Light Years 2001 - Articles Page 9

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), celebrates the return of guest conductor Nicholas McGegan, a?oeone of the finest baroque conductors of his generationa?? (The Independent), and Jeremy Denk, a?oea pianist you want to hear no matter what he performsa?? (The New York Times), on a program featuring Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 19 on October 26, 8 pm, at the Alex Theatre, and Sunday, October 27, 2019, 7 pm, at Royce Hall. McGegan, who last appeared with LACO in 1989, 30 years ago, also conducts Schubert's Symphony No. 6 in C Major, a masterpiece of harmonic variation, as well as the overture from his opera, Der Häusliche Krieg, and music from Rameau's opera, Dardanus.

The Park Avenue Chamber Symphony (PACS) is riding high these days, its Music Director David Bernard and musicians alike so full of energy and vigour that it comes perhaps as a mild shock to learn that this beloved New York orchestra marks its twentieth year with the 2019/20 season. At a time when some orchestras have settled into a routine, a 'that's the way we've always done it' attitude, PACS seems to be reinventing - if not the wheel, then themselves - almost with every season. Recent years have seen - and continue - a partnership with the pioneering InsideOut Concerts with their immersive orchestra experiences (to feature in two programs this PACS season - see below), the launching of a series of recordings on Recursive Classics that have been applauded by critics in Gramophone, The Arts Desk and elsewhere, and compelling stand-alone events such as their Tribute to Veterans (an event that saw more than 300 musicians on the Carnegie Hall stage, and the New York premiere of Dreams Of The Fallen by Jake Runestad and poet and military veteran Brian Turner). There are more, many more, achievements one could cite, but the coming anniversary season has its own share of fascinations:

15 years ago, in Joliet, Illinois, a 17 year teenager accidentally runs over and kills his 9 year old sister in a '69 Buick Electra while driving home from his summer job. The event cracks his life wide open. As the unnamed narrator flees his childhood home to restart his life in a bookshop in New York City, he has nothing but old memories and new books to rebuild his world.

Porchlight Music Theatre's 25th anniversary season began with the 14th Annual Chicago Sings concert: Chicago Sings 25 Years of Porchlight, Monday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m., at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago Ave, directed by Christopher Pazdernik and Artistic Director Michael Weber with music direction by David Fiorello and a band featuring Kelsey Boltz, Cara Hartz, John McCreary, Greg Strauss, Celeste Park and Jake Saleh.

Boston Ballet returns to Jacob's Pillow for the first time in over a decade, performing in the Ted Shawn Theatre, August 21-25. Under the artistic directorship of Mikko Nissinen since 2001, Boston Ballet is recognized worldwide for repertoire that is a?oeone of the most eclectic in the countrya?? (The New York Times). Boston Ballet's program includes excerpts of William Forsythe's critically acclaimed Playlist (EP), which pairs Forsythe's daring choreography to a soundtrack pulled straight from today's top charts; as well as Pas de Quatre and Rodin by Russian classical choreographer Leonid Yakobson; and resident choreographer Jorma Elo's Bach Cello Suites.

"In a story, someone had a dream. In that Dream, someone told a story." A Dream Like a Dream is one of the most celebrated Chinese theatrical masterworks of the 21st century. It was conceived and created by Stan Lai, who recently became the first Chinese theatre professional inducted into the Sibiu Walk of Fame at the Sibiu International Theatre Festival, Romania's pre-eminent performing arts event. In 2002, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre was the first professional company to mount A Dream Like a Dream, winning Best Overall Performance, Best Costume Design and Best Supporting Actor (TragedyDrama) at the 12th Hong Kong Drama Awards. After a hiatus of 17 years, the HKRep produces this work anew, co-directed by Stan Lai and HKRep Assistant Artistic Director Fung Wai Hang, with special guests Louisa So, three-time Hong Kong Drama Award Best Actor Poon Chan Leung and ViuTV series star Cecilia Choi from My Very Short Marriage leading a 30-member cast of HKRep company members and other outstanding local actors. The production runs from July 28th to September 8th at The Box, Freespace, Art Park, West Kowloon Cultural District. On July 11th, a limited number of tickets will be available for sale for the preview performance (July 27th) and the production run from URBTIX outlets and the West Kowloon Cultural District.

