Paola Prestini
2021
For mezzo-soprano and electronics. Commissioned by Jill Steinberg and WNET's ALL ARTS.
2022
Solo Violin and Electronics, commissioned by Michael Lim
2015
Commissioned by the Walker Art Center and the Krannert Center. Choral Opera for singing actor, children's chorus and string quartet. Text by Rinde Eckert, direction by Julian Crouch.
2019
Commissioned by Anthone de Mare for LIAISONS 2020. For solo piano.
2000
Opener for orchestra. Please email for rental inquiries.
for brass quintet
2007
For string quartet and electronics. Commissioned by the Kronos Quartet.
For clarinet, string quartet, percussion, with or without voice. Performed at the Whitney Live. For clarinet, cello and vibes. Flexible orchestration. VisionIntoArt and Helga Davis performing.
1996
Work for orchestra. Please email for inquiries.
For SSA choir. Biking Through Time is a work written for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus inspired by Maria Popova's Brain Pickings.
2020
For soprano, cello, and electronics. Libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy
A Concept by Paola Prestini, Erika Harrsch and Jeffrey Zeigler, commissioned by VisionIntoArt for the Whitney Live series. Exploring body parts and their history through surreal imagery.
Con Alma is an album and live digital experience of original works by composer Paola Prestini and vocalist and composer Magos Herrera, along with some classics from the Mexican and Jazz songbook.
2009
Song Cycle for soprano and piano. Commissioned by Young Concert Artists for Sarah Wolfson.
2018
Commissioned by Allison Loggins-Hull. For flute and piano exploring the duality of being a mother and artist.
2011
Commissioned by Opera America for The Opera America Songbook. For baritone and piano, text by Donna Di Novelli.
Grand opera commissioned by Minnesota Opera. Libretto by Mark Campbell, direction by Eric Simonson, based on the novel by Kate Di Camillo.
2014
Commissioned by the New York Philharmonic for the Biennale. For solo cello.
Commissioned by BAM, the Young People's Chorus of NYC, and VisionIntoArt. A choral installation with text by Niloufar Talebi with visuals by Ali Hossaini, directed by Michael McQuilken.
For baritone and cello
2016
for solo violin
Written during the pandemic for the Young People's Chorus and their amazing AloneTogether Project. For SSA
Commissioned by Michael Straus for Suzi Digby and the ORA Singers. For mixed choir.
Commissioned by Golden Hornet for Jeffrey Zeigler. For cello and electronics.
For string quartet and vibraphone. Premiered and written for Ian Rosenbaum and Brooklyn Rider.
Grand Opera commissioned by Friends of Madam Whitesnake. Libretto by Cerice Jacobs, direction by Michael Counts, video by S. Katy Tucker, produced by Beth Morrison Projects.
Solo piano commissioned by Min Kwon for America/Beautiful Project.
Comissioned by Cabrillo Music Festival, Ravinia, Oregon Bach Festival and Louisville Orchestra. Piano concerto for Lara Downes.
A Collaboration with cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, filmmaker Murat Eyuboglu, and dancer/choreographers Georgina Pazcoguin and Dai Matsuoka. Commissioned by the Broad Museum. Developed at MASS MoCA.
2003
For brass quintet. Commissioned by The Monumental Brass Quintet for the Women’s Commissioning Project, Washington, D.C.
For string orchestra and solo cello. Paola Prestini and Tanya Tagaq.
for string quartet
Solos for violin, viola, cello, and double bass.
Commissioned by the Krannert Center. House of Solitude for solo violin and electronics.
Solo for vibraphone and electronics.
2005
Solo piano written for Speranza Scappucci.
2012
Commissioned by the Juilliard School for Beyond the Machine. For cello and percussion and electronics.
2002
solo for marimba.
Commissioned by Francesca de Pasquale. For solo violin.
