On April 17-19, New World Symphony and Miami City Ballet joint forces to present the world premiere of Iris by Sarah Kirkland Snider and choreographer Claudia Schreier. Iris is commissioned by the New World Symphony as part of a choreographic concerto—a new collaborative format that brings together original music and dance by some of today's most exciting and prominent composers and choreographers. The premiere performances are conducted by Stéphane Denève.
Reflecting on the work’s title and themes, Snider notes: “Iris seemed an apt title: it could refer to the flower, which symbolizes hope and wisdom, or to the part of the eye that lets light in,” underscoring the piece’s engagement with questions of perception, resilience, and hope in a complex moment for the country.
This world premiere follows the recent release of Snider’s first orchestral album via Nonesuch / New Amsterdam Records. Produced by Silas Brown and recorded by the Metropolis Ensemble conducted by Andrew Cyr, the album features Forward Into Light, inspired by the American women’s suffrage movement; a string orchestra and harp version of Drink the Wild Ayre; Eye of Mnemosyne, exploring memory and innovation; and Something for the Dark, a meditation on resilience.
Snider explains, “I chose to create an album of these four works because they share themes of perseverance, alliance, and evolution through dark and light—concepts that have been at the forefront of my mind in recent years.”
For more information please contact Andrew Stein-Zeller.
