Boston Court Pasadena Announces Fall 2018 Music Season

Boston Court Pasadena presents another daring season of music events to Southern California - 14 Uncommon Performances -- this fall starting September 7 with a program of all new work in Poets, Prophets and Philosophers - with The Lyris Quartet and soprano Hila Plitmann.

Artistic Director Mark Saltzman has programmed an eclectic, globe-trotting, and genre-crossing series of concerts, that includes a weekend mini-festival of three performancs and a master class surveying the music of Claude Debussy commemorating the 100th anniversary of his death (October 5-7); pianist Jérémie Favreau and violinist Ken Aiso exploring the fictional Vinteuil violin sonata in Marcel Proust's seminal novel, Remembrance of Things Past with the works that actually inspired it -- the Saint-Saëns and Franck's Violin Sonatas, as well as Fauré's Ballade for piano (September 22); and The Harp Twins (September 13, 14 and 15) already sold out.

Pianists abound: the return of the popular Piano Spheres artists Susan Svr?ek (September 8) and Vicki and Scot Ray - The Yar Duo (a free concert, part of Pasadena Art Night October 12); the Faktura Piano Trio (September 21); a program pairing Leonard Bernstein and Ned Rorem works played by Brent McNutt and Paul Floyd with soprano Graycen Gardner and tenor Todd Strange (September 28); and genre busting-Bulgarian performer-composer Milen Kirov (September 29) transcending genres, labels, and artistic boundaries by blending contemporary composition, jazz, world music, and improvisation with superhuman co-ordination. Kirov's concert, titled "One Piano, Two Hands" will showcase his virtuosic ability to play two pianos simultaneously.

Keeping with its mission to present the newest and most interesting music of Los Angeles area composers, Boston Court Pasadena features the latest compositions Julia Adolphe (October 13), whose commissions have already been performed by the New York Philharmonic and the LA Chamber Orchestra with an eclectic evening that includes selections from her new opera, A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears.

"Mark Saltzman, our extraordinary artistic director for music, has created a 2018 season featuring musical, poetic, and at times indescribable offerings," says Executive Director Kyle Clausen. "As always, we look forward to welcoming long-time subscribers, first time ticket buyers, and everyone in between to a line-up of concerts you won't find anywher else in Southern California."

Tickets for the Fall Music Series range from $30 - $35 with discounts available for seniors, students, and groups. Tickets are available by calling 626.683.6801 or online at BostonCourtPasadena.org.

2018 FALL MUSIC SEASON
BOSTON COURT PASADENA

MUSIC - CLASSICAL, OPERA, CONTEMPORARY and NEW

NEW MUSIC
Poets, Prophets and Philosophers: Visionaries in our Time
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 7, 2018 at 8:00pm
The Lyris Quartet along with soprano, Hila Plitmann, and others present new works by Derrick Spiva, Matthew Aucoin, and Gabrielle Owens drawing from texts about struggle and redemption from poet Paul Celan, Dante's Purgatorio, and the prophecy of Daniel.

COMPOSERS

Gabrielle Owens
Derrick Spiva
Matthew Aucoin

REPERTOIRE
Owens: The Prophecy of Daniel
Spiva: American Mirror
Aucoin: Its Own Accord, Soft Power, This Earth

PERFORMERS
Soprano: Hila Plitmann
Flute: Anastasia Petanova
Violin I: Alyssa Park
Violin II: Shalini Vijayan
Viola: Luke Maurer
Cello: Timothy Loo
Piano: Bryan Pezzone
Harp: Marcia Dickstein
Conductor: Maxim Kuzin

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL
Piano Spheres: Susan Svr?ek - works by John Cage and Tom Johnson
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 8, 2018 at 8:00pm
One of Los Angeles most revered pianists, Svr?ek is both a model of technical impeccability and a champion of new and fascinating repertoire which she will bring to the stage of the Branson.

John Milton Cage Jr. was an American composer and music theorist. A pioneer of indeterminacy in music, electroacoustic music, and non-standard use of musical instruments, Cage was one of the leading figures of the post-war avant-garde. Critics have lauded him as one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. Tom Johnson is an American minimalist composer, a former student of Morton Feldman. He earned his Bachelors and master's degree from Yale University. His pieces are most often based simply on mathematical and logical processes, such as tiling, which he attempts to make as clear as possible.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL
The Faktura Piano Trio
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 21, 2018 at 8:00pm
Formed at the Colburn School in 2015 with pianist HyeJin Kim, violinist Fabiola Kim and cellist, Ben Solomonow, these young artists have a common dedication to perform works both classic and contemporary. The name comes from the Russian avant-garde concept "faktura" referring to the process of forming different materials into a work of art.

