth, supported the solo part as Bach supports the solo singers in his great passion. Particularly effective was the final item of the cantata, a setting of George Herbert’s wonderful poem Heaven, with its transformative of-stage echoes.
The choral element was supported by a pick-up group of string players, all familiar in the classical music scene of the city. Shantz was as effective in leading them as he was with the choral ensemble. A solo tenor himself, Shantz supported Wiliford’s semi-declamatory singing, following his every nuance and rhythmic undulation. The audience was greatly moved by the music, the text, and the experience.”
Click here to read the full review.
Luminous Voices’ 2024 album Ispiciwin, which includes Zachary’s composition Far, Far Away, was nominated for a JUNO Award for Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble). The album, whose title means “Journey,” features performances by Luminous Voices, Jessica McMann, and Walter MacDonald White Bear, and it includes contemporary music by many living Canadian composers, including Andrew Balfour, Carmen Braden, Zachary Wadsworth, Jessica McMann, Walter MacDonald White Bear, Arthur Bachmann, Laura Hawley, Stuart Beatch, and Sherryl Sewepegaham.
The 2025 JUNO award winners will be announced from March 28 to March 30 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Writing in The WholeNote magazine, Matthew Whitfield praised the new Leaf Music release Fire-Flowers, which features Luminous Voices in performances of music by Brahms and Zachary Wadsworth. Whitfield praised the “consistently excellent” singing of Luminous Voices, writing that “the choir gives a masterclass in phrasing.” He also praised Zachary’s compositions on the album, calling them “extraordinarily compelling reflections on life, loss and hope.” He ended by remarking that this “will undoubtably be one of the best choral discs of this year.”
To read the full review (on p. 64 of the magazine), click here.
In January and February, the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra toured the world with Zachary’s brand-new orchestration of Robert Schumann’s Carnaval. In six concerts in the United States and Japan (including stops at Carnegie Hall in New York and Suntory Hall in Tokyo), the orchestra performed the 35-minute work alongside Chopin’s first Piano Concerto (featuring star pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii), and Nathalie Joachim’s brand-new work Vibran.
Click here for a preview video on TikTok about Zachary’s orchestration of Schumann’s piano work.
Today marks the release of Fire-Flowers by Leaf Music! Buy or stream the album here, and click here for more information about the album, or to read its booklet. More information about the album:
Luminous Voices presents Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem alongside contemporary pieces by Zachary Wadsworth in the album Fire-Flowers. Exploring themes of loss, grief, and hope, the album is led by Timothy Shantz. Laura Brandt (soprano), Jonathon Adams (baritone), Cheryl Emery- Karapita (piano), and Leanne Regehr (piano) collaborated to bring these pieces to life. Wadsworth’s Battle-Flags, is inspired by Walt Whitman’s Civil War experiences. Brahms’ iconic Requiem reflects personal tragedies and calls for empathy. The album concludes with Fire-Flowers, where Wadsworth captures E. Pauline Johnson’s poem in a musical tale of optimism and renewal.
