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Douglas J. Cuomo has composed highly acclaimed and original music for concert and theatrical stages, television, and film. Cuomo’s expressive musical language, with its arresting juxtapositions of sound and style, is a natural outgrowth of his eclectic background and training. He became a professional guitarist while still in his teens, alternating years of college – studying jazz, world music, and ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University in Connecticut – with years on the road. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Miami.
After two years of touring, Cuomo returned to New York City, where he began to compose scores for downtown theater productions, student films, and television documentaries. In doing so, he developed a notable talent for integrating music, image, and narrative. His numerous film and television credits include the themes for Sex & The City and NOW with Bill Moyers.
Cuomo’s most ambitous work to date is Arjuna's Dilemma, a 70-minute opera-oratorio based on the story of the Bhagavad Gita. A work of both sweeping grandeur and piercing intimacy, Arjuna's Dilemma seamlessly melds classical, jazz and traditional Indian musical idioms; it will be performed at BAM’s 2008 Next Wave Festival on November 5, 7, and 8. A recording of Arjuna's Dilemma, featuring Indian singer Amit Chatterjee, members of Anonymous 4, tenor Tony Boutté, tabla player Badal Roy, the Ethel String Quartet, and pianist Kathleen Supové will be released on the Innova label on July 1, 2008.
In addition to Arjuna's Dilemma, Cuomo’s concert works include a Kyrie for And on Earth, Peace (2007) commissioned by the vocal ensemble Chanticleer, premiered by the group at the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and recorded on Warner Music; and Fortune for The Young People's Chorus of New York City under the direction of Francisco Nunez, premiered at the Miller Theatre in April 2008. Forthcoming works include Only Breath for cello and electronics, commissioned by Maya Beiser for an evening-length program titled “Provenance,” to be performed at Arts & Ideas in New Haven, the Ravinia Festival, and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall; and A Winter’s Journey, a setting of Wilhelm Müller’s text for Schubert’s Winterreise song cycle, scored for mezzo-soprano, trumpet, cello, and electronics. His compositions are published by Schott Music. Website: douglasjcuomo.com
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