CLASSICAL
Remembering Things Past: Proust and his music
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 22, 2018 at 8:00pm
Pianist, Jérémie Favreau and violinist, Ken Aiso explore the fictional Vinteuil violin sonata in Marcel Proust's seminal novel, Remembrance of Things Past with words and the musical works that actually inspired it. Namely the Saint-Saëns and Franck's Violin Sonatas, as well as Fauré's Ballade for piano will transport us to the gilded age of the Belle Epoque.

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL
Playing Dualities: Bernstein and Rorem
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 28, 2018 at 8:00pm
Two pianos, two accompanists, and two vocal duos in a concert of Leonard Bernstein's "Aria's and Barcarolles", along with Ned Rorem's rarely heard "Four Dialogues". Pianists, Brent McMunn and Paul Floyd lead this ongoing celebration in honor of Lenny's 101st Birthday and Ned's 95th.

PERFORMERS

Piano: Paul Floyd
Piano: Brent McMunn
Soprano: Graycen Gardner
Tenor: Todd Strange

REPERTOIRE
Leonard Bernstein: Aria's and Barcarolles
Ned Rorem: Four Dialogues

CLASSICAL
The Art of Claude Debussy
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
A mini-festival featuring pianist, Mark Robson and cellist, John Walz that includes the chamber music, piano masterpieces, melodies, lectures and master classes to commemorate the 100th year of the death of this most beloved of the French impressionist composers.
October 5, 2018 at 8:00pm -- Cellist John Walz, Pianist Edith Orloff and Violinist Roger Wilkie initiate our Debussy festival with an epicurean's delight selected from the extraordinary repertoire he composed for instrumental chamber ensembles. The program includes the famed piano trio in G major, as well as the cello sonata, and the violin sonata to begin the journey into the dreamy realms of French impressionist music.
October 6, 2018 at 8:00pm -- Cellist John Walz, Pianist Edith Orloff and Violinist Roger Wilkie initiate our Debussy festival with an epicurean's delight selected from the extraordinary repertoire he composed for instrumental chamber ensembles. The program includes the famed piano trio in G major, as well as the cello sonata, and the violin sonata to begin the journey into the dreamy realms of French impressionist music.
Sunday, October 7 at 2pm. Master Class -- The class, held by Mark Robson and Lisa Sylvester, centers around elucidating the specific style and impressionistic sound of Debussy's music. Participants - pianists, singers and instrumentalists (college age and up) by audition only - for information please emailmasterclass@bostoncourtpasadena.org or call at 626.683.6801.
Members of the public may observe and admission is free.

October 7, 2018 at 7:00pm -- This salon-style concert includes a delicious survey of both well-known and more rare gems of the song repertoire that the composer literally defined in his own style. Featuring pianists Mark Robson, Lisa Sylvester, and Brent McMunn, along with sopranos Ariel Pisturino and Liv Redpath.

NEW MUSIC
Piano Spheres: Vicki and Scot Ray
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
October 12, 2018 at 6:00-9:00pm - free concert for the public part of Pasadena Art Night

The phenomenal and fearless Grammy-nominated pianists returns with innovative programming that continues to redefine the piano recital in the 21st century. The program, created for Pasadena Art Night, is original music in response to large-scale artworks by Christine Nguyen that will be on display in the Branson during the concert.

Vicki and Scot Ray: The YAR Duo -- "Yar" is a nautical term referring to a particularly fleet and nimble craft. It is also a synonym for "yes" (besides being "Ray" spelled backwards). Both meanings reflect the open and natural manner in which the music establishes itself and unfolds. With Vicki drawing on a rich vocabulary of prepared piano techniques (plus melodica and stylophone) and Scot augmenting the sound of his electric slide guitar with an array of electronic processing devices, the improvisations focus on a specific bandwidth of musical expression, yet they are at the same time expansive and seem to leave nothing out. As everything, at least to the mystic, scientist, or artist, is contained in each present moment, including the outer and inner cosmos, so in each moment of spontaneous music making the totality of music itself is contained. This beautiful necklace of musical moments is at once confidently sensitive, texturally nuanced, sonically fascinating, darkly introspective, and starkly ritualistic. The subjugation and control of Scot and Vicki's instrumental virtuosity in the interest of meaningful music is exemplary, yielding nothing less than a deeply affecting and rewarding listening experience. This is music, music of the moment, music that is timeless, music made via the free playing of a brother and sister, music that emerged from the coming together of many causes and conditions, including many non-music elements, for the benefit of our ears, our lives, our world.

