World Premiere: "Here We Stand" by Gilad Cohen and Ronvé O’Daniel

Gilad Cohen is an active composer, performer, and theorist in genres including concert music, rock, and music for theater. Ronvé O’Daniel is an award-winning songwriter, playwright, actor, director, and hip-hop recording artist. For their Recomposing America collaboration, ACF has co-commissioned a new work titled Here We Stand, presented in partnership with the Princeton University Glee Club and Decoda, Carnegie Hall’s Affiliate Ensemble. Singer/activist Paul Robeson suffered from racial discrimination throughout his life, but nevertheless reached international fame in the 1920s and 1930s, using his voice to connect people and advocate for social causes he believed in. However, as a result of his support of the Soviet Union, the U.S. government revoked his passport and blacklisted him from mainstream stages, severely damaging his career and finances. Written for two rapper-singers, choir, and orchestra, Here We Stand brings a contemporary perspective to Paul Robeson’s story, exploring moments from his life and how they are parallel with more recent events in American history, in a fusion of concert music, hip hop, funk, and rock. Recomposing America highlights artistic perspectives unique to the United States and the broader Americas through direct commissions, institutional collaborations, and public dialogue. Timed with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Recomposing America aims to refresh and reimagine the “who,” “what,” and “why” of the United States, and the stories therein.