2020 was a difficult time for people in the performing arts. To mark the end of such a turbulent year, Pittsburgh CLO executive producer Mark Fleischer came up with the idea to commission artists to put their hopes for better days to music.
The result is the series “Songs for a New Year,” which brings together songwriters, musicians, vocalists, choreographers and others to create music videos on that theme.
Hosted by Olivia O’Connor, CLO’s manager for new work development, “Songs for a New Year” is part of the company’s online talk show, “Close Ups,” which began when the pandemic struck locally last spring. The episodes are available on Facebook and YouTube at 5 p.m. Thursdays through Feb. 25.
The CLO reached out last year to five songwriting teams and choreographers to create full-fledged works. Though commissioned works often come together over the course of years, some teams had only six weeks to work.
“To have a song come together from conception to completion in a matter of weeks and months is exciting,” O’Connor said. “You’re creating a project that’s engaging with this time that’s actually going to be released when we’re still living in this time. I think that was appealing to artists to be able to respond to something and know their work was going to be shared in a pretty immediate way.”
The series began Jan. 21 with “Resolutions,” a work that grappled with the pressure one faces after dealing with tragedy. Next was “A Cynic and an Optimist,” which traced one character’s contrasting perspectives. Each song was given a choreographed video, which allowed for further depth and nuance.
“12 Grapes” reflects the Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock chimes midnight on New Year’s Eve. “No More Soggy Bottoms” explores the collective trend of watching reality TV, specifically BBC’s “The Great British Baking Show.”
The last in the series is “I Remembered,” a piece partially created by Jillian Walker, who wrote and performed in “Skinfolk: An American Show,” part of CLO’s Spark program of new, small musicals.
“Songs for a New Year” also provides conversations with the creators behind the pieces. O’Connor counted almost 25 different artists involved in the process of making these works and said it was a learning experience for many, including herself.
“What we are asking teams to do is not easy,” she said. “We’re asking composers and writers to take control of the recording of their songs. So they’re coaching performers over Zoom. They’re mixing their own tracks. Choreographers are videoing their own work. In some cases, they’re collaborating with videographers and editors. But in some cases, they’re doing it entirely on their own.”
The CLO has tentative plans to put together another iteration of the digital project in 2021. In the meantime, “Songs for a New Year” will remain available to stream online along with previous episodes of “Close Ups.” The songs remain the property of the writers, giving them the freedom to use them in future projects, O’Connor said.
The CLO has been supporting artists in a variety of ways during the pandemic. Its education program has been hosting online master classes and the CLO commissioned a new show for its in-school musical theater program, “Gallery of Heroes.” The company also offers TheatreGrams, a video singing telegram from one of its mainstay performers.
For the CLO’s 75th anniversary season this summer, O’Connor said they aim to make it “the best that it can be given the insane number of unknowns.” In the meantime, she is hoping that COVID-19 has raised public awareness about the value of artists.
“We are really grateful to be the conduit for this work and this project and really just excited and grateful to be sharing them not only with CLO audiences but the broad community you can reach online,” O’Connor said. “That’s been one of the bright spots of the pandemic.”
Tyler Dague: rdague@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1569 and on Twitter @rtdague.
First Published: February 15, 2021, 5:28 p.m.