On April 1–2, 2015, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus presented Passion at Davies Symphony Hall. The program brought three premieres together, connecting Walt Whitman’s nineteenth-century poetry, remembrance of gay lives during World War II and the language of social media.
From poetry to new music
Steve Huffines’ “My Friend, My Lover: Five Walt Whitman Songs” grew from music he shared with Artistic Director Tim Seelig. In their San Francisco Bay Times interview, Huffines described Whitman’s vivid characters, joy and storytelling as a natural fit for a gay men’s chorus.
The concert also introduced James Eakin III and Charles Anthony Silvestri’s “#twitterlieder: 15 Tweets in 3 Acts,” a song cycle following a life through brief messages. Jake Heggie’s “For a Look or a Touch” received its San Francisco premiere, with baritone Morgan Smith and actor Kip Niven. SFGMC’s official preview identifies collaborations with San Francisco Opera, American Conservatory Theater and the Contemporary Jewish Museum.
Watch the original preview
The March 2015 promotional video introduces “#twitterlieder” and the wider program. Its graphics reflect the work’s use of tweets; it is a preview rather than a recording of the completed concert. Video producer and editor: John Kim.
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