My solo organ work of five movements “Ascent to Freedom” recently received its Russian Federation première this past week in the cities of Kislovodsk (Кислово́дск) and Yessentuki (Ессентуки́). These cities are in Southwest Russia in between the Black and Caspian Seas. Performed by virtuoso organist Mark Husey, Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Peter’s Church in Columbia, South Carolina, his concerts in Russia also included American composers Samuel Barber, Daniel Pinkham and Whitney Eugene Thayer, three of four who are New Englanders!
Regarding the billboard, Jason Villarreal Frias writes: “Восхождение к свободе=Ascent to Freedom is the big headline at the top above the Statue of Liberty and your name is in there Р. Кларк! (R. Clark) … the Russian pronunciation sounds like this: ‘Voskhozhdyeniye k svobodye.’“
Click here to listen to Richard J. Clark’s live performance of “Ascent to Freedom” on the 1875 E. & G. G. Hook & Hastings, Opus 801, Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Boston, MA.
I was honored to make this premier, and our Russian friends are anxious to host you as well, Richard!