Missy Mazzoli

As »NDR Artist Across Ensembles«, composer Missy Mazzoli takes centre stage this season. She channels major social themes into striking, expressive music, reaching a wide audience

Missy Mazzoli
Missy Mazzoli © Marylene Mey

Description

She creates bold art in complex times: Missy Mazzoli, this season’s »NDR Artist Across Ensembles«. Raised in rural Pennsylvania, she began composing at the age of ten. In 2018, Mazzoli became the first female composer ever commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera; Time Out has described her as the »Mozart of the new millennium«. Her music unfolds between driving minimalist pulses and lush, expressive orchestration – energetic, emotional and immediately engaging. At the same time, she responds to the political climate of Trump’s America and advocates for greater visibility of female and non-binary artists. As both composer and performer, Mazzoli is prominently featured throughout the Elbphilharmonie season. The NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, Bigband and Vokalensemble, sometimes together, explore her diverse output ranging from the percussion-driven »Millennium Canticles« and the pandemic-era choral work »Year of Our Burning« to her »Sinfonia«, which turns its gaze toward outer space and the bigger picture. Mazzoli also presents a new piano concerto for pianist and NDR Artist in Residence Leif Ove Andsnes.

Events of the spotlight