“There’s an uncompromising beauty to works by the Iranian-born American composer. Impressive.”
- BBC Music Magazine
“Ms. Razaz’s music was ravishing and engulfing throughout...”
-New York Times
SHORT BIOGRAPHY
Her music hailed as “ravishing and engulfing” (New York Times) and herself named a 2022 “Rising Star” by BBC Music Magazine, Gity Razaz writes music ranging from solo concert pieces to large symphonic works. Ms. Razaz’s music has been commissioned and/or performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra, cellist Alisa Weilerstein, San Diego Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Washington National Opera, National Sawdust, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, former cellist of the Kronos Quartet Jeffrey Zeigler, cellist Inbal Segev, violinist Jennifer Koh, violinist Francesca dePasquale, and Metropolis Ensemble, among others. In 2022, she was named as a “Rising Star” by BBC Music Magazine.
Programming highlights include a world premiere with the San Diego Symphony under the direction of Rafael Payare, a commission from MacArthur Award-winning cellist Alisa Weilerstein and her “Fragments” project, a commission from BBC Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Sakari Oramo for the Last Night of the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, a song cycle for Israeli Chamber Project and GRAMMY Award-winning tenor Karim Sulayman, and an upcoming concerto for flautist Sharon Bezaly and London’s Wigmore Soloists. Other commissions have included a full-length ballet for Ballet Moscow, which still receives regular performances ever since its 2017 world premiere in Moscow, and her first short opera commissioned by Washington National Opera and premiered at the Kennedy Center. Her compositions have earned numerous awards, such as the Andrew Imbrie Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters that is “is given to a composer of demonstrated artistic merit in mid-career.”
Ms. Razaz’s debut album, “The Strange Highway,” which was recently released on Sweden’s preeminent BIS Records, has garnered international praise. As described by BBC Music Magazine, “There’s an uncompromising beauty to these works by the Iranian-born American composer, the opening title work, for cello octet, is a wild rhythmic ride, while the closing Metamorphosis of Narcissus offers some fantastic musical storytelling. Impressive.”
highlights
Alisa Weilerstein
MacArthur Award-winning cellist Alisa Weilerstein commissioned Gity to write a piece for her immersive and groundbreaking multi-year project, Fragments, which weaves together the Bach solo cello suites with new works.
Last Night of the Proms & BBC Symphony Orchestra
Gity was commissioned to write the opening piece for the Last Night of the 2021 BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, with Sakari Oramo conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
“The Strange Highway” Album Release
Gity’s debut album came out on Sweden’s preeminent BIS Records, and included performances by cellist Inbal Segev, All-American Cello Band, violinist Franesca dePasquale, violist Katherine Litton, and Metropolis Ensemble.
American Academy of Arts & Letters
Gity was the proud recipient of the Andrew Imbrie Award, given by the Academy to a “composer of demonstrated artistic merit in mid-career.”
League of American Orchestras
& San Diego Symphony
Gity was selected as one of six composers for the 2022 League of American Orchestra and Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation commissioning project. She will write an orchestral piece to be premiered in 2023 by San Diego Symphony under Rafael Payare, and performed in later seasons by Akron Symphony Orchestra, Berkeley Symphony, Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra, and Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
Karim Sulayman & The Israeli Chamber Project
The phenomenal Israeli Chamber Project has commissioned Gity to write an extensive piece for the GRAMMY® Award winning tenor, Karim Sulayman and chamber ensemble.
BBC Music Magazine: Rising Stars
Gity was named one of BBC Music Magazine’s “Rising Stars” this September in anticipation of her debut album, “The Strange Highway,” on BIS Records.
Sharon Bezaly & United Strings of Europe
Commissioned concerto for acclaimed international virtuoso Sharon Bezaly, hailed by The Times (UK) as “God’s gift to the flute,” and United Strings of Europe to be toured in 2023 and recorded by BIS Records.
The Violin Channel & “Legend of Sigh'“
The video from cellist Inbal Segev’s performance recording of Legend of Sigh was featured across all the platforms of the beloved showcase for classical music, The Violin Channel.
Listen
Gity Razaz: The Strange Highway (BIS Records)
The album features music composed over the last fifteen years and recorded by cellist Inbal Segev, All-American Cello Band from Cello Biennale Amsterdam, violinist Francesca dePasquale and pianist Scott Cuellar, violist Katharina Kang Litton, and Metropolis Ensemble conducted by Andrew Cyr.
Illustration by Daniel Martin Diaz
To obtain recordings and scores, or for other inquiries, please email me at
gityrazazmusic [at] gmail [dot] com.
