Classical under the stars: ‘Sleep’ comes to LA in July

– Live Eight-Hour Overnight Concert of Minimalist Classical Masterpiece SLEEP to
Make Los Angeles Debut with First Outdoor Presentation
Under the Stars in the Heart of Downtown –  

Photo Courtesy of Rahi Rezvani

LOS ANGELES (June 7, 2018) – The Music Center announced it will present the Los Angeles premiere of the live overnight performance of Max Richter’s SLEEP, one of the longest single pieces of classical music ever to be recorded and performed, in Grand Park on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28, 2018.  Following its recent successes in New York City and at SXSW, along with performances in London, Berlin and Sydney among others, SLEEP will be performed outdoors for the first time as the first overnight event to be held at Grand Park, Los Angeles County’s highly popular gathering space.  Cots will replace traditional seating to allow attendees to fully immerse themselves in the eight-hour experience.  The concert, featuring Richter playing the piano and keyboard along with the musicians on the 2015 Deutsche Grammophon recording of the work, American Contemporary Music Ensemble and soprano Grace Davidson, will begin at 10:30 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday evenings and conclude at 6:30 a.m. the following mornings.  The Music Center Presents Max Richter’s SLEEP is supported by the Ring-Miscikowski Foundation/The Ring Foundation.

Richter describes SLEEP as a “personal lullaby for a frenetic world” and “a manifesto for a slower pace of existence.”  Scored for piano, string quintet, electronics and vocals, the piece is an enquiry into the relationship between sound and the sleeping mind, with, as The Wall Street Journal reported, “…music [is] at times so soft and trance-inducing that you can’t help but slip into a relaxed state.”  In composing SLEEP, Richter consulted with pre-eminent American neuroscientist David Eagleman to learn more about how the human brain functions while sleeping.  The landmark work was released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2015 to much critical acclaim.

“The Music Center continues to take the lead on curating and presenting the most innovative arts experiences for Angelenos, and Max Richter’s SLEEP is no exception,” said Rachel Moore, president and CEO of The Music Center.  “We’re honored to present the work of one of the world’s most compelling and exciting composers in this first-ever overnight event in Grand Park.  This is a unique opportunity not to be missed,” she added.

“Max Richter’s SLEEP is a piece that dissolves the borders between art and life, dream and being awake, audience and performer.  It is the perfect antithesis to our overstimulated world, putting us into a state of innocence again,” said Jorn Weisbrodt, artistic advisor for The Music Center.  “This presentation is the first of many opportunities The Music Center will be bringing to Angelenos as we expand the notion of what a performing arts center is and become an even bigger platform for multidisciplinary arts experiences.”

Called “the ultimate lullaby” by National Public Radio and described by Pitchfork as conjuring “dreamy states, where ideas seem fluid and flexible and the world around you seems somehow softer,” SLEEP has been performed in Austin at SXSW, Auckland, Berlin, London, Sydney’s Opera House, Madrid, Zürich, the Philharmonie de Paris, Amsterdam and New York.  

Max Richter stands as one of the most influential figures on the contemporary music scene, producing groundbreaking work as a recording artist, composer, pianist and collaborator.  He is best known for his genre-defining solo albums including The Blue Notebooks, Memoryhouse, Songs From Before, Infra, Three Worlds: Music from Woolf Works and the eight-hour epic SLEEP.  His 2012 record Recomposed By Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons topped the Classical charts in 22 countries.

Richter has written widely for ballet, opera and film; his recent projects include INFRA, and Woolf Works for The Royal Ballet, and Exiles for the NDT.

Richter is also known in the United States for his work in feature films.  His music is featured in Hostiles, directed by Scott Cooper; Miss Sloane, directed by John Madden; Black Mirror’s ‘Nosedive,’ directed by Joe Wright; Damon Lindelof’s cult HBO series The Leftovers; and Taboo for Tom Hardy, which earned him an Emmy nomination.  Richter’s work On The Nature Of Daylight is used as the opening and end theme in Denis Villeneuve’s Oscar-winning film Arrival.

On March 16, 2018, SLEEP was made available in its entirety for the first time on digital streaming partners.  To date, the piece has been streamed more than 70 million times.

