Kathryn Mueller returns to Brown to sing The History of Red

Kathryn Mueller

Mar 30

Noted Soprano Kathryn Mueller ‘01 Returns to Brown to sing The History of Red

Brown University Orchestra to give first university performance of groundbreaking work for soprano and orchestra

Providence, RI – On April 15 and 16, 2023, Brown alumna Kathryn Mueller ‘01 will collaborate with the Brown University Orchestra to perform The History of Red, a work for soprano and orchestra that Mueller co-commissioned along with four American orchestras. The concerto-like piece was composed by prominent Indian-American composer Reena Esmail and its premiere was hailed by the Santa Fe New Mexican for its "evocative sonorities, sensitivity to the changing moods of the poem, and skillfully crafted, natural-sounding text rhythms." Kathryn Mueller, who followed her music concentration at Brown with a master’s degree in vocal performance from The University of Arizona, has performed across the United States with ensembles including the Cincinnati Symphony, Portland Baroque Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

About The History of Red

Mueller co-commissioned The History of Red with Santa Fe Pro Musica, River Oaks Chamber Orchestra (ROCO), the Orlando Philharmonic, and the chamber orchestra The Knights. “We wanted to commission this work from a composer who was equally skilled at writing powerful, singable vocal lines and at using the full sound palate of the instruments in sophisticated orchestrations,” Mueller says. “I thank my lucky stars that Reena was willing to take on the commission.” Esmail, who trained at Julliard and Yale, has since written works for the Seattle Symphony and Los Angeles Master Chorale, among other musical organizations. For text, the composer chose a powerful poem by the distinguished Chickasaw writer Linda Hogan. The poem traces the history of humanity through the color red and the many things it can represent.

After the world premieres given by the consortium partners in 2021-2022, The History of Red has begun to claim a place in the musical landscape of the United States. Of a recent performance in Oakland, CA, Musical America wrote that Mueller “gave a haunting performance, whether she was confiding dark musings in the lower range or launching lofty melismatic lines with laser-like intensity.” The piece is modern but approachable, with melodic vocal lines, themes that recur and provide musical unity, and ornate melismatic vocal moments that were informed by Esmail’s experience with traditional Hindustani music but transposed to the very high, above-the-treble-clef range of a Western soprano.

A Work Created for Both Pros and Students

From the beginning of the project, Mueller and Esmail hoped that The History of Red would be widely performed by orchestras, joined not only by professional soprano soloists but also by advanced students. “We’d love for advanced undergraduate and grad student singers to bring this piece to concerto competitions at their schools, organically bringing it into the repertoire of music educators and future professionals,” according to Mueller. “While the work is sophisticated and musically challenging for a professional orchestra and soprano, we always wanted it to be within the bounds of what well-trained students could pull off successfully.”

The Brown Orchestra’s April performances will be the university-level premiere of The History of Red. “I’m so happy that this work spoke to [Brown University Orchestra director] Mark Seto and that he invited me to Brown to perform it,” Mueller says. “It’s very special that the first university performance of this piece, which means to much to me, will be at my alma mater and the place that launched my musical career.” During her time at Brown, Mueller studied voice with Kathryne Jennings, sang in the Brown Chorus, won the Brown Orchestra’s concerto competition, was a section leader at S. Stephen’s Church on George Street, and sang professionally with the Schola Cantorum of Boston, a Renaissance choral group led by Brown’s Director of Choral Activities, Fred Jodry. It was Jodry who suggested The History of Red to Seto as a programming choice for the Brown Orchestra and bringing Mueller back to Providence to sing it.

Brown Connections

The History of Red has already connected the musical lives of two Brown alums: Vinay Parameswaran ‘09 recently programmed the work for his guest performance with the Oakland Symphony. An internationally recognized conductor who has been engaged by prestigious orchestras including the Chicago Symphony and Cleveland orchestra, Parameswaran had never met Mueller but asked her to sing on the concert. According to Mueller, “at the time Vinay programmed The History of Red I was literally the only singer in the world who knew it, and because of that fact I had the good fortune to get to work with him and connect over our musical experiences at Brown.”

For Parameswaran the choice to perform Esmail’s work was simple. “Reena Esmail is one of the most uniquely talented musical voices of our time,” he says. “I love The History of Red not only because it's inspired by one of my favorite pieces of music (Samuel Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915), but also because it's a work that speaks to the world we're currently inhabiting in such a powerful manner.”

Concert Information:

Brown University Orchestra & Chorus Concert

Saturday, April 15 @8:00pm & Sunday, April 16 @3:00pm

Sayles Hall

Tickets required

More information:

World Premiere performance video: https://youtu.be/ZvTkA7OQ65M

The History of Red program notes: www.reenaesmail.com/catalog-item/the-history-of-red/

Full poem text: www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/55705/the-history-of-red

Profile of The History of Red and its genesis in the Santa Fe New Mexican: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/pasatiempo/music/in_concert/creating-something-deep-and-profound/article_c4bc71d0-779f-11ec-ba44-df1c70add614.html

Kathryn Mueller website: www.kathrynmueller.com

Vinay Parameswaran website: www.vinayparameswaran.com