“I first met the radiant Devony Smith when she was singing an —unsurprisingly—radiant Meg as an undergraduate in Little Women; later, I met the soulful Danny Zelibor when he proved an—equally unsurprisingly—soulful piano partner in a performance of my song cycle The Racer's Widow. When they told me they wanted to record this piece, I couldn’t have been happier; their love for each other (they’re friends of long standing,) for music, and for each other’s music is audible in every bar (not just of my score) of this recording. Everyone should hear them.”
— Mark Adamo
In this Short Life, the album featuring the work of Mark Adamo performed by mezzo-soprano Devony Smith and pianist Danny Zelibor, is eligible for a GRAMMY® nomination in the category of Best Classical Vocal Solo Album.
For mezzo-soprano Devony Smith and pianist Danny Zelibor, In This Short Life is not just a debut album — it’s the culmination of years of collaboration, trust, and a shared artistic mission. The album features world and recording premieres by GRAMMY® Award winner Jennifer Higdon, Mark Adamo, David Lang, Eve Beglarian, B.E. Boykin, Jake Landau, Will Liverman, and Benjamin Perry Wenzelberg. Highlights include newly commissioned works setting the poetry of Harlem Renaissance icon Anne Spencer and Appalachian folk texts compiled by Jean Ritchie — marking the first time Spencer’s words have ever been set to and recorded in song.
Joining Smith and Zelibor is acclaimed cellist Michael Nicolas, bringing to life a vivid, all-American program celebrating the emotional depth, complexity, and relevance of contemporary art song.
Recognized for her “sensual” and “strong” voice (The New York Times), mezzo-soprano Devony Smith is a versatile performer with a wide-ranging repertoire in opera, concert, and contemporary music. She has premiered works by leading composers including Jennifer Higdon, Jake Landau, Eve Beglarian, and Luna Pearl Woolf, and recently sang the role of the Designer in Woolf’s Number Our Days at the Perelman Performing Arts Center. Smith has appeared with Opera Modesto, New York City Opera, Teatro Comunale di Narni, National Sawdust, the Albany Symphony, and Carnegie Hall, where she was an alto soloist in multiple major works. She holds a Sorel Fellowship and has performed in prestigious workshops with Marilyn Horne, Renée Fleming, and Graham Johnson.
Praised for his sensitive and colorful playing, pianist Danny Zelibor is a sought-after collaborator and an ardent champion of art song. He has performed with artists including Harolyn Blackwell, Jarrett Ott, and Amanda Forsyth, with appearances at Carnegie Hall, the Carlyle Hotel, and as a fellow at Tanglewood. His debut CD on Toccata Classics featuring the piano music of Alexandre Tansman received acclaim from Gramophone and Fanfare. Zelibor has premiered works by Jake Heggie, Jennifer Higdon, David Lang, Eve Beglarian, and Matthew Ricketts, and frequently works with the Brooklyn Art Song Society, Caramoor, and the New York Festival of Song.
Cellist Michael Nicolas is a dynamic performer renowned for his versatility across styles. As a longtime member of the International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE), he has premiered and championed countless works by living composers while maintaining a deep engagement with the classical repertoire. Nicolas has collaborated with artists across genres and is recognized for his precision, musicianship, and adventurous spirit, making him one of today’s most sought-after interpreters of new music.
