The Performing Arts Center 2016
January
The Chamber Music Society Of Lincoln Center – Pianos: This marks the second season of residency at The Center for the nation’s premier repertory company for chamber music. At this performance, four CMS pianists share the stage (and sometimes the piano!), performing works that range from playful to fiery. Including, Arensky Silhouettes Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, Op. 23; Bartok The Miraculous Mandarin for Piano, Four Hands, Op. 19; Lutoslawski Variations on a Theme of Paganini for Two Pianos; Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances for Two Pianos, Op. 45. Sat, 1/23: 5pm (Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
National Theatre Live – Coriolanus: The Donmar Warehouse’s standing-room-only production of Shakespeare’s tragedy of political manipulation and revenge features Tom Hiddleston, one of England’s most sought-after classical stage actors, in the title role. Director Josie Rourke’s production, cheered by the Independent as “magnificent,” was so highly praised in its 2013 premiere that the production quickly sold out and tickets were selling on online auction sites for more than £2,000. (Oh, those crazy lovable Brits, they do love their theatre.) Sun, 1/24: 2pm. (PepsiCo Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra: “Never had a conductor, never seemed to need one. It’s proved its point over and over … the results astonish.” – Los Angeles Times. In its second and final performance of the season, Orpheus, the PAC house band, will feature piano soloistKhatia Buniatishvili performing Haydn Symphony No. 1 in D Major; Mozart Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466; Arensky Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, Op. 35 and Rachmaninoff Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, Op. 17 (arr. Paul Chihara) Sun, 1/31: 3pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
February
Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour: The Wall Street Journal called it “the granddaddy of jazz events.” Every third weekend in September since 1958, jazz fans make the pilgrimage to Monterey, California, for a three-day celebration of the best in jazz. This year the Monterey Jazz Festival hits the road bringing the Festival’s hallmark “traditionalist/untraditionalist” attitude and jazz-with-a-purpose exuberance to The Center. Sat, 2/13: 8pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Martha Graham Dance Company: “Think of the magic of the foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It’s a miracle and the dance is a celebration of that miracle.” – Martha Graham. Now in its 90th anniversary season, the Martha Graham Dance Company carries on her legacy with performances selected from the 181 choreographic works she created and works by artists who have been inspired by Graham’s vision. Sat, 2/20: 8pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Decoda: “A collective of some of the brightest young classical musicians in the world” – Time Out NY. Recently appointed the first ever Affiliate Ensemble of Carnegie Hall, Decoda debuted at The Center in 2012, when they were just starting out. They’re back for their fourth consecutive season with a carefully selected repertoire and their matchless musical fervor. Sun, 2/21: 3pm. (Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana: “An infectiously joyful celebration of music and dance” – The New York Times. Following a sold out 2014 performance, Flamenco Vivo returns to The Center with Poema de Andalucía, a choreographic journey through the alluring cultures and traditions of the Andalusian provinces that form the cradle of Flamenco. This work celebrates the region’s unique and rich heritage through the language of music, song, and dance. Fri, 2/26: 8pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
The Intergalactic Nemesis – a live-action graphic novel: In this family-friendly performance, three actors voice dozens of characters, a Foley sound artist creates the audio effects, and a pianist plays a cinematic score, while projections of more than 1,250 individual full-color hi-res comic book panels tell a hilarious sci-fi adventure story. The Intergalactic Nemesis has been featured on television, including Conan O’Brien, and on stage in New York where the New York Post called it “Great fun! A happily retro multimedia extravaganza.” Recommended for ages 7 and up. Kids 16 and under go half-price. Sat, 2/27: 3pm. (PepsiCo Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Zuill Bailey, cello: This“rock star” cellist sold out his debut performance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he performed the complete Bach Sonatas with pianist Simone Dinnerstein. He has appeared at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Kennedy Center. For six years he played a murderous cellist on the HBO prison series Oz. At The Center he’ll be “killing” audiences on the cello he calls “J-Lo” in honor of its deep curves. Sun, 2/28: 3pm. (Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
March
