The music world is about to hear something new—and deeply human. This fall, American-British ensemble Duo Atlantis makes its U.S. debut with a pair of remarkable performances at two of the nation’s most prestigious venues: the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and New York’s Carnegie Hall. The tour marks the world premiere of Dragon’s Blood: A Song Cycle, a bold new work from Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning composer Bear McCreary and screenwriter JD Payne, co-creator of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
Two Venues, One Message
The tour begins October 21 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The program, Echoes Across the Atlantic, honors veterans and the enduring bonds between allies separated by oceans but united by history. Mezzo-soprano Rachel Youngberg Payne guides audiences through a collection of works built around remembrance, renewal, and the shared cost of freedom. Her partner in music and storytelling, pianist Jack Tyndale-Biscoe, brings structure and grace to every phrase. Together, they form Duo Atlantis—a pairing that bridges continents in more ways than one.
Five days later, on October 26, the duo takes the stage at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall for the world premiere of Dragon’s Blood. Written for voice, piano, cello, harp, marimba, and timpani, the song cycle was composed specifically for Duo Atlantis. McCreary and Payne’s collaboration reaches far beyond art for art’s sake—it’s a meditation on exploitation, technology, and human cost.
Art Meets Activism
Dragon’s Blood was born from a shared desire to expose the realities behind the devices that fuel modern life. Cobalt, a key mineral used in rechargeable batteries, is often mined under inhumane conditions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Child labor and environmental devastation remain part of that unseen economy.
JD Payne explains the project’s roots: “The text reimagines the journey of a young boy in the Congo, where children are too often drawn into the brutal work of cobalt mining instead of being given a chance at education. My hope is that through Bear’s score and Duo Atlantis’ storytelling, audiences will be both moved and awakened—to the hidden costs of the technology we all rely on.”
Bear McCreary adds his perspective as a composer better known for his work in film and television: “Having spent much of my career composing for screens, Carnegie Hall represents a different kind of stage. To create something this intimate with JD and Duo Atlantis has been inspiring. This piece isn’t just performance—it’s reflection.”
Floodlight Shines a Light
The Carnegie Hall premiere is presented in partnership with Floodlight, a company dedicated to transparency and accountability in global industries. Their involvement is more than sponsorship—it’s a direct alignment with the message behind Dragon’s Blood. Floodlight’s technology-driven mission focuses on revealing hidden systems, from mining to manufacturing, through satellite data, artificial intelligence, and human insight.
Founder Nate Wyne summarizes it well: “Partnering with Duo Atlantis lets us support art that tells the truth. Just as music can uncover what’s been ignored, data can tell the real story—the one that leads to accountability and dignity for those at the center of the supply chain.”
A Performance with Purpose
In attendance at Carnegie Hall will be members of the Congolese community, cultural leaders, and dignitaries from across the globe. Their presence underscores the piece’s message—art as a force that connects statistics to people and headlines to hearts. After the concert, a panel discussion will bring together Payne, Tyndale-Biscoe, Youngberg Payne, and Wyne to discuss both the music and the mission behind it.
The Duo Behind the Music
Duo Atlantis formed in 2024, the result of shared artistic sensibilities and a mutual commitment to narrative-driven performance. Rachel Youngberg Payne combines classical training with theatrical expression, blending opera and acting into a single, commanding presence. Jack Tyndale-Biscoe’s background in British recital traditions and contemporary piano performance gives their music both authenticity and edge. Their approach feels timeless—intimate like 19th-century salon concerts, but fearless enough to speak to modern audiences about real issues.
More Than a Concert
The Duo Atlantis U.S. debut is a cultural statement. It’s about collaboration that crosses borders, storytelling that reaches beyond words, and art that takes on social responsibility. Both performances—the reflective tribute in Washington and the provocative premiere in New York—demonstrate how classical music can remain relevant by engaging with the issues shaping our world.
For those in the audience, this is more than a night at Carnegie Hall. It’s an invitation to listen differently—to hear not just melody and rhythm, but conscience and call.
