Modlin Center 2008-09

Premieres of quartets by Krzysztof Penderecki and Dick Hyman by the Shanghai Quartet and of an electroacoustic piece by Toivo Tulev and "Slide," a multimedia work by actor-singer Rinde Eckert and composer-performer Steve Mackey, by eighth blackbird highlight classical programs next season at the University of Richmond’s Modlin Arts Center.

The 2008-09 Modlin classical season also will feature performances by pianist Peter Serkin; Chanticleer, the men's vocal ensemble; mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore; the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with the Tallinn Chamber Orchestra; The 5 Browns, the popular family piano troupe; and a program by members of eighth blackbird with pianists Paul Hanson and Joanne Kong saluting the 100th birthdays of Olivier Messiaen and Elliott Carter.

Opening its fifth season in residence at UR, eighth blackbird will perform works from its Grammy Award-winning album "Strange Imaginary Animals" in "strange imaginary remix," with sound designs by Dennis deSantis.

Other attractions include Stephen Sondheim, the pre-eminent American music-theater composer, in conversation with Frank Rich of The New York Times; singer Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester in a program of German cabaret music and jazz from the 1920s and ’30s; the East Village Opera Company, known for its updatings of classic opera arias; and Mariza, a leading exponent of fado, the Portuguese song style.

Folk, jazz, popular and world music attractions range from evenings of Irish music with Cherish the Ladies and guests, Cherryholmes and Danú to Hyman and Friends in "Swingin’ the ’50s," an Edgar Allan Poe bicentennial celebration with Garrison Keillor and Robin and Linda Williams, the Vijay Iyer Trio in contemporary jazz, Brazilian jazz with Paquito d’Rivera and The New York Voices, Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited, the African Children’s Choir, the DRUMLine Live! brass band, and bluegrass with the Punch Brothers featuring mandolinist Chris Thile and The Infamous Stringdusters.

UR’s music department will present several talks and performances in conjunction with "This Is War," an exhibition at the University Museums, including "Music in Times of Civil Unrest," a program of Barber, Haydn and Shostakovich by UR choirs and the Richmond Symphony.

Visiting theater and dance troupes include L.A. Theatre Works in a revival of the radio play based on H.G. Wells’ "War of the Worlds," the Aquila Theatre Company in Homer’s "Iliad," the MOMIX multimedia-dance troupe in "Passion, Cirque Élioze in Daniele Finzi Pasca’s "Nebbia" ("Fog"), the Reduced Shakespeare Company in "The Complete History of America (Abridged): Special Election Edition," and author-humorist David Sedaris.

In addition to on-campus performances, the series will feature four events at Richmond’s Landmark Theater.

A season brochure and subscription ticket information may be obtained by calling the Modlin Center box office at (804) 289-8980, or visiting www.modlin.richmond.edu

The Great Performances and music department series for 2008-09:


GREAT PERFORMANCES
Subscriptions: $32 per event
Single tickets: $38 per event (on sale four weeks prior to each performance)

Sept. 6 (3 and 7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – "An Irish Homecoming," with Cherish the Ladies, Maura O’Connell, bohola, Dermot Henry, dance ensemble from The Chieftains and the cast of "Riverdance."

Sept. 17 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – eighth blackbird in "strange imaginary remix," music from the group’s album "Strange Imaginary Animals" with sound designs by Dennis DeSantis.

Sept. 18 (7:30 p.m.), Sept. 19 (8 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – Reduced Shakespeare Company in "The Complete History of America (Abridged): Special Election Edition."

Sept. 21 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Cherryholmes in bluegrass, Irish and country music.

Sept. 23-24 (7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – Aquila Theatre Company, Peter Meineck directing, in "The Iliad" by Homer.

Oct. 1 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Shanghai Quartet in premiere of Dick Hyman’s Quartet in C major, Schubert’s "Quartettsatz," Beethoven’s Quartet in F major, Op. 59, No. 1 ("Razumovsky").

Oct. 3 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Dick Hyman and Friends, with singer Lynn Roberts, in "Swingin’ the ’50s," songs and show tunes made popular in the 1950s.

Oct. 6 (7:30 p.m., Richmond’s Landmark Theater) – David Sedaris, author and humorist.

Oct. 15 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Max Raabe & Palast Orchester in "Tonight or Never," cabaret and jazz-band music of 1920s and ’30s Weimar Germany.

Oct. 20 (7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – East Village Opera Company, updated arrangements of classic opera arias.

Oct. 24-25 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Thomas Mapfumo and the Blacks Unlimited in chimurenga ("struggle") music from Zimbabwe.

Oct. 27-28 (7:30 p.m.., Cousins Studio Theatre) – Monday Night World Theatre, Donna E. Coghill directing, in dramatic reading of "Sixteen Wounded" by Eilam Kraiem.

Oct. 29 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – L.A. Theatre Works, Susan Albert Loewenberg directing, in Howard Koch’s adaptation of H.G. Wells’ "War of the Worlds" and "The Lost World" by Arthur Conan Doyle, adapted by John de Lancie and Nat Sagaloff, starring actors from the Sci-Fi Channel, "Star Trek" and "X-Files."

