John Cage News

The New York Philharmonic Very Young People's Concerts (VYPCs), for children ages three to six, conclude Sunday, April 27, 2014, at 12:30 and 3:00 p.m. and Monday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. at Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street. The program, titled At Home with Philharmonic Families: "Percussion," is the final installment in a season of concerts presenting an overview of the sections of the symphony orchestra. Philharmonic Associate Principal Viola Rebecca Young is the host; Philharmonic violist Dorian Rence is the writer and narrator of stories about Philippe the Penguin, a character created for the series; and Marion Schoevaert is the illustrator. The "Percussion" program will feature stories and illustrations set to John Cage's Second Construction and a selection from Nigel Westlake's Omphalic Centric Lecture, performed by Principal Percussion Christopher S. Lamb, Associate Principal Percussion Daniel Druckman, Principal Timpani Markus Rhoten, and Assistant Principal Timpani and percussionist Kyle Zerna.

Carnegie Hall celebrates the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking contemporary music ensemble Kronos Quartet with a one-night-only concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage featuring collaborations with some of the group's close colleagues and longtime artistic partners tonight, March 28 at 8:00 p.m.

At Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming indie/pop/rock offerings for March-May 2014. Check out full details below!

Expanding on the success of its inaugural season last summer, Mainly Mozart's innovative Mozart & The Mind (MATM) series, led by Mainly Mozart Artistic Partner Tim Mullen, expands its programming to include two full-length performances and an affiliated public symposium at the University of California, San Diego this season.

For DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, the fourth program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season, Artistic Director Peter Boal selects from his roster of acquisitions and increases them by one: The captivating mixed-bill program will feature a much-anticipated world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The program also reprises audience favorites TAKE FIVE...More or Less, Broadway-darling Susan Stroman's sunny slice of jazz-infused Dave Brubeck fun; and Susan Marshall's distinctive aerial duet, Kiss. Rounding out the lineup is Molissa Fenley's State of Darkness, a tour-de-force solo performance set to Stravinsky's riot-inducing The Rite of Spring. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE runs for seven performances only, today, March 14 through 23 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall.

From April 22 to April 29, David Lang, holder of Carnegie Hall's 2013-2014 Richard and Barbara Debs Composer's Chair, guides concertgoers through collected stories, a series in which six distinct themes are explored over six Zankel Hall performances, all at 6:00 p.m. and all curated by Mr. Lang. These multi-genre concerts-entitled hero, spirit, love/loss, travel, (post)folk, and memoir-showcase different modes of storytelling across a wide variety of music, from medieval Beowulf to conceptual John Cage, and include world premieres of new music by Lang, Kate Moore, and Kaki King, all commissioned by Carnegie Hall.

The S.E.M. Ensemble, under the direction of Petr Kotik, presents three concerts celebrating composer Christian Wolff's 80th birthday and his unique contribution to the Ostrava Days Institute and Festival. Mostly self-taught and working along such figures as John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Morton Feldman and Frederic Rzewski, Christian Wolff made an important mark on the music of our time. Since Ostrava Days' inception in 2001, Wolff has participated in all but one of the festivals, and some of his most ambitious orchestral works were composed for or performed there. Selected by Artforum as one of the Best of 2013 in Music, Ostrava Days is one of the largest international summer new-music events, combining a three-week institute with a 10-day, 17-event festival and focusing on music for large ensembles. It includes 35 resident-students from around the world, two resident orchestras, and resident composers and musicians who participate in public performances. Besides Christian Wolff, Ostrava Days 2013 included, among others, Philip Glass, Peter Ablinger, Bernhard Lang, Petr Kotik, Carola Bauckholt, Jon Gibson, Charlemagne Palestine, and Petr Cigler.

This March, Lincoln Center presents American Songbook with 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party Goes to the Movies!', Great Performers concerts by pianist Murray Perahia, the Los Angeles Philharmonic led by Gustavo Dudamel, and the Emerson String Quartet, plus Target Free Thursdays and Meet the Artist Todays. Details below!

Roulette presents the music of exceptional, experimental composer Alvin Lucier performed by the Callithumpian Consort, Friday, March 28 & Saturday, March 29. This unique performance event will feature New York premieres, tickets are $25/20 and can be purchased at: http://roulette.org/events/the-music-of-alvin-lucier-with-the-callithumpian-consort/

What's on at The Wild Project?

