Performing Arts Center Winter & Spring 2018
Performing Arts Center Winter & Spring 2018: the best music, theater, dance, jazz and more at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College.
January
The Kronos Quartet, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 1/20: 8pm: Since its founding in 1973, Kronos Quartet has become one of the most celebrated and influential ensembles in classical music. Known for its spirit of exploration, these Grammy-winners rose to prominence with their classical string rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”. Their repertoire ranges from the works of Steve Reich, who has written several pieces for them, to their collection of African works, Pieces of Africa. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
CMS of Lincoln Center, Brahms & Dvorak, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 1/27: 5pm: In their second PAC performance of the season, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center pairs the works of neo-classicist Brahms with Dvorak, the champion of Czech folk music. The program includes Drorak’s Selected Slavonic Dances for Piano, Four Hands, Brahms’ Selected Hungarian Dances for Piano, Four Hands and Dvorak’s Quintet in A Major for Piano, Two Violins, Viola and Cello. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
February
Globalfest: The New Golden Age of Latin Music, Performing Arts Center – Fri, 2/2: 8pm: Las Cafeteras and Orkesta Mendoza join forces in a celebration of Mexican-American music from Arizona and California. Two of today’s hottest interpreters of the Latin sound explore new directions with forays into infectious Indie-mambo and Latin Big Band traditions that merges cumbia, merengue and ranchera with electronica, strings and Western pop. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
wild up, Performing Arts Center, Sat, 2/10: 8pm: The Los Angeles Times wrote of this adventurous chamber orchestra, “You’d be forgiven for mistaking wild Up, a newly formed Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, for an indie rock band.” They “punch out rhythms as if they were going out of style” with a force that can be “harsh and driving and bursting into episodes of free jazz.” New Music Box wrote, “wild up’s repertoire… felt genuinely subversive, as if they were smuggled on the program under the cover of night.” In other words, these folks are wild! (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
The Westchester Philharmonic, Friends & Family Concert with Kelly Hall-Tompkins, Performing Arts Center – Sun, 2/11: 3pm: Kelly Hall-Tompkins was the violin soloist for the Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. Here she solos with The Phil on Beethoven’s Eroica, Beethoven’s Romance No. 2 for violin and orchestra and Saint Saens Introduction and Rondo capriccioso. Ted Sperling conducts. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.westhcesterphil.org)
Spesh! Velvet Caravan, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 2/17: 8pm: Some call it Gypsy Swing. Some call it European Red Neck music. Either way they’re so sure their ensemble’s collection of Gypsy, Honky-Tonk, Swing and Latin beats will make you want to dance that this performance features nightclub seating (with a dance floor) and dinner and drinks available at the bar. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
CMS of Lincoln Center, Vienna to Hollywood, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 2/24: 5pm: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center pairs the works of Vienna and Hollywood. Featuring Schubert’s (Vienna) Fantasie in F Minor for Piano, Four Hands and Fantasie in C Major for Violin and Piano. And Korngold’s (Hollywood – The Adventures of Robin Hood) Suite for Piano, Left Hand, Two Violins and Cello. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
American Rhapsody, The Gershwin Big Band, Performing Arts Center – Sun, 2/25: 3pm: Led by front-man Michael Andrew, who the NYT’s described as “the next Harry Connick Jr.”, The Gershwin Big Band’s collection of world class jazz musicians hits the “refresh” button on George Gershwin’s iconic brew of Broadway, Hollywood, opera and American standards. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
March
L.A. Dance Project, Performing Arts Center – Fri-Sat, 3/2-3: 8pm: Led by choreographer Benjamin Millipied, a former principal dancer for the New York City Ballet, who is also the husband of Natalie Portman and the choreographer of the film Black Swan, LADP brings a contemporary approach to art and movement. Millepied along with composer Nico Muhly and art consultant Matthieu Humery join forces to bring multi-disciplinary talents to the dance platform. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Sara Chang, violin, Performing Arts Center, Sat, 3/10: 8pm: One of the foremost violinists today, Sarah Chang debuted with the New York Philharmonic at the age of eight. (Think about it.) She has performed as soloist with the world’s greatest orchestras including the Berlin Philharmonic and the Boston Symphony. As a chamber musician she has collaborated with Yo Yo Ma, Pinchas Zukerman, Isaac Stern and many others. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Lisa Batiashvili, violin, Performing Arts Center – Fri, 3/23: 8pm: A PAC audience favorite, the Orpheus Chamber orchestra with soloist Lisa Batiashvili perform a program of Schubert and Prokofiev. Including Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, Prokofiev’s Schubert Waltzes Suite and his Second Violin Concerto. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
