Michael Malis is a composer and pianist based in Detroit who has taught at the University of Michigan and Interlochen Arts Academy.
His new album is "Another Shore, Another Country," a collaboration with baritone Constantine Novotny.
The poet at the center of the album is C. P. Cavafy, who Malis describes as "the seminal poet of the Greek diaspora."
Malis said he particularly appreciates how Cavafy belonged to two worlds at the same time: part of ancient Greece and modern Greece, part of ancient Alexandria and modern Alexandria and as a closeted gay man who presented himself differently publicly and privately.
"It all comes together in his poetry," Malis said. "It's this liminal poetry that lives between spaces."
An American of Greek ancestry, Malis said that Cavafy's poetry immediately spoke to him.
"It spoke to me from this diasporic place," he said. "It spoke to me from the place of 'another shore, another country,' of a world between worlds"
The settings themselves are a mix of original Greek and the English translations.
"I have to shamefully admit that my Greek is not good enough to read the poetry fully in Greek," Malis said, laughing. "There are a lot of people who are disappointed in me."
Although most of Cavafy's poetry is generally quite somber, Malis says there's one optimistic poem set on this album. Curiously, it's "Ithaka," Cavafy's interpretation of "The Odyssey."
"He thinks of 'The Odyssey' as this beautiful journey and this way that you can learn all these things," Malis explained.
To capture that optimism, Malis wrote the music as if the singer were giving a toast: "I picture Constantine toasting someone as they're about to head out on a journey."
Another poem Malis set on this album is "Body, Remember," which he describes as a recollection of "a carnal encounter."
I "Body, Remember," Malis evokes the rhythms of the zeibekiko dance, which he says is done in times of great joy as well is in times of great mourning and sorrow. He himself did the dance at his wedding.
"Another Shore, Another Country" was recorded at the Alluvion in Traverse City, with Jeff Haas as its executive producer.
Malis spoke of his gratitude toward Haas, who has been a collaborator and advocate for years. It was with Haas's support that Malis first brought his "Out of Time, Out of Place" program to Traverse City with Ellie Falaris Ganelin and Constantine Novoty.
At Haas's encouragement and with his support, Malis and Novotny recorded the music for "Another Shore, Another Country" at the Alluvion in Traverse City.
"Jeff is really the reason why this record exists," Malis said.
Hear Michael Malis's complete interview with Classical IPR, including selections from the new album, on demand using the player in this post.
