This week, some of my talented family of friends got together to sing through a new song cycle, "Three Whitman Songs" by Andrew Martin. We gathered at the Roy O. Disney Hall at CalArts for a jam session with pianist Tali Tadmor, soprano Hila Plitmann, composer Andrew Martin, audio engineer Danny Lemos and videographer Chris Martin of Chrismatic Films. I'll post the results when my busy buddies have had a chance to edit the footage.
To hear Hila sing is an enchantment; to sing with her is to succumb to seduction—her translucent voice, laser focus, technical and musical virtuosity (and a beguiling combination of gracious charm and goofball wit). I treasure every chance I have to sing with her, so I'm doubly fortunate this month: on June 25, we'll appear together again as Exstasis and Logos (at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Eric Whitacre's Paradise Lost: Shadows & Wings), roles we have played together many times over the years, each better than the last.