The French Institute Alliance Fran aise (FIAF), New York's premier French cultural and language center, today announced the 2019 Crossing the Line Festival, featuring 11 performances and a gallery exhibition from a geographically, generationally, and artistically diverse group of artists whose work transcends genres and boundaries. All performances are world, US, or New York premieres; they are united by their convention-breaking fearlessness as they confront topics from social injustice to personal demons. Many of the performances pay homage to legendary artists of our time and previous eras, while the theme of migration and its transformational effects on identity informs several others. The festival runs from September 12 to October 12. Ticket are available at crossingtheline.org.

Queensland Music Festival today launches a transformative state-wide program unfolding an unforgettable musical journey through the cities, regions and remote corners of Queensland and celebrates twenty years of bringing the gift of music to all corners of the state. A program which focuses on musical excellence, curiosity and creation, public participation and making a difference through music, the biennial event cements its place as the 'largest, most diverse music festival in the world'.

 This past weekend, multi-platinum award-winning singer, songwriter, global superstar and philanthropist, Josh Groban hosted his fourth annual Find Your Light Gala at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, CA where stars joined together for a night of cocktails, dinner, auction, and performances by top musical artists. The event raised over $1.4 Million dollars to help provide arts education to children around the country. 

Remember Henry Albertson? Sure, you do. He's that ancient, arthritic, fragile/agile but eternally game actor who traveled by stage trunk from scene to scene throughout the longest-running musical of all time, 'The Fantasticks.' You may even remember during one exit, just as the lid was closing, he managed to peer urgently out of the trunk at the audience and implore them, with proper theatrical flourish, 'Remember me -- in light.'

Pittsburgh Festival Opera has announced the selection of Christopher M. Powell as its new Executive Director, effective March 12th, 2019. Mr. Powell comes to the organization after four years serving as Director of Artistic Initiatives for the world-renowned Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York, and will lead the Pittsburgh Festival Opera into its 42nd season alongside Artistic Director Jonathan Eaton.

A mother's love knows no boundaries... After a five-year self-imposed absence, Julio Cesar, a young man with a buried secret, returns home after the death of his father.  Over the course of two evenings, mother and son, two estranged generations of Dominicans living on New York's Upper West Side, attempt to rekindle the love and appreciation for each other and their roots. However, unexpected revelations threaten to destroy an already thin bond between mother and child in Dominican-American Marco Antonio Rodriguez's riveting award-winning comedy/drama Ashes of Light  ("La Luz de un Cigarrillo") performed in English (sprinkled with Spanish) for the first time in New York. 

A mother's love knows no boundaries... After a five-year self-imposed absence, Julio Cesar, a young man with a buried secret, returns home after the death of his father.  Over the course of two evenings, mother and son, two estranged generations of Dominicans living on New York's Upper West Side, attempt to rekindle the love and appreciation for each other and their roots. However, unexpected revelations threaten to destroy an already thin bond between mother and child in Dominican-American Marco Antonio Rodriguez's riveting award-winning comedy/drama Ashes of Light  ('La Luz de un Cigarrillo') performed in English (sprinkled with Spanish) for the first time in New York. 

Many recall Electric Light Orchestra as a powerhouse stadium and arena band who toured between 1971 and 1986. ELO Part 2 then toured from 1990 through 2000. In 2001 ELO Part 2 changed names and started performing as THE ORCHESTRA. Still performing all the unmistakable ELO hit songs, THE ORCHESTRA returns to the State Theatre on Saturday, March 2nd.