National Theatre Live’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Sun, 3/25: 2pm: PAC presents a screening of National Theatre Live’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Benedict Andrews’ revival of Tennessee Williams’ twentieth century masterpiece about lies, deceit and sexual repression on Big Daddy’s Mississippi cotton plantation played a strictly limited season in London’s West End in 2017. Following his smash hit production of A Streetcar Named Desire, Andrews’ ‘thrilling revival’ (New York Times) stars Sienna Miller, Jack O’Connell and Colm Meaney. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
RUBBERBANDance Group, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 3/31: 8pm: Hip-hop meets the ballet in choreographer and dancer Victor Quijada and dancer and co-director Anne Plamondon’s RUBBERBANDance Group. Quijada, who began his career as a street dancer at the age of 8 went on to work with Twyla Tharp. Both influences can be seen in his contemporary works. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
April
Eternal Spring, The Westchester Phil with Edgar Meyer, Performing Arts Center – Sun, 4/8: 3pm: The New York Times called double bassist, Edgar Meyer “the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively un-chronicled history of his instrument.” He has a mantel-full of Grammys, a MacArthur “Genius” grant and a remarkable instinct for collaboration with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Joshua Bell, Béla Fleck, Emanuel Ax, and now, the Westchester Philharmonic. Here he performs Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello Suite No. 1, Mozart’s Serenade in C minor and his own Concerto in D with The Phil. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.westhcesterphil.org)
Jeremy Dank, piano, Performing Arts Center – Sun, 4/15: 3pm: Jeremy Denk is one of America’s foremost pianists – an artist The New York Times hails as someone “you want to hear no matter what he performs.” Winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, the Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s Instrumentalist of the Year award, Denk was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
CMS of Lincoln Center, Classical Evolution, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 4/21: 5pm: In their final appearance of the 2017-18 season, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center explores the Classical style with three works that have endured the test of time. Including, Mozart’s Trio in E-flat Major for Clarinet, Viola and Piano; Weber’s Quintet in B-flat Major for Clarinet, Two Violins, Viola and Cello, and Brahms Quintet in F Minor for Piano, Two Violins, Viola and Cello. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
Jazz at the Center, Big Band Dance Party, Performing Arts Center – Sat, 4/28: 8pm: The Purchase Jazz Orchestra closes out the Jazz at The Center series with a night of big band jazz favorites. Jazz at the Center is curated by Jon Faddis, Professor and Director of Jazz Performance at Purchase College, and one of the most innovative jazz trumpeters of our time. . (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
May
PAC Gala, Jessica Lang Dance, Performing Arts Center, Sat, 5/5: 8pm: Former Twyla Tharp dancer, Jessica Lang’s dance company received a Joyce Theater Artist Residency in 2011. Here they perform the world premiere of a new work set to the music of Tony Bennett. The evening begins with PAC’s annual Gala featuring cocktails and dinner before the show and dessert and drinks after. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.artscenter.org)
June
Father’s Day! Keys, Kegs & ‘Que, Westchester Philharmonic, Performing Arts Center – Sun, 6/17: 3pm: Jaime Laredo conducts The Phil with guest piano soloists and power couple Anna Polonsky and Orion Weiss. Here they perform Mozart’s Concerto for Two Pianos. Also on the program are Rossini’s Overture to L’italiana in Algeri and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 5. Go for the double piano solo and stay for the Father’s Day BBQ after the show. (735 Anderson Hill Rd., Purchase; www.westhcesterphil.org)
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Photos courtesy of the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College