Maya Beiser Reveals "Lazarus," First Song to be Shared From Cello Concerto Reimagining of David Bowie's Final Album

Maya Beiser has revealed “Lazarus,” the first music to be released from her highly anticipated album Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar (Islandia Music Records) - the cellist's reimagining of David Bowie’s final album, Blackstar. It will be released January 10, the 4th anniversary of Bowie's passing.

A visionary musician who has been featured on the world's most prestigious stages, Beiser invokes Bowie’s words, melodies and spirit along with the 30-piece Ambient Orchestra.  Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar was arranged and conducted by longtime collaborator and fellow Bang on a Can All-Stars founding member Evan Ziporyn. 

Listen to “Lazarus” here: https://bit.ly/2Pht078

And watch a live performance video of the song featuring Maya and bespoke, sound-reactive projections that flood the stage around her and directly onto her cello as she performs: https://bit.ly/34jvWVf

Beiser dramatically transforms her cello: a vocalist one moment, a lead guitarist the next. "Bowie’s 4-octave vocal range matches the cello almost exactly, making it the perfect protagonist instrument," she says. In these instrumental versions of the self-eulogizing original, Bowie's words and their meaning hover over the music much like the “spirit” figure in “Lazarus”: gone, but with a trace. Bowie of course released Blackstar two days before he passed away.

An immersive live performance has also been announced for the same day as album release, a concert featuring Beiser performing the album with sound-reactive projections that flood the space around her, and are beamed directly onto her cello using virtual reality special sensors and a software mapping system. The event is at the Winter Garden at Brookfield Place in Manhattan, free and open to the public. For more information: bfplny.com/event/aura-blackstar.

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 has collaborated with many great artists including Philip Glass, Brian Eno, and Steve Reich. Beiser consistently tops critics’ “best of” lists for her multi-media productions and is currently in the midst of a 20 city international tour for her landmark work THE DAY with dancer Wendy Whelan and legendary choreographer Lucinda Childs. 

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)

Pre-order Bowie Cello Symphonic: Blackstar on Apple Music here: https://bit.ly/2PGAgbN