WATCH & LISTEN
Le Tombeau de Couperin
Le Tombeau de Couperin, by French composer Maurice Ravel, was recorded live by David Gradin Productions at Church of the Epiphany, Washington DC, on November 10, 2018. This arrangement is by Stephen Key, NOW's principal oboist.
Carmina Burana
The New Orchestra of Washington performs Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, arranged for choir, two pianos, and 5 percussionists. This concert was recorded live on February 10th at Live! at 10th and G by David Gradin Productions.
Miserere mei, Deus
Musica Viva NY Choir performs "Miserere mei, Deus" by Gregorio Allegri, conducted by Artistic Director Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez for the third installment of "Voices in Motion".
PRESS/ARTICLES
"Bassoons And Budget Problems: The Future Of Classical Music In The Region"
Kojo Nnamdi, WAMU 88.5
August 6, 2019
Listen to NPR’s Kojo Nnami, The Washington Post's Anne Midgette, Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, and others in the DC arts community, take a wider look at classical music across the Washington region, and talk about the best places to hear and learn about classical music close by. LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW>>>
WQXR Interview with Helga of NYPR
December 19, 2016
For conductor Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, an attentive and hungry audience is one of the essential parts of creating a transcendent musical experience. That’s why he scatters his Musica Viva choir at All Souls Church on the Upper East Side throughout the church. So the audience is in the middle of the action.
In this conversation, Davis and Hernandez-Valdez talk about the challenges of managing both choirs and audience, the meditative qualities of live choral music, and the capability of music to transcend daily life to a spiritual plane. LISTEN TO FULL INTERVIEW>>>
2016 Shenandoah Conservatory Alumni Award Recipient
February 28, 2016
“'These prestigious awards honor exceptional alumni who have proven to be leaders in their respective fields,' said Dean of Shenandoah Conservatory Michael Stepniak, Ed.D. 'They have had an extraordinary impact on the arts, education and research, and they serve as an inspiration for our faculty and students.'" READ MORE>>>
Texas Bach Fest Sees Energy Surge With New Director
By Mike Greenberg, June 15, 2017
"The chorus sang with impeccable intonation, crisp German diction, and complete unity. The orchestra produced a full, beautiful sound from the gut strings. Stephen Redfield, the ensemble’s leader and a veteran of many years with this festival, and Gesa Kordes were adept and stylish soloists in the double concerto, played without a conductor. Hernandez-Valdez’s work in the cantatas was scrupulously attentive to baroque practice in matters of technique, but fully contemporary in matters of interpretation. His tempos were fleet, his details bold and dramatic, especially in the cinematic Jesu, meine Freude. One critic is kicking himself for missing the other two Bach bashes." READ MORE>>>
Tales of Two Cities | Culture Spot Montgomery County
By Ellen Wexler, September 7, 2016
"NOW’s ever-growing diverse repertoire includes fresh interpretations of classic works as well as newly commissioned pieces, with 'a focus on symphonic works rearranged' for smaller ensembles–such as the Mahler adaptation that sparked the idea for the group. With a roster of 30 to 50 highly-qualified musicians, the orchestra expands and contracts to accommodate the requirements of various repertoire and venue sizes." READ MORE>>>
An early Cinco de Mayo celebration with the New Orchestra of Washington
By Joan Weinthaler, May 3, 2015
“Hernandez-Valdez conducted with the incisive clarity of someone born to the idiom. For this concert, he fielded an ensemble of 25 players heavily weighted toward winds and percussion, and with this orchestral mix, the dance rhythms that infuse Latin American music’s DNA were irresistible." READ MORE>>>
PHOTO GALLERY
