ELDERFLORA
“Like a secret Laurie Anderson/Arthur Russell collaboration.”
Elderflora is a 60-minute electro-acoustic song cycle on the life and death of a tree. Created by composer-performer Majel Connery and performed by Connery and Felix Fan (cello), Elderflora crosses Classical harmonies and electronic soundscapes to evoke the tree’s inner world.
In 2025, the duo will be performing select shows for acoustic piano trio and/or for electric guitar (Matt Walsh). Inquire for details.
ADDITIONAL ASSETS:
Elderflora includes an optional video installation involving the tree portraits of American photograph Noah Kalina (a series called “Lumberland”) with video design by Stewart Copeland. Cue sheet and rider available on request.
Photo/video: Hi-res performance images + video of “Tidal Wave”
Downloads: Noah Kalina’s Lumberland & video by Stewart Copeland.
performer BIOS
Majel Connery (vocals, synths) is a composer, vocalist and roving musicologist elevating Classical music with the power of modern technology. Her voice has been called "superb" by the New York Times and her compositions "thoroughly Schubertian" by the Wall Street Journal. Connery’s environmental song cycle “The Rivers are our Brothers” has been toured and recorded by Grammy-winning choir, Chanticleer. Connery podcasts for New Amsterdam Records, and appears frequently with her art-rock band Sky Creature (with Matt Walsh).
Felix Fan (cello) has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Gil Shaham and Janos Starker in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, Musikverein and Royal Festival Hall. Fan’s collaborators include many of today's leading composers from Philip Glass to Michael Gordon, Hans Werner Henze, Oliver Knussen, David Lang, Meredith Monk, Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Kaija Saariaho, Tan Dun, Julia Wolfe and Charles Wuorinen. Beyond Classical music Fan has performed with Sonic Youth, Sigur Ros, Wilco and The National.
Matthew Walsh (baritone guitar) is a guitarist and drummer. He currently performs in Sky Creature, a punk-electronic-opera fusion with singer Majel Connery. Walsh has previously performed with the Forms, sharing stages with The National, St. Vincent and HUM, and whose work was featured in Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. He also performed with the Wild Yaks, who the New York Times called "a roman candle of a band," and the Desert Fathers. Matt has recorded several albums with legendary rock producer Steve Albini. He drops his first solo release, a collection of jarring ambient soundscapes, in the spring of 2025 under the moniker "Matt By Himself."