Maya Beiser’s “Gorgeous” (Billboard) Homage To David Bowie - Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar (Islandia Records) - Out Today On 4th Anniversary Of His Passing

To mark the fourth anniversary of David Bowie’s passing today, cellist Maya Beiser has released Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar, a track-by-track reimagining of Bowie’s final album Blackstar. The recording features the 30-piece Ambient Orchestra, and was arranged and conducted by Beiser’s longtime collaborator Evan Ziporyn. The project has been met with raves, including from the Wall Street Journal and Billboard, who interviewed Maya about her obsession with Bowie and why she and Ziporyn decided to take a chance on what initially was an experiment.     

Tonight, Beiser will also honor Bowie with a free, open to the public immersive performance at New York’s Winter Garden at Brookfield Place in downtown Manhattan. She will perform on cello and will be joined by PubliQuartet and a bespoke display of animated projections. Aura Blackstar: Bowie Cello Symphonic Visualized is a live concert critic's pick in this week's New Yorker, New York Magazine, and Brooklyn Vegan. For more information: bfplny.com/event/aura-blackstar.

“Ms. Beiser’s cello has a uniquely commanding tone. Like John Coltrane’s saxophone or Duane Allman’s guitar it is able to convey the sound of an urgently impassioned voice in many guises, and that is what makes this album work so well” - Wall Street Journal 

“Gorgeous” - Billboard 

“For those ready for something truly unique that will push your ears into territory they likely haven’t been exposed to before, it’s a resounding success. You get the feeling David would approve” - American Songwriter, 4 out of 5 stars 

Beiser also performed 3 songs live at Paste yesterday (including two of the album’s bonus tracks, “Ziggy Stardust” and “Life On Mars” with PubliQuartet), and she’ll be appearing on WNYC’s All Of It this afternoon with Ziporyn as well. 

Beiser has triumphed in previous performances of Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar, with a full symphony in Barcelona, at Central Park Summerstage with Ensemble LPR, and in Australia. She will perform the album with the full Ambient Orchestra at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD on February 15 as well. Full live performance itinerary is below.  

Order Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar here: https://naxos.lnk.to/BowieCello

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES:

Jan 18 - Nashville, TN - Tennessee Performing Arts Center (The DAY)

Jan 24-Feb 6 - Paris, FR - Theatre de la Ville (The DAY)

Feb 15 - North Bethesda, MA - The Music Center at Strathmore (Bowie Symphonic: Blackstar)

Feb 27-28 - San Francisco, CA - Herbst Theatre (The DAY) 

Mar 22 Philadelphia, PA - Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (Travel Guide to Nicaragua World Premiere)

Mar 25 - New York, NY - Carnegie Hall (Travel Guide to Nicaragua World Premiere)

Apr 7 - St. Paul, MN - O’Shaugnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University (The DAY)

Apr 10 + 11 - Hanover, New Hampshire - Dartmouth College (The DAY) 

Apr 24-26 - Boston, MA - Institute of Contemporary Arts (The DAY)