On Thursday evening, composer Mikel Rouse spoke on a panel with Mike Ross (Director of KCPA) and Michael Roux (Marketing & Sales Manager, U of I Press). Though the event was to promote Rouse’s new memoir, The World Got Away (2024), the talk quickly turned into a reunion celebrating friendship and colleague-ship. Rouse and Ross’ connection began in New […]
Date: Thursday, October 03, 2024 Time: 7:00pm CDT (8:00pm EDT)Location: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch One of the most innovative composers of his generation, Mikel Rouse is known for a trilogy of operas that includes Dennis Cleveland and a gift for superimposing pop vernaculars onto avant-garde music. Raconteur and starving artist, witty observer and acclaimed musician, Rouse studied at the UMKC Conservatory […]
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Mikel Rouse will speak about his new memoir, THE WORLD GOT AWAY, and perform an acoustic set of songs spanning his 45 year career. This is the 20th Anniversary of the Pygmalion Festival. Mikel will be in conversation with Mike Ross, Director of the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. […]
THE WIRE’s August 2024 Issue includes a review of Mikel Rouse’s Memoir, The World Got Away. George Grella states: “Right at the start, he writes that the book is ‘a snapshot of a life. Well, my life. But the essential thing is it could be anyone’s life.’ Possible, but not likely. For one thing, there’s […]
Rudy’s Book Event: THE WORLD GOT AWAY, A Memoir by Mikel Rouse + Commemorative Plaque Unveiling. Saturday, June 15 at 1:00PM Come join us as we celebrate Mikel’s new book! The book features the many trials and tribulations of being a musician and artist in NYC. Thankfully, Rudy’s, which features prominently in the manuscript, was […]
Mikel Rouse speaks with Brent Reidy, Andrew Rose Gregory, and Evan Gregory of The Gregory Brothers about his new memoir, his life and work. Event at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Tickets are FREE HERE. One of the most innovative composers of his generation, Mikel Rouse has a gift for superimposing […]
Mikel sat down for an interview with George Grella. George gives a brief description of Mikel: Mikel Rouse is one of the most important and accomplished contemporary American opera composers. Coming to New York out of Kansas City in 1979 with his rock band, Tirez Tirez, Rouse went on to pioneer polyrhythmic, post-minimal chamber music […]
The Wire Magazine has reviewed Rouse’s latest release LANGUAGE BARRIER. Composer and writer Leah Kardos writes: “As cosy and accessible as [Language Barrier] might seem on first listen, deep complexity hides in plain sight – stubborn polytonality, dizzying polymetre and dislocating polytemporalities frame the central image of Rouse’s creative life story with engrossing, sometimes unsettling, […]
Powerful. Influential.Revelatory. A captivating addition to the Taylor Company’s repertoire, Ulysses Dove’s Vespers showcases the bold choreographic brilliance of Dove and the extraordinary talent of the phenomenal Taylor women. His emotive choreography is propelled by Mikel Rouse’s electric score and succeeds in transporting and transforming audiences. Vespers (Company Premiere) | NOV 4 (EVE), 9
On September 7, 2023, Bandcamp Daily featured ‘A Guide’ to many of Rouse’s contemporary works: It’s hard to be first, especially when your style might be too downtown for the uptown people and too uptown for the downtown ones. The subject matter—true crime, TV talk shows, movie-going, even trying to make money as an artist—should […]