His "Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra" was premiered at New York's Philharmonic Hall by the Master Virtuosi of New York conducted by Gene Forrell and performed by Sidney Fell, Principal Clarinetist of the London Symphony. It was subsequently performed by Stanley Drucker with the Great Neck Symphony. "Images for Oboe and Strings" had its world premiere at the American Music Festival in Oklahoma conducted by Gene Forrell. "Whimsey for Chamber Orchestra" received its world premiere in San Jose, and was performed the following year by the Westchester Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Paul Dunkel. Most recently, the New York Virtuosi presented the world premiere of "Fantasy for Two Clarinets" at Merkin Hall, performed by soloists Stanley and Naomi Drucker under the baton of Kenneth Klein. Mr. Thomas' opera Desire Under the Elms, with a libretto by Joe Masteroff, was produced at New York's City Center and released internationally in October 2002 as part of Naxos' American Opera Classics series. The recording went on to be nominated for a 2004 Grammy. The musical Six Wives, a Thomas/Masteroff collaboration based on the life and loves of Henry VIII, was produced by the York Theater. His score for the musical Mata Hari, with lyrics by Martin Charnin and book by Jerome Coopersmith, was originally produced by David Merrick in Washington D.C., and subsequently staged as Ballad for a Firing Squad at the Theater de Lys, and at the York Theater in New York City. Mr. Thomas has also received seven gold records as producer and composer for such artists as Julie Andrews, Jack Jones, Vikki Carr, Leontyne Price, Vic Damone, Roberta Peters, and the Vienna Choir Boys, among others. © Edward Thomas, 2004 |
