Rob Gibson, Executive & Artistic Director of Savannah Music Festival (SMF), has announced that Tony Award-winning actor John Rubinstein will join Daniel Hope & Friends on stage at Lucas Theatre of the Arts on April 5 for the world premiere performance of Marc Neikrug's newest work, Death Cell Memoirs of an Extraterrestrial. Written for violin, clarinet, piano, and actor, this chamber work is a comedic meditation about an imprisoned extraterrestrial alien who writes his last memoirs while musing on his lost home and thoughts about the earth's condition. Funny and witty - yet also deadly serious - the libretto contains vigorous dramatizations of the heroism, glamour and precarious nature of humanity as seen through the eyes of an alien. In addition to the Neikrug work, this concert also features Vivaldi's The Four Seasons and Shostakovich's String Quartet No. 8 in C minor.
This SMF concert program is presented as part of the 2011 festival's five-part chamber series curated by Associate Artistic Director Daniel Hope, which explores works by Schumann, Beethoven, Brahms, Mendelssohn and Joachim, in addition to an early music program entitled "Sex, Violins & Tales of the Baroque". The SMF - described by The Times of London as "one of the best events around the world"- is an expansive city-wide, multi-venue event showcasing a wide array of internationally acclaimed artists in over one hundred productions from March 24 to April 9. Held annually in historic downtown Savannah, this 22nd season of Georgia's largest festival features two premieres, numerous festival debuts, and the return of several audience favorites from the realms of classical, jazz, Americana and world music.
Marc Neikrug's career has spanned more than three decades, both as a pianist - leading worldwide tours with longtime recital partner Pinchas Zuckerman - and a renowned composer. His chamber, symphonic, music-theater and opera works have been performed by major ensembles across the globe, and by artists including Zubin Mehta, Loren Maazel, Christoph Eschenbach, Christoph von Dohnanyi,
Alan Gilbert, and the Emerson, Vermeer, Tokyo and Orion Quartets. It was recently announced that The
New York Philharmonic has commissioned a Concerto for Orchestra by Neikrug, which will be premiered in April 2012.
John Rubenstein is a multi-faceted actor, singer, composer and director, best known for his roles in the films 21 Grams (2003),
Red Dragon (2002), The Boys from Brazil (1978) and Someone to Watch Over Me (1987), as well as numerous television appearances over the past thirty years. John made his Broadway debut in the 1970s as Pippin, and in 1980 won Tony, Drama Desk and L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards for his performance in the Broadway play Children of a Lesser God. Son of internationally renowned Polish concert pianist Artur Rubinstein, John has also composed, orchestrated and conducted scores for film and television, including
Robert Redford's The Candidate (1972) and Jeremiah Johnson (1972).
Violinist Daniel Hope has toured the world as a virtuoso soloist for many years, and as the youngest ever member of the Beaux Arts Trio during its last six seasons. He is renowned for his musical versatility and creativity, and for his dedication to humanitarian causes. Hope performs as soloist with the world's major orchestras and conductors, directs many ensembles from the violin, and plays chamber music in a wide variety of venues. Born in South Africa and raised and educated in England, Hope earned degrees at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with renowned Russian pedagogue Zakhar Bron. Called "adventurous and brilliant" by The New York Times, and "the most exciting British string player since Jacqueline du Pré," by the London Observer, Hope has earned numerous Grammy nominations, a Classical BRIT award, the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, and four consecutive ECHO Klassik Prizes. Hope serves as Associate Artistic Director of Savannah Music Festival, where he gives numerous performances each season.
Tickets are now on sale for the 2011 Savannah Music Festival (SMF), and are available online at www.savannahmusicfestival.org or by phone at 912-525-5050.
