October 24, 2024

Rave Reviews for New Series "The Light After" At the Crypt under The Cathedral of St. John The Divine

What an absolute joy it was to launch our new series in the Crypt under the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (their first music series in this amazing place), with the incredible musicians of Trinity Church's NOVUS!

We'll hopefully return to this singular space soon, but in the meantime you can catch us in our other Crypt under the Church of the Intercession this November and December.

"Who would have thought that the opening of a concert space in a subterranean crypt would be a significant development on the New York music scene? Death of Classical, the organization that presents often-challenging programs in what it describes as “unusual and clandestine spaces like Crypts, Catacombs, Caves and more,” began a new concert series on Oct. 11 titled “The Light After.” It is a collaboration with Trinity Church and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, whose crypt—where bishops and deans were once laid to rest—serves as the intimate concert space.”
- Musical America on "The Light After"

"Bathed in battery-operated candlelight, the crypt provided a rich, deep acoustic. The musicians played in the center of the long, low-ceilinged room, with audience on one side and sarcophagi on the other. Of course, the novelty of listening among dusty old bones would quickly wear thin if the concerts weren’t worthwhile in their own right. Happily, Death of Classical collaborates with outstanding musicians — in this case NOVUS, the new-music ensemble of Trinity Church — and chooses exquisite repertoire... There was no place to hide even the slightest fault in that lively acoustic space, and there were no faults to hide."
- Classical Voice North America on "The Light After"

"Between the four movements of the popular String Quartet No. 12, “American,” of Antonín Dvořák, the musicians interposed works by three contemporary American composers that reflected on the present-day nation. Contrasts and parallels alike emerged from these twistings-back of time... a brain-awakening program delivered by musicians who frost their deep skills with some pizzazz, and whose enthusiasm for top-tier contemporary music equals their mastery of popular classical repertoire."
- BlogCritics on "American"

“That the crypt of a New York cathedral should house such memorable, incisive and ideological music could be considered a singular occurrence. But ‘Death of Classical’, a purveyor of serious concerts, has become internationally illustrious, simply by taking superb artists and placing them in venues off–and frequently beneath–the beaten classical path."
- ConcertoNet on "American"

"Revelatory... this quiet “Amen” to October’s Death of Classical series was both sanctification of the dramas and a hosanna for their singular productions."
- ConcertoNet on "Vis Aeternitatis"

Photo by Steven Pisano
Photo by Kevin Condon
Photo by Kevin Condon
Photo by Kevin Condon
Photo by Kevin Condon