CU Presents' 2015-16 Season to Feature Twyla Tharp, Soweto Gospel Choir & More
By: Tyler Peterson Aug. 13, 2015
CU Presents' 2015-16 lineup offers incomparable entertainment, including a special Christmas program by the world-famous Soweto Gospel Choir, the first Boulder performance by Twyla Tharp Dance since 1979 and alt-folk superstars Indigo Girls performing with the CU Symphony Orchestra. Single tickets go on sale Monday, Aug. 17 at cupresents.org, or call 303-492-8008.
This season also features five concert pairs by the Takács Quartet and a special performance by the Attacca Quartet, "Cinderella" presented by the Eklund Opera Program, the beloved Holiday Festival and a jazzy Spring Swing.
If you would like to speak to someone at CU Presents for a story, please contact Sabine Kortals at sabine.kortals@colorado.edu or 303-492-1137. Photos: Click the following links for photos of selected artists; for other photo requests, contact Sabine.
CU Presents 2015-16 season
Artist Series at Macky Auditorium:
Twyla Tharp Dance
50th Anniversary Tour
Sunday, Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m.
Twyla Tharp Dance returns to Boulder for the first time since 1979 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the choreographer's incomparable career, featuring new works set to Bach, Henry Butler, Steven Bernstein and John Zorn. twylatharp.org
Tickets start at $15
SFJAZZ Collective
Tribute to Michael Jackson
Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.
The brilliant San Francisco-based ensemble takes the next step in its "transforming, expanding" tributes (New York Times) to pop and jazz legends-Coltrane, Monk, Stevie Wonder and others-with all-new originals and arrangements celebrating Michael Jackson. sfjazz.org/sfjazzcollective
Tickets start at $15
Irish Chamber Orchestra
Gábor Takács-Nagy, conductor
Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
The "razor-sharp, fully-seasoned" Irish Chamber Orchestra (Chicago Tribune), returns to Boulder by popular demand. Conducted by original Takács Quartet member Gábor Takács-Nagy, the program features internationally renowned cellist Istvan Vardai. irishchamberorchestra.com
Tickets start at $15
Soweto Gospel Choir
Friday, Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m.
South Africa's 24-voice Soweto Gospel Choir-"Nothing less than an international treasure" (JazzTimes)-will light your holiday season with a performance of classic Christmas songs and moving African gospel.
Tickets start at $15
Diavolo
Architecture in Motion
Thursday, Jan. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Equal parts Cirque du Soleil, brilliant choreography and "architecture in motion," Diavolo turns death-defying dancers free in super-sized playground of wheels, bowls and walls in a unique display of kinetic drama. diavolo.org
Tickets start at $15
BODYTRAFFIC
Sunday, Feb. 14, 7:30 p.m.
Drop gritty, contemporary New York and European choreographers into the fast-paced, freeway world of Los Angeles, sprinkle with energetic young talent, and you get the "super-fast, super-sexy, super-expressive intensity" (Dance View Times) of BODYTRAFFIC. bodytraffic.com
Tickets start at $15
Rising Stars of the Metropolitan Opera
Tuesday, March 1, 7:30 p.m.
The Met has launched the careers of opera greats Renée Fleming, Thomas Hampson and many others. Don't miss this chance to hear the brightest new stars performing arias, duets and ensembles by the world's greatest composers. metopera.org
Tickets start at $15
Indigo Girls
With the CU Symphony Orchestra
Thursday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, the platinum-selling duo Indigo Girls, enrich a stellar quarter-century career with a symphonic performance of their moving, melodic music-including such hits as "Closer to Fine" and "Land of Canaan." indigogirls.com
Tickets start at $20
Pablo Ziegler and Lara St. John
Astor Piazzolla's Central Park Concert with the Pablo Ziegler Tango Quartet
Friday, April 15, 7:30 p.m.
Composer-pianist Ziegler and violinist St. John perform beloved tunes from tango maestro Astor Piazzolla's famous 1987 Central Park concert-along with originals by Ziegler who takes the tango to heights "undreamed of by Piazzolla." (Chicago Tribune) pabloziegler.com; larastjohn.com
Tickets start at $15
Holiday Festival:
Friday, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m.
A lively program of seasonal music and festive holiday decorations in Macky Auditorium inspire sold-out audiences and make the Holiday Festival a favorite annual tradition. Choirs, orchestra, ensembles and faculty soloists from the CU-Boulder College of Music invite you to share the joy and warmth of the season with your family and friends.
Tickets start at $15
Eklund Opera Program:
"Cinderella" ("La Cenerentola")
By Gioachino Rossini
(Sung in Italian with English surtitles)
Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 25, 2 p.m.
Tickets start at $15
Macky Auditorium
"Dialogues of the Carmelites"
(Sung in English with English surtitles)
Friday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 13, 2 p.m.
Tickets start at $15
Macky Auditorium
"The Tender Land"
(Sung in English with English surtitles)
Thursday, April 21, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 22, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 24, 2 p.m.
Tickets start at $20
Music Theatre
Takács Quartet:
Chamber Series (limited availability)
Antonín Dvo?ák's String Quartet No.14 in A-flat Major, Op. 105
Franz Joseph Haydn's String Quartet No. 3 in G minor, Op. 74, "The Rider"
Dmitri Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, Op. 73
Sunday, Sept. 20, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 11, 4 p.m. (Attaca Quartet)
Sunday, Nov. 8, 4 p.m.
Johannes Brahms' String Quartet No. 3 in B-flat Major, Op. 67
Franz Joseph Haydn's String Quartet No. 1 in C Major, Op. 74
Also in November, the Takács Quartet will announce from stage and perform the premiere of a new work.
Among other works TBA, the Takács' spring 2016 programs will include:
Ludwig van Beethoven's String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, "Rasumovsky No. 3"
Antonín Dvo?ák's Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 81, B. 155
Edward Elgar's Piano Quintet, Op. 84
Sunday, Jan. 10, 4 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 28, 4 p.m.
Sunday, April 24, 4 p.m.
Encore Series (limited availability, same program info as above):
Monday, Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 12, 7:30 p.m. (Attaca Quartet)
Monday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 29, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets start at $20
The Grammy Award-winning Takács Quartet-in-residence at CU-Boulder and the first string quartet to be awarded the Wigmore Hall Medal-is gearing up for another characteristically virtuosic and musically gratifying season. In its 40th season, the chamber ensemble delivers an irresistible blend of virtuosic technique and engaging personality.
Since its formation at the Juilliard School in 2003, the Attacca Quartet has become one of North America's premier young ensembles. The quartet has received multiple honors, including first prize in the 7th Osaka International Chamber Music Competition and the Listener's Choice Award recipients in the 2011 Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition. The New York Times described quartet's "Fellow Traveler: The Complete String Quartet Works of John Adams" as "exuberant, funky...and exactingly nuanced."
Spring Swing:
CU-Boulder College of Music jazz bands and ensembles
An upbeat, eclectic selection of music performed by students and faculty of the Thompson Jazz Studies Program.
Sunday, April 17, 2016, 2 p.m.
Tickets start at $10
CU Presents offers the best in performing arts on the University of Colorado Boulder campus, including the Artist Series, the College of Music, the Colorado Shakespeare Festival, the Eklund Opera Program, the Holiday Festival, the Takács Quartet Chamber and Encore Series and CU Theatre & Dance.
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