Commissioned by Carnegie Hall. Folk Opera and song cycle with film. Concept and dramaturgy by Paola Prestini, libretto by Donna Di Novelli, and film by Ali Hossaini. Improvisations by Helga Davis.
for solo cello.
For brass quintet. Premiered at The Juilliard School.
2025
Paola Prestini, jazz sensation Magos Herrera and German vocal sextet Sjaella come together at the Met Cloisters to recreate the dream of the first Mexican proto-femenist, Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz.
Commissioned by the Krannert Center. Room 35 for solo cello and electronics.
Music by Paola Prestini, libretto by Brenda Shaughnessy, co-directed by Jerron Herman and Jay Scheib. Community Lead Gregg Mozgala. Lead produced by VisionIntoArt with Beth Morrison Projects.
2017
Commissioned by The Juilliard School and the Morgan Library For The Juilliard School's Spring 2017 PianoScope Festival. For solo piano.
2004
2024
Commissioned by the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Chamber opera with libretto by Royce Vavrek and direction/design/concept by Thaddeus Strassberger, foley by Sxip Shirey.
Commissioning project with Brooklyn Youth Chorus for Silent Voices II. For a cappella children’s chorus.
Commissioned by WNYC. Song cycle for soprano, clarinet, string trio, percussion, and electronics.
2008
Commissioned by WNYC. For clarinet (or violin), cello, and vibes. Performed by the Chicago Symphony Music Now series and at WNYC’s Greene Space.
Commissioned by Heather Fetrow and Mila Henry for Voices of Women Project. For 2 sopranos and piano. Lyrics by Mark Campbell.
Piano Concerto for Awadagin Pratt, Roomful of Teeth and A Far Cry.
Commissioned by Yevgeny Kutik. For solo violin and piano.
2001
Viola solo for Melia Watras.
Double String Quartet. Premiered at the Juilliard School.
Commissioned by The Met Museum and Houston Da Camera. Choral Eco-Documentary. Words by conservationist William de Boys, directed by Murat Eyuboglu. Roomful of Teeth, Jeffrey Zeigler and Glenn Kotche.
Co-commission by the Young People's Chorus of New York City and Yale Choral Artists, for mixed choir and children's choir. Text by Royce Vavrek and live painting by Kevork Mourad.
Commissioned by the American Composers Orchestra. For orchestra with film by Mami Kosemura.
Commissioned by Bay Chamber Concerts. Cantata with libretto by Royce Vavrek, narration by astrophysicist Mario Livio, sound by ARUP, and VR by Eliza McNitt. Arias for soprano and piano exist.
2023
Grand opera inspired by Hemingway. Directed by Karmina Šilec, Libretto by Royce Vavrek, and choreographed by Sidra Bell. Design by Dorian Silec.
For solo violin.
Commissioned by Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts. For string quartet.
Chamber work commissioned by The New York Philharmonic for Project 19. Words by Maria Popova, for soprano, violin, viola, cello, percussion, and fixed and live electronics.
Commissioned by Amanda Gookin for Forward Music Project. Solo cello and electronics.
Choral Sextet comissioned by the Sjaella Ensemble in 2020.
Monodrama for mezzo soprano, piano and electronics. Co-commissioned by the Kennedy Center, San Diego Opera, The Momentary at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Arts and National Sawdust.
Commissioned by the UCLA Davise Fund for Inna Faliks. For solo piano.
Commissioned by University of Nebraska Lincoln for Jonah Sirota. For solo viola and looper.
2010
Commissioned by MATA. For singing pianist and electronics.
Film Score for violin, cello, guitar, percussion, piano and vocals. PBS Reframed.
for solo tenor saxophone
Developed and commissioned by Arizona State University and Carolina Performing Arts, produced by Beth Morrison Projects. For string quartet.
for mezzo-soprano, clarinet, and piano
Song cycle for mezzo soprano, cello and guitar; mezzo soprano and piano; and 2 mezzo sopranos, cello, guitar, and piano. Libretto by Royce Vavrek.