art and society | Carmen-Helena Téllez

Two oratorios sing the trials of our society and prayers of reflection

May 5, 2019 by carmen helena tellez

I am delighted to announce that Ensemble Concept/21 has invited the Euclid Quartet, Kosmologia, and the Notre Dame Children’s Choir to premiere the oratorios The Tower and the Garden by Gregory Spears and Beatitudes by Jorge Muñiz, under my direction, next Friday, May 10, at 7 pm, in the Campus Auditorium of Indiana University South Bend. This project joins together two important sponsors of creativity in this country– The New Frontiers Program at Indiana University, and the Ann Stookey Fund […]

Categories: art and religion, art and society, gesamtkünstwerk, intermedia, music composition, new choral music, new forms of presentation, new opera and music drama, postclassical music, sacred music • Tags: CARMEN HELENA TELLEZ, Denise Levertov, Gregory Spears, Jorge Muñiz, Notre Dame Vocale, Thomas Merton

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Context affects perception-a case in Wall Street

April 14, 2017 by carmen helena tellez

An amazing example of how context and sharing space affect perception is playing out in Wall Street. When Arturo di Modica’s Charging Bull stood alone, it meant something to the passers-by. When Kristen Visbal’s Fearless Girl was placed next to it, now it means something else. The energy is coming from the dialogue between the two statues. But –which of the statues keeps its specific message regardless of the context? Check the article at Artnet.com

Categories: art and paradox, art and society, context and perception

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TEDx Talks are up!

February 28, 2014 by carmen helena tellez

View the Talk on YouTube

Categories: art and ritual, art and society, Carmen's work, context affects perception, context and perception, interdiscipline, my work, new conductor, new forms of presentation, new opera and music drama

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On opera commenting on history: Michael Dellaira’s The Death of Webern

December 11, 2013 by carmen helena tellez

It is now two months since the Pocket Opera Players premiered under my musical direction Michael Dellaira’s The Death of Webern, alongside John Eaton’s Rerouted, in New York City’s Symphony Space. In a way, both operas commented, one tragically and the other farcically, on the future of high art. Now Michael Dellaira sends me a wonderful article on his opera that offers both a summary and a context for his insightful work. It is worthy reading for those opera lovers […]

Categories: art and society, Carmen's work, music composition, new opera and music drama

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New discussions on social media and the impact on building an audience

October 17, 2013 by carmen helena tellez

As you know by now, the crux of my research and creative activity is that music can be presented in interdisciplinary and interartistic ways. Colleagues are investigating the impact of social media in the identification and cultivation of an audience. Some of this may have simple marketing objectives. However, it may also reveal new ways of interacting with an audience as an artist. For some interesting reading, see here and here.

Categories: art and society

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The controversy about the title “Female Composer”…..

July 17, 2013 by carmen helena tellez

…or “Woman” composer, (or “Latin American” composer, for that matter) gets a perspective from composer Kristin Kuster here. It is worth reading her opinion piece in the New York Times alongside the piece she quotes from NewMusicBox. Much of what she says about women composers applies to women conductors, and both contingents are underrepresented in the high-level circles of the profession that receive the most performances or conduct the elite ensembles. She is right that women have sought to separate […]

Categories: art and society, contemporary music, interdiscipline, music composition, my work, new conductor, postclassical music, postmodernism, Uncategorized • Tags: Kristin Kuster, Women Composers

¡Unicamente la verdad! has had tremendous reception this year!

June 27, 2013 by carmen helena tellez

Gabriela Ortiz, the composer of ¡Unicamente la verdad! has sent us the fantastic review written by Opera News after its California premiere with the adventurous Andreas Mitisek and Long Beach Opera, with the new title Camelia la tejana: Only the Truth!. I invite you to revisit the notes on the conceptualization and premiere in 2008 at Indiana University of ULV, more than an opera, a work of interdisciplinary art. It is wonderful to see the different directorial approaches, one sardonic […]

Categories: art and ritual, art and society, Carmen's work, context and perception, multimedia, my work, new opera and music drama • Tags: Camelia la Tejana, Gabriela Ortiz, Unicamente la verdad

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A thrilling new conference on Sacred Music ….

July 8, 2012 by carmen helena tellez

…with James MacMillan and a stellar panel of guest composers and scholars. Check the site here It was a privilege to be part of it!

Categories: art and religion, art and ritual, art and society, my work, new choral music, new conductor, sacred music

The Qatsi Trilogy featured at Edinburgh

July 5, 2011 by carmen helena tellez

What a great opportunity for the lovers of this Trilogy! My favorite is still the first film of the three, Koyaanisqatsi. I still remember viewing for the first time just by accident, as it was broadcast late one night (perhaps on PBS?) in 1984. I have rarely been more grateful for insomnia. I was immediately fascinated, and I ended telling my fellow students the next day that I had viewed the art of the future. I think Koyaanisqatsi is extremely […]

Categories: art and ritual, art and society, art music video, contemporary music, postmodernism • Tags: Koyaanisqatsi, Philip Glass

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Carmen-Helena Téllez

Conductor – Producer – Interdisciplinary Artist • A presentation site with notes about music, art and the occasional paradox

Category Archives: art and society

Two oratorios sing the trials of our society and prayers of reflection

Context affects perception-a case in Wall Street

TEDx Talks are up!

On opera commenting on history: Michael Dellaira’s The Death of Webern

New discussions on social media and the impact on building an audience

The controversy about the title “Female Composer”…..

¡Unicamente la verdad! has had tremendous reception this year!

A thrilling new conference on Sacred Music ….

The Qatsi Trilogy featured at Edinburgh