New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Composer and sound artist
Ellen Reid announces the release of her Pulitzer Prize-winning work, p r i s m, out on August 23 via Decca Gold/Universal Music. With a libretto by Roxie Perkins, the unflinching, genre-defying opera takes on the topic of sexual assault and recovery and was commissioned and produced by Beth Morrison Projects in association with
Trinity Church Wall Street.
p r i s m premiered in November 2018 to universal acclaim in sold-out runs on both the east and west coasts, as a part of New York's Prototype Festival and the LA Opera's Off Grand series. Tackling subject matter that is currently front and center across news media, Reid's work uses haunting vocals and sonically daring instrumentation to bring to light the psychological struggles of sexual and emotional abuse.
Addressing the deeply personal subject matter of the opera, Reid says "p r i s m is about the walls we construct to protect ourselves from our own darkness, the lengths we go through to not look at our history, and the enormous bravery it requires to choose to live after a great loss, rather than shut out the world."
Reid is the most recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize in music, following Kendrick Lamar's win in 2018 for the album DAMN.. She is also the latest signee to Decca Gold, the new US classical label whose roster includes Anthony Roth Costanzo, Teddy Abrams and the New York Philharmonic.
"I am over the moon to be working with the fantastic team at Decca Gold and Universal
Music Group!" Says Reid, enthusiastically. "As I continue to push my art further, I am energized by their expertise and breadth of audience and look forward to many great projects to come."
Graham Parker, President, Universal
Music Classics US, adds "Ellen is a fearless artist and composer who pushes the envelope with her musical works. She is at the forefront of classical contemporary music and I'm thrilled to have such an incredible talent join our growing Decca Gold family."
An accomplished composer and sound artist, Reid's innovative and impressive works encompass sound design, film scores, ensemble and choral writing, and opera. Within the span of a single year she became the first-ever composer to premiere works in Los Angeles' four leading musical institutions — the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Los Angeles Master Chorale.