Montana Rep: All My Sons: Arthur Miller’s first great play was based on a newspaper account of a conspiracy between the Wright Aeronautical Company and military inspectors to approve defective military aircraft engines during WWII. Three Army Air Force officers were convicted of neglect of duty after an investigation conducted by then Senator Harry Truman. Originally produced on Broadway in 1947, this production is from Montana Rep, the theater-in-residence at the University of Montana and one of the most respected touring companies in the United States. Thur, 3/10: 8pm. (PepsiCo Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Eileen Ivers – “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin”: The New York Times called her “the Jimi Hendrix of the violin.” Her Beyond the Bog Road tour, supporting her newest CD, comes to The Center where she will be accompanied by a four-piece back-up band and dancers, all exploring Americana sounds and the growth from Celtic beginnings of Bluegrass, Appalachian, Quebecois, and Cajun music. Fri, 3/11: 8pm. (PepsiCo Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Apollo’s Fire Baroque Orchestra & Chorus – Bach’s ST. John Passion: Fresh from their triumph in London as one of the “5 Best Classical Concerts of the Year” (The Telegraph), Apollo’s Fire and conductor Jeannette Sorrell bring their distinctive approach to J.S. Bach’s most theatrical oratorio, the St. John Passion. An international cast of singer-actors brings the story of the dramatic events of Jesus’ last days to life, while the acclaimed chorus Apollo’s Singers evoke the wild mob. First performed on a Good Friday nearly 300 years ago, the Passion arrives at The Center just two weeks before Easter. Sun, 3/13:3pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Opera At The Cinema – Tosca: Belgium’s Opéra Royal de Wallonie presents a new production of Puccini’s tale of jealousy, turmoil, and despair in Rome during Napolean’s invasion of Italy in 1800. Tosca premiered in the Teatro Costanzi in Rome 100 years later and remains one of the most frequent.y performed operas in the Itlaian language. Paolo Arrivabeni conducts the classic opera, sung in Italian, with stage direction by Claire Servais. All operas are shown with English subtitles. Sun, 3/20: 2pm. (PepsiCo Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
April
Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood- Two Man Group:The two stars of TV’s Whose Line Is It Anyway? the imaginative mammal Colin Mochrie (Latin name: Hilaritycus Smoothius) and the savant of self-amusement Brad Sherwood (Latin name: Cranius Giganticum) bring their improv routine to The Center on April Fool’s Day. (Apropos!) Come to the performance with your own improvisation suggestions and you may just be asked to join the cast on stage. Fri, 4/1: 8pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Metropolitan Opera Rising Stars: For more than 125 years New York City’s Metropolitan Opera has been the artistic home of the greatest singers in the world. The Met is also the launching pad for the opera stars of the future. Some of today’s leading artists got their first big break by winning the company’s national auditions, as members of the young artist program. This Rising Stars concert offers fans a rare opportunity to discover remarkable young singers whose names, someday, will be spoken with the same reverence and respect as those of the opera world’s biggest stars. Sun, 4/ 3: 3pm. (Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
State Street Ballet – Carmen: State Street Ballet’s choreographer William Soleau weaves both classical and modern influences into the production of Carmen, the tragic tale of the Gypsy and her obsessive lover, set to the famous Georges Bizet score. “SSB’s Carmen is by far the company’s most ambitious and most dazzling ballet yet” – Santa Barbara Independent Sat, 4/9: 8pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Clifford The Big Red Dog Live! For more than 40 years Clifford has charmed and amazed children with his zany escapades and “big ideas” and he’s coming (with hummable songs) to The Center to emBARK on his latest adventure, live on stage! “Kids who love Clifford’s books and the animated series will enjoy every moment of this production” – Scholastic Entertainment Recommended for ages 3 and up. Kids 16 and under take 50% off. Sat, 4/16: 3pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Robin Spielberg: She has sold over a million recordings and digital downloads and has over 54 million listeners on Pandora. Named to the prestigious Steinway Artist Roster, Ms. Spielberg has become one of America’s most beloved pianist/composers for her neo-classical stylings. Her repertoire ranges from her ingenious arrangement of Pachelbel’s Canon to American classics from film and Broadway and her original works. Sat, 4/16: 8pm. (Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
John Pizzarelli & Ramsey Lewis celebrate Nat King Cole: Three-time Grammy winner and master of jazz piano Ramsey Lewis and singer-guitarist John Pizzarelli celebrate the work of singer Nat King Cole in an evening of smooth jazz. This show, featuring NKC’s solid gold hits like “Mona Lisa”, “Unforgettable”, and “Straighten Up and Fly Right” was hailed by Jazz Weekly: “By the time the show ended with the audience singing along with “Walking My Baby Back Home” the packed house felt that it didn’t enjoy an evening as much of nostalgia, but of a level of art and musicianship that needs to be passed on to the next generation” Sat, 4/30: 8pm. (Concert Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
May
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center –Horn Calls: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s four part series concludes with Horn Calls a program of concertos from Dvorak, Schubert, Schumann, and Brahms featuring the internationally renowned horn virtuoso Radovan Vlatković as soloist. CMS is PAC’s resident chamber ensemble – a real coup for PAC and for Westchester culture-vultures. Sat, 5/7: 5pm. (Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Opera At The Cinema – Die Zauberflöte: You’ve got to see it to believe it. From Austria’s Bregenz Festival, this spectacular production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, sung in German, features fire-spewing “dragon dogs,” mythical creatures operated by puppeteers, and dozens of stunt artists in this staging by David Pountney. Conducted by Patrick Summers. Sun, 5/8: 2pm. (PepsiCo Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase;www.artscenter.org)
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