“New Worlds”

From a chance encounter on a long-haul flight emerged—together with violinist Mira Wang and pianist Vanessa Perez—an internationally acclaimed program that effortlessly blends genres, cultures, and forms of expression. In an interplay that is as subtle as it is surprising, literature and music, improvisation and interpretation converge.

Bill Murray sings, dances, and lends his unmistakable voice to classics of American literature—texts by Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemingway, and Mark Twain, for example. Music ranging from Johann Sebastian Bach to scenes from Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story enters into a vibrant exchange with the literary voices.

The result is a multifaceted evening of recitation, song, and instrumental music—at times humorous and playful, at others contemplative and moving. The project has already thrilled audiences in renowned venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, the Vienna Konzerthaus, and the Sydney Opera House.

The concert film *New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization* premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021, bringing the project to a global audience beyond the stage.

Cast

Bill Murray, recitation and vocals

Jan Vogler & Friends:

• Jan Vogler, cello
  
• Mira Wang, violin
  
• Vanessa Perez, piano