Tickets for The Music Center Presents Max Richter’s SLEEP for the main performance area (Sections A and B) are $60 and $80; cot included with ticket purchase and will be assigned in advance.  Guests are encouraged to purchase early to get the best cot location.  Tickets are available online at musiccenter.org/sleep; at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion Box Office, 135 N. Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012; or by calling (213) 972-0711.  There will also be a public area (Section C) at Grand Park’s Event Lawn featuring a free listening area (with a $6 handling fee); tickets are required for admission, no cot included.  The handling fee will be waived for purchases made at the box office.  Audience members should arrive in comfortable clothing for this overnight concert experience.  For more information about how to prepare for the SLEEP experience in Grand Park, including a list of prohibited items, visit musiccenter.org/sleep.

The Music Center is Los Angeles’ home to the world’s greatest artistic programs and events with four iconic theatres and an outdoor plaza.  In addition to its four-renowned resident companies – Center Theatre Group, the Los Angeles Master Chorale, LA Opera and LA Phil – The Music Center presents an international dance series, free and low-cost public programming and special events and activities for all ages.  From its early days, The Music Center has been a pioneer in arts education and offers a multi-faceted program from K-12.  With The Music Center On Location,™ the non-profit performing arts organization brings programming to locations outside of its Downtown Los Angeles campus.  The Music Center also programs and manages Grand Park, a 12-acre adjacent greenspace, with year-round free programming.  For more information, visit musicenter.org  Follow The Music Center on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (@MusicCenterLA).

SLEEP is released by the legendary classical label Deutsche Grammophon, which is distributed by Verve Label Group in the United States. The Verve Label Group (VLG), a division of Universal Music Group based in New York City, is home to many of the most acclaimed artists in Jazz and Classical music, while also strongly focused on championing emerging talent across all genres.

One of the most prestigious names in global classical music since its foundation in 1898, Deutsche Grammophon has always stood for the highest standards of artistry and sound quality. Home to the greatest artists of all time, the famous yellow label is a beacon to which music lovers all over the world look for outstanding recordings and interpretations.

The American Contemporary Music Ensemble (ACME), led by Artistic Director Clarice Jensen, was honored by ASCAP during its 10^th anniversary season in 2015 for the “virtuosity, passion, and commitment with which it performs and champions American composers.” The New York Times describes ACME’s performances as “vital,” “brilliant,” and “electrifying.”  ACME’s recordings appear on the Sono Luminus, Deutsche Grammophon, New World, Butterscotch, and New Amsterdam labels. ACME’s dedication to new music extends across genres and has earned them a reputation among both classical and rock crowds. The group’s many collaborators have included Jóhann Jóhannsson, actress Barbara Sukowa, filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, Blonde Redhead, Grizzly Bear, Low, Matmos, Jeff Mangum, A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Roomful of Teeth, Lionheart, and Theo Bleckmann. ACME has performed at leading venues including Carnegie Hall, BAM, (Le) Poisson Rouge, Miller Theatre, The Met Museum, Constellation Chicago, Stanford Live, UCLA, Peak Performances, Melbourne Recital Hall, Big Ears, Sydney Opera House, the Sacrum Profanum Festival in Poland, and All Tomorrow’s Parties in the UK, among many others.  acmemusic.org

Where:

Grand Park

200 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012
When:

Friday, July 27, 2018, 10:30 p.m. – Saturday, July 28, 2018, 6:30 a.m.

Saturday, July 28, 2018, 10:30 p.m. – Sunday, July 29, 2018, 6:30 a.m.

Doors open at 9:30 p.m.

On-site box office opens at 9:00 p.m. and closes at midnight; no latecomers after midnight.

Box Office:

The Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Tickets*:

Main Performance Area (Sections A & B)

$60 and $80; cot included with ticket.

Listening Area (Section C)

Listening area at Grand Park’s Event Lawn; FREE with $6 handling fee (ticket is required); no cot included.

*Audience members should arrive in comfortable clothing for this overnight concert.  The handling fee will be waived for tickets purchased at the box office.

Online:

musiccenter.org/sleep

Phone:

(213) 972-0711

Parking:
Parking is available in the lot under The Music Center for $5.00 after 8:00 p.m.  Admittance to the event closes at midnight.

More Information:

For details about the concert experience, as well as a list of prohibited items, visit musiccenter.org/sleep