The Museum of Modern Art has commissioned artist/musician Antony to conceive, produce, and perform a large-scale concert and performance event, Swanlights, with Antony and the Johnsons, on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. at Radio City Music Hall. Featuring a 60-piece orchestra, the performance piece is conceived as a new commission especially developed for the January 26 performance, and an evolution of the highly acclaimed The Crying Light, which was presented at the Manchester Opera House for the 2009 Manchester International Festival. Envisioned as a meditation on light, nature, and femininity, Swanlights includes songs from all four of Antony and the Johnsons’ albums (self-titled, I am a Bird Now, The Crying Light, and Swanlights), set to symphonic arrangements by Nico Muhly, Rob Moose, and Maxim Moston. It is produced in collaboration with light artist Chris Levine, lighting designer Paul Normandale, and set designer Carl Robertshaw. Antony and the Johnsons: Swanlights is organized by Klaus Biesenbach, Chief Curator at Large of The Museum of Modern Art and Director of MoMA PS1, with the assistance of Eliza Ryan, Curatorial Assistant, MoMA PS1.

“Antony is a singer, songwriter, composer, playwright, director, photographer, draftsman, and collagist—a true creative mind, in every sense,” said Mr. Biesenbach. “Antony's tremendous talents are brought together in spectacular performances, where lighting, costume, and of course an other-worldly voice, unite to create a truly transcendental experience for the audience. MoMA is thrilled to commission a special performance by Antony and the Johnsons at Radio City Music Hall.”

An award-winning musician and performer, Antony has collaborated with a wide-ranging group of artists and musicians including Björk, Boy George, Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, CocoRosie, and Lou Reed, and has performed with major symphony orchestras around the world. Following its acclaimed presentation at the 2009 Manchester Festival, the group’s performance of The Crying Light was included in the exhibition 100 Years (version #2, ps1, nov 2009) at MoMA PS1, which was organized by Mr. Biesenbach and RoseLee Goldberg, Performa Director and Curator. Last summer, Antony was the musical director and a performer in the critically lauded The Life and Death of Marina Abramovi?, directed by Robert Wilson.

An accomplished visual artist, Antony has exhibited drawings at Palais Des Beaux Arts in Belgium, Isis Gallery in London, Accademia Albertina in Turin and the Triennale in Milan. Antony’s drawings will be exhibited at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles in January 2012, curated by James Elaine.

Tickets to Antony and the Johnsons: Swanlights will go on-sale to the public on Saturday, November 12, at 10:00 a.m. via Ticketmaster phone charge at 1-866-858-0008, and online at www.radiocity.com and www.ticketmaster.com.
Ticket prices are $35.00 to $70.00. A limited number of VIP packages will be available for $95.00, which include premium seating and a copy of the Swanlights publication (Abrams Image). All ticket and package prices subject to applicable fees and service charges.