Tobias Picker & Mikael Karlsson at (le) poisson rouge

Kicking off the celebrations of much beloved composer Tobias Picker’s 60th birthday year and Mika’s 10th year as a sought-after composer working in New York and all over the world, here is a concert of two friends who have been working together since 2005 – the year Mika started representing Tobias. The concert takes place at (le) poisson rouge on Sunday, January 19, 2014 at 5pm.  Day Comes Apart is a song cycle (text by Rob Stephenson) of dark love songs with a title that refers to the overwhelming mosaic that makes up any day of existence.The piano quintet, Live Oaks (2011) is perhaps Tobias’ most profound work in a canon of chamber music spanning 40 years. A recent recording with Sarah Rothenberg and the Brentano Quartet will be released on the Tzadik Label in early 2014.

Nasty Fucker, a piece for flutes and electronics, is non-thematic, but you may use its title as you please in your day-to-day life for added spice.With a lineup of some of the best performers in the field, this concert is about the armor you use and the war you fight to stay gloriously afloat and independent.Come meet your kin – those who fight the same battles you do on a daily basis.  As the last phrase of Day Comes Apart goes: “Without your ears, these will not be songs”. PROGRAM:Day Comes Apartsong cycleComposer: Mikael KarlssonLyricist: Rob StephensonSoprano: Patricia SchumanPianist: Yegor ShevtsovLive Oakspiano quintetComposer: Tobias PickerPianist: Aaron LiknessStrings: Fidelio String QuartetNasty Fuckersolo piece for flutes and electronicsflutes: Lance Suzukielectronics: Mikael Karlsson For more information, visit www.lepoissonrouge.com.