Reena Esmail - Terra infirma (Yolanda Kondonassis)

Information

Composer: Reena Esmail

• Terra Infirma: Concerto for Harp/Percussion
• Sandhiprakash
• Earth Speaks: Curiosity

Yolanda Kondonassis, harp/percussion

Vijay Gupta, violin

Interlochen Center for the Arts

Andrew Grams, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Azica

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In celebration of Earth Day, Grammy-nominated harpist Yolanda Kondonassis released Terra Infirma, an album of world-premiere recordings highlighting major environmental works by Reena Esmail. The titular piece, a concerto for harp and percussion performed alongside the Interlochen Center for the Arts Orchestra and conductor Andrew Grams, was inspired by Esmail's experience during the catastrophic California wildfires. Melding Hindustani ragas with theatrical choreography, the concerto positions the harp as a physical protagonist representing Earth. The innovative album also features Sandhiprakash for violin and harp, alongside Earth Speaks: Curiosity for chorus and solo harp.

Reena Esmail (born 1983) is an acclaimed composer who bridges Hindustani and Western classical traditions, crafting shared creative spaces across orchestral, chamber, and choral domains. A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Yale School of Music, her educational foundation is augmented by a Fulbright-Nehru grant to study Hindustani music in India. Esmail's widely performed catalog includes commissions for premier ensembles like the San Francisco Symphony, features on multiple Grammy-nominated albums, and highly successful choral publications. Her prominent stature is further reflected in numerous prestigious residencies, including the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Seattle Symphony.

Grammy-nominated harpist Yolanda Kondonassis (born 1963) is an acclaimed soloist, author, educator, and environmental advocate who has recorded over twenty albums and delivered dozens of world-premiere recordings. Since debuting with the New York Philharmonic at age 18, she has performed with major international orchestras and at prominent music festivals. Currently heading the harp department at The Cleveland Institute of Music, Kondonassis is a dedicated champion of contemporary music and has standardized modern harp notation. Deeply committed to environmental causes, she founded the non-profit Earth at Heart, created the FIVE MINUTES for Earth commissioning project, and has authored ecological books for children.

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