In a time of uncertainty in United States and China relations, The Philadelphia Orchestra will serve as a cultural bridge, fostering meaningful people-to-people exchange through music during its 2019 Tour of China, May 16-28, 2019. Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin will lead the tour, bringing the "Philadelphia Sound" to Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Nanjing, and Shanghai, with Shanghai-born pianist Haochen Zhang as soloist. The 2019 visit will mark the Orchestra's 12th tour of China-the most of any American orchestra-and will coincide with 40 years of official U.S.-China diplomatic relations.

A mother's love knows no boundaries... After a five-year self-imposed absence, Julio Cesar, a young man with a buried secret, returns home after the death of his father.  Over the course of two evenings, mother and son, two estranged generations of Dominicans living on New York's Upper West Side, attempt to rekindle the love and appreciation for each other and their roots. However, unexpected revelations threaten to destroy an already thin bond between mother and child in Dominican-American Marco Antonio Rodriguez's riveting award-winning comedy/drama Ashes of Light  ("La Luz de un Cigarrillo") performed in English (sprinkled with Spanish) for the first time in New York. 

The Warren Miller Performing Arts Center (Executive Director John Zirkle) in Big Sky Montana announced today it will present a limited engagement of Jason Robert Brown's award-winning musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS, directed by Jason McDowell-Green and starring Abby Mueller as Cathy and Ben Jacoby as Jamie. Mueller and Jacoby were recently seen together on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, where the pair starred as Carole and Gerry Goffin, King's first husband.

In 2019 it will be twenty years since maverick Norfolk art-rock pioneers The Neutrinos played their first gig. To start the year they have just announced a celebratory home-town show at Norwich Arts Centre today 26 January.

In 2019 it will be twenty years since maverick Norfolk art-rock pioneers The Neutrinos played their first gig. To start the year they have just announced a celebratory home-town show at Norwich Arts Centre on Saturday 26 January.

Ray of Light Theatre, San Francisco's non-profit musical theatre company, today announced its 2019 season of musicals featuring the satirical thriller American Psycho, the awe-inspiring Caroline, or Change and a new interpretation of the annual Halloween favorite, The Rocky Horror Show. This season of politically and socially relevant musicals follows a critically-acclaimed 2018 season that included the all-female production of Jesus Christ Superstar and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

NBC begins 2019 with music's biggest names in an evening that can't be missed. "NBC's New Year's Eve" will feature performances by the incredible Diana Ross, Kelly Clarkson, Andy Grammer, John Legend and Blake Shelton. 

Piano sensation Yuja Wang, known worldwide for her artistry and electric performances, is coming to the Greater Bridgeport Symphony for All Of You On The Good Earth on Saturday, December 8 at the Klein. “This is the biggest cultural event to come to our region in recent years!” said GBS President Jean Moffitt. “We've been hoping for this for a long time,” adds GBS Conductor Eric Jacobsen, “and now the dream is coming true. The orchestra is so excited to have this incredible artist with us.”

The Stratford Festival lost one of its pioneers today. Douglas Rain died of natural causes early this morning at the age of 90 at St. Marys Memorial Hospital, just outside of Stratford, Ontario, the city in which he established his career, becoming one of the world's great classical actors.

Noctorum recently announced the impending release of their fourth album 'The Afterlife' - the duo's first long-play in seven years, which will be released exclusively on CD and gatefold vinyl to PledgeMusiccontributors in November 2018. The general release of this album will happen in February 2019 via Schoolkids Records.

Surati for Performing Arts in partnership with Art House Productions proudly presents the Lights 0f Diwali Festival. Geared towards educating the community about Indian culture and providing a platform for new and aspiring talent to showcase their art. This four days festival celebrates light over darkness and good over evil with three distinct events: four presentations of the musical Ramaavan at Art House Productions located at 262 17th St, Jersey City, NJ 07310; a Diwali Mela, Cultural Bazaar and Street Fair on 17th Street, between Coles St and Jersey Ave, Jersey City and Diwali Spectacular - an indoor party also at Art House Productions. For tickets and more information please visit www.suratifpa.org