John Adams News

Bang on a Can takes over Alice Tully Hall presented by Lincoln Center's Great Performers series in a triple-bill birthday bash tonight, April 28 at 7pm featuring the Bang on a Can All-Stars, Asphalt Orchestra, and MIT's Gamelan Galak Tika. Bang on a Can is celebrating 25 years during 2012, having grown from a one-day New York-based Marathon concert (on Mother's Day in 1987 in a SoHo art gallery) to a multi-faceted performing arts organization with a broad range of year-round international activities.

The Sofia National Ballet of Bulgaria will present the European and Company Premiere of Kathryn Posin's Scheherazade on April 19, 20, 28 & 29, 2012 at the Opera House in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Ballybeg today announced its debut production, EMPANADA FOR A DREAM, the story of a boy growing up on the Lower East Side, written and performed by Juan Francisco Villa*. Alex Levy will direct six performances to be held at the TBG Studio Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) from April 21-29, 2012. *Member, Actors' Equity Association. AEA Showcase.

The 2012 BBC Proms is officially launched today, revealing details of the broad-ranging programme of events planned for its 118th season. Opening at the Royal Albert Hall on 13 July 2012 the festival promises two months of the world's greatest artists, composers, orchestras and ensembles across 92 concerts, including four Last Night celebrations around the UK.

Spanish conductor Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos returns to the New York Philharmonic to conduct music from two secular cantatas: selections from Falla's Atlantida, and Orff's complete Carmina burana - which the Orchestra has not performed since 1995 - Thursday, May 31, 2012, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, June 1, at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, June 2, at 8:00 p.m. The international cast that Mr. Fru?hbeck has assembled for these performances features American soprano Erin Morley, American tenor Nicholas Phan (in his Philharmonic debut), South African baritone Jacques Imbrailo (debut), the Spanish chorus Orpheo?n Pamplone?s, Igor Ijurra Ferna?ndez, director (debut), and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, Dianne Berkun, director.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) continues its popular "Baroque Conversations" with a program featuring three Bach sonatas performed by LACO Music Director and keyboardist Jeffrey Kahane and three LACO principals on Thursday, April 19, 2012, 7 pm, at Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Kahane, who celebrates his 15th anniversary as LACO music director, performs the Viola da Gamba Sonata in G major, BWV 1027 with Principal Cello Andrew Shulman; the Oboe Sonata in G minor, BWV 1030b with Principal Oboe Allan Vogel; and the Violin Sonata in E major, BWV 1016 with Concertmaster Margaret Batjer. Kahane shares his insights into the music from the stage and invites questions from the audience. A complimentary pre-concert wine reception for ticket holders begins at 6 pm.

Music Director Alan Gilbert, The Yoko Nagae Ceschina Chair, will lead the New York Philharmonic in Mahler's Symphony No. 9 at the Annual Free Memorial Day Concert, Monday, May 28, 2012 at 8:00 p.m. at The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine. This will be the 21st Annual Free Memorial Day Concert offered by the New York Philharmonic, a tradition begun in 1992 as a gift to the people of New York City. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis on the day of the performance. The audio of the performance will be broadcast onto the adjacent Pulpit Green, weather permitting.

Rachel York will join Megan Hilty in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, opening May 9 at New York City Center. York will play the brunette, Dorothy Shaw, best friend of Lorelei, the diamond-loving blonde played by Hilty. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Randy Skinner and will play for seven performances, May 9 - 13, at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

ACME, the American Contemporary Music Ensemble, announces three New York concerts in May and an album release in June 2012. At 8 pm on both Friday, May 11 and Saturday, May 12 the group will take the stage at The Kitchen (512 W. 19th St., NYC) for two performances of the music of William Brittelle and Mick Barr. At 8pm on Monday, May 14, ACME performs Timothy Andres' I Found it by the Sea as part of the 2012 Look & Listen Festival, held at the Pratt Manhattan Gallery (144 W. 14th St., 2nd Floor, NYC).

The Los Angeles Philharmonic and Classical KUSC in partnership with WFMT Radio Network, have confirmed 150 markets nationwide will carry the annual radio broadcast concert series (a number that will grow throughout the coming year). The 2011 series was broadcast in 193 markets and reached over 2.6 million listeners.

Choreographer/dancer Stefanie Batten Bland has had a busy year and is poised to have an even busier future beginning with the April 19 premiere of "The Legacy of Inheritance" for Ailey II, her first work for the company, followed by the world premiere of "A Place of Sun" on May 10 and the New York premiere of "Terra Firma" at the Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC), May 17 and 18, where she has been a two-time recipient of a Jerome Robbins New Essential Works fellowship (NEW). The performances mark the first time Bland's choreography has been seen in New York since 2009.

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) continues its popular "Baroque Conversations" with a program featuring three Bach sonatas performed by LACO Music Director and keyboardist Jeffrey Kahane and three LACO principals on Thursday, April 19, 2012, 7 pm, at Zipper Hall in downtown Los Angeles. Kahane, who celebrates his 15th anniversary as LACO music director, performs the Viola da Gamba Sonata in G major, BWV 1027 with Principal Cello Andrew Shulman; the Oboe Sonata in G minor, BWV 1030b with Principal Oboe Allan Vogel; and the Violin Sonata in E major, BWV 1016 with Concertmaster Margaret Batjer. Kahane shares his insights into the music from the stage and invites questions from the audience. A complimentary pre-concert wine reception for ticket holders begins at 6 pm.

Ford's Theatre Society just opened the Tony-winning musical 1776, directed by Peter Flynn, on March 9. The production runs though May 19, 2012. With 'quick-witted dialogue and a playful score,' 1776 dramatizes the impassioned debates of Philadelphia's Second Continental Congress and the writing of the Declaration of Independence. Check out highlights from the production below!

Conductor Jeffrey Milarsky returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall to lead the LA Phil New Music Group in a Green Umbrella concert, Tuesday, April 10, at 8 pm. The concert features the world premiere of Oscar Bettison's LA Phil-commissioned Livre des Sauvages, the U.S. premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Five Star Signs, and John Cage's Concerto for Prepared Piano, performed by Gloria Cheng. Milarsky replaces John Adams, who had to withdraw as conductor due to scheduling demands.

Tickets for the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Opening Night Gala, The Philharmonic Dances, led by Music Director Gustavo Dudamel and marking the beginning of the orchestra's 2012/13 season, are now on sale.

Conductor Jeffrey Milarsky returns to Walt Disney Concert Hall to lead the LA Phil New Music Group in a Green Umbrella concert, Tuesday, April 10, at 8 pm. The concert features the world premiere of Oscar Bettison's LA Phil-commissioned Livre des Sauvages, the U.S. premiere of Karlheinz Stockhausen's Five Star Signs, and John Cage's Concerto for Prepared Piano, performed by Gloria Cheng. Milarsky replaces John Adams, who had to withdraw as conductor due to scheduling demands.