For DIRECTOR'S CHOICE, the fourth program of Pacific Northwest Ballet's 2013-2014 season, Artistic Director Peter Boal selects from his roster of acquisitions and increases them by one: The captivating mixed-bill program will feature a much-anticipated world premiere by Alejandro Cerrudo, resident choreographer of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. The program also reprises audience favorites TAKE FIVE…More or Less, Broadway-darling Susan Stroman's sunny slice of jazz-infused Dave Brubeck fun; and Susan Marshall's distinctive aerial duet, Kiss. Rounding out the lineup is Molissa Fenley's State of Darkness, a tour-de-force solo performance set to Stravinsky's riot-inducing The Rite of Spring. DIRECTOR'S CHOICE runs for seven performances only, March 14 through 23 at Seattle Center's Marion Oliver McCaw Hall. Tickets start at just $28 and may be purchased by calling the PNB Box Office at 206.441.2424, online at PNB.org, or in person at the PNB Box Office, 301 Mercer Street.

Jacaranda's 10th anniversary season continues tonight, February 22, 2014 with a dinner break - a break that separates the performances of two 20-movement mid-twentieth-century masterworks by John Cage and Olivier Messiaen. Each cycle is played by an American pianist with whom the music has become synonymous: Adam Tendler and Christopher Taylor, respectively. The consecutive concerts (Tendler at 5:00 p.m. and Taylor at 7:30 p.m.) will take place at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

Flowers, hearts and marriage are showcased in the sounds of love and affection in the Utah Symphony's Valentine's Day performance this weekend, Feb. 14 - 15 at Abravanel Hall.

Carnegie Hall celebrates the 40th anniversary of the groundbreaking contemporary music ensemble Kronos Quartet with a one-night-only concert in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage featuring collaborations with some of the group's close colleagues and longtime artistic partners on Friday, March 28 at 8:00 p.m. The program includes the world premiere of Terry Riley's The Serquent Risadome, commissioned by Carnegie Hall and written for the anniversary, which marks the 27th new work for Kronos by the acclaimed California maverick composer.

The Wild Project has announced some new and exciting events as part of their calender, including Poetic License 2014: Shades of Love and the 2014 Avant Music Festival.

This March, Lincoln Center presents American Songbook with 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party Goes to the Movies!', Great Performers concerts by pianist Murray Perahia, the Los Angeles Philharmonic led by Gustavo Dudamel, and the Emerson String Quartet, plus Target Free Thursdays and Meet the Artist Saturdays. Details below!

Flowers, hearts and marriage are showcased in the sounds of love and affection in the Utah Symphony's Valentine's Day performance on Feb. 14 - 15 at Abravanel Hall. Fall in love with Maestro Thierry Fischer as he leads guest Violinist Itamar Zorman through Tchaikovsky's "Violin Concerto in D Major." Composed in 1878, this concerto is one of the best known and is considered to be one of the most technically difficult.

Jacaranda's 10th anniversary season continues on Saturday, February 22, 2014 with a dinner break - a break that separates the performances of two 20-movement mid-twentieth-century masterworks by John Cage and Olivier Messiaen. Each cycle is played by an American pianist with whom the music has become synonymous: Adam Tendler and Christopher Taylor, respectively. The consecutive concerts (Tendler at 5:00 p.m. and Taylor at 7:30 p.m.) will take place at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, 1220 Second Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401.

The Rachel Rosenthal Company (RRC) presents Instant Fairy Tales, a brand new series of original fairy tales for the 21st century at Espace DbD in Los Angeles. Instant Fairy Tales: The Longest Winter, the series' inaugural offering, which features an allegorical tale about learning to care for the environment, will be held on Saturdays, January 25 and February 8, as well as Sundays, January 26 and February 9, 2014. The performances, by Rachel Rosenthal Company's TOHUBOHU! Extreme Theatre Ensemble, begin at 4:00pm and 7:00pm on Saturdays, as well as at 2:00pm and 5:00pm on Sundays. Instant Fairy Tales are particularly well suited for children and families. Seating in the intimate performance space is limited to 35 patrons per show. Tickets cost $5. Reservations are necessary to insure seats and can be made online via Brown Paper Tickets at instantfairytales.brownpapertickets.com. The Rachel Rosenthal Company's venue, Espace DbD, is located at 2847 South Robertson Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034 (310-839-0661). Street parking is available. For more information, please see www.rachelrosenthal.org.

Roulette presents the world premiere of Neil Rolnick's Dynamic RAM & Concert Grand, commissioned by the Fromm Foundation for Bang On A Can All-Stars pianist Vicky Chow.