NEW MUSIC
Composer at Large: An Evening with Julia Adolphe
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
October 13, 2018 at 8:00pm
With commissions already performed by the New York Philharmonic, and the LA Chamber Orchestra, this evening with the young and gifted American composer includes a sneak preview of selections from her new opera, co-commissioned by the Boston Court Performing Arts Center.

PERFORMERS
Soprano: Hila Plitmann
Mezzo-Soprano: Victoria Fox
Bass-Baritone: James Hayden
Piano: Lisa Sylvester

REPERTOIRE
Footsteps Soprano and piano
If Only She Mezzo and piano
Sculpture Aira Soprano and Cello
Moonlight Aria and Duet (a new version) Soprano, mezzo, piano and cello
Between the Accidental String Quartet
Veil of Leaves String quartet
A Laugh is No Kinging Matter (from A Barrel of Laughs) bass-baritone and piano
The Dastardly Divide (from A Barrel of Laughs) soprano, mezzo, and piano

MUSIC - MIXED GENRES, JAZZ, FOLK, WORLD and POETRY

MIXED GENRE
The Harp Twins
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 13, 14 and 15, 2018 at 8:00pm (Sold out)
Camille and Kennerly Kitt are the world's only professional identical twin Harp Duo. Known as the "Harp Twins", Camille and Kennerly were classically trained and earned Bachelor of Music degrees in Harp Performance, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Not content to follow traditional classical boundaries, Camille and Kennerly embarked on their journey to bring the Harp where no harps have gone before - literally and musically. They are a radical harp duet revolution. As virtuosos in their harp skills and pioneers of the Electric Harp, Camille and Kennerly perform internationally on both acoustic Concert Grand harps and modern electric harps. This dynamic rock Harp Duo is recognized for their remarkable duet harp arrangements and performances of songs by artists such as Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Megadeth, The Rolling Stones, Blue Oyster Cult, Scorpions, The Police, Bon Jovi, Pink Floyd, U2, Journey and many more. The twins also arrange and perform TV and Movie Soundtrack, Anime, and Video Game hits. Some fan favorites include their renditions of music from Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy, Star Trek, Star Wars, Vikings, Doctor Who, Zelda, Mario, Silent Hill, Harry Potter, The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit. In addition to being prolific arrangers, Camille and Kennerly compose and perform their own original pieces for Harp Duet. Camille and Kennerly's radical Duet Harp Revolution is changing the word's perception of the harp, and the way harp is played - one song at a time.

JAZZ & MIXED GENRE
Milen Kirov: One Pianist, Two Pianos
Concert in the Marjorie Branson Performance Space
September 29, 2018
Originally presented in one of Boston Court's 2017 "Emerging Artists" concerts, Milen's career redefines the role of the performer-composer in the 21st century. In combining his Bulgarian musical heritage with his concert pianist background, he transcends genres, labels, and artistic boundaries by blending contemporary composition, jazz, world music, and improvisation with superhuman co-ordination.

About Boston Court Pasadena

Located in Pasadena, California, Boston Court Pasadena is a nonprofit arts center primarily dedicated to new and original work by living artists. Founded in 2003 by philanthropist Z. Clark Branson, Boston Court Pasadena features a state-of-the-art, intimate facility designed to bring audiences and artists closer together. The 80-seat Marjorie Branson Performance Space and the 99-seat Main Stage serve as homes for Boston Court Pasadena's season of bold, risky theatre and its eclectic, diverse music series. Boston Court Pasadena is also the home of an annual new play festival, an Emerging Artists Series, as well as Art Upfront, a rotating visual arts program. Boston Court is led by a 16-member Board of Directors, Executive Director Kyle Clausen, and Artistic Directors Jessica Kubzansky and Michael Michetti (Theatre), and Mark Saltzman (Music).

Key funding is provided by Los Angeles County Arts Commission, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Shubert Foundation, Lazy L Foundation, The Colburn Foundation, Pasadena Arts & Cultural Commission and the City of Pasadena Cultural Affairs Division, Pasadena Art Alliance, and the Z. Clark Branson Foundation.