Oct. 29 (midnight, Camp Concert Hall) – L.A. Theatre Works in "War of the Worlds."

Nov. 3 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir with Tallinn Chamber Orchestra, Tõnu Kaljuste conducting, in works by Vivaldi, Arvo Pärt, others.

Nov. 10 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Frank Rich, columnist of The New York Times, speaking on art, culture and politics.

Nov. 11-12 (7:30 p.m., Camp Hall) – Punch Brothers featuring mandolinist Chris Thile, in bluegrass and country music.

Nov. 17 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Roby Lakatos Ensemble in gypsy music.

Dec. 5 (7:30 and 9:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Rockapella, a cappella vocal group.

Jan. 13-15 (7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – MOMIX, Moses Pendleton directing, in "Passion," multimedia production with score by Peter Gabriel.

Jan. 18 (7:30 p.m., Richmond’s Landmark Theater) – Garrison Keillor with Robin and Linda Williams in program celebrating 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allan Poe.

Jan. 21 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Vijay Iyer Trio (pianist Vijay Iyer, bassist Stephan Crump, drummer Marcus Gilmore) in contemporary jazz.

Jan. 27 (7:30 p.m.), Jan. 28 (5 and 8:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – Cirque Éloize in Daniele Finzi Pasca’s "Nebbia" ("Fog"), circus acrobatics, modern dance, rhythm and poetry.

Feb. 2 (7:30 p.m., Richmond’s Landmark Theater) – Composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim in conversation with New York Times columnist Frank Rich.

Feb. 6 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Simon Shaheen, oud player and violinist, with Qantara in Arab-Western jazz-classical hybrid music.

Feb. 7 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – The 5 Browns, family piano troupe, program TBA.

Feb. 16 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore with pianist Antoine Pollac in art-song program TBA.

Feb. 18 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jazz saxophonist-clarinetist Paquito d’Rivera with New York Voices in "More Brazilian Dreams."

Feb. 22 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Shanghai Quartet in Virginia premiere of Penderecki's Quartet No. 3, Mozart's Quartet in D minor, K. 421, Debussy's Quartet.

Feb. 24 (7:30 p.m., Richmond’s Landmark Theater) – DRUMLine Live! brass arrangements of rhythm and blues and hip-hop by performers from historically black colleges and universities.

March 3 (7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – Spectrum Dance Theater, Donald Byrd directing, in "The Theater of Needless Talents."

March 4 (7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – Spectrum Dance Theater in "Interrupted Narratives/War."

March 17-18 (7:30 p.m., Jepson Theatre) – Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dwight Rhoden & Desmond Richardson directing, in works TBA.

March 21 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Danú, traditional Irish band.

March 23 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – The African Children’s Choir in "Journey of Hope."

March 25 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – eighth blackbird in premiere of "Slide" by actor-singer Rinde Eckert and composer-performer Steve Mackey.

March 29 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Chanticleer in "Wondrous Free," program of American songs.

March 30 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Pianist Peter Serkin in works by Bach, Brahms and Charles Wuorinen.

April 1 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Mariza, Portuguese-African fado singer.

April 20 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – The Infamous Stringdusters in bluegrass.


MUSIC DEPARTMENT CONCERT SERIES
Free admission

Sept. 19 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Department of Music Family Weekend Concert.

Oct. 5 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Neumann Lecture in Music: Suzanne G. Cusick on "Music & Torture," use of music as a means of torture in detention camps operated by the U.S. government in the global war on terror.

Oct. 5 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Drummer-percussionist Brian Jones and friends in jazz program.

Oct. 26 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Duo-pianist Richard Becker & Doris Wylee-Becker in works by Mozart, Saint-Saëns, Stravinsky, others.

Nov. 2 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Schola Cantorum, Jeffrey Riehl directing, and University Women’s Chorale, Dwight Graham directing, with pianist Mary Beth Bennett, in program TBA.

Nov. 7-8 (various times, Camp Concert Hall) – Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival, featuring eighth blackbird in new work by Toivo Tulev and other works from Baltic countries, U.S. and Europe.

Nov. 13 (7:30 p.m., Perkinson Recital Hall) – David Esleck Trio (pianist David Esleck, bassist Michael Hawkins, multi-instrumentalist Keith Willingham) in jazz program.

Nov. 16 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – University Wind Ensemble, David Niethamer directing, in Holst’s Suite No. 1 for military band, other works.

Nov. 24 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo, Mike Davison directing.

Dec. 1 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – University Chamber Music Ensembles in program TBA.

Dec. 3 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – University Orchestra, Alexander Kordzaia conducting, in program TBA.

Dec. 4 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Global Music Ensemble, Andrew McGraw directing, in Balinese gamelan and Ghanian Ewe musics.

Dec. 7 (5 and 8 p.m., Cannon Memorial Chapel) – Annual Christmas Candlelight Service with Schola Cantorum, Jeffrey Riehl directing, and University Women’s Chorale, Dwight Graham directing.

Jan. 19 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Baritone James Weaver and pianist Joanne Kong in Schubert’s song cycle "Die Winterreise."

Jan. 30 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Richmond Symphony, Erin Freeman conducting, Schola Cantorum and James River Singers, Jeffrey Riehl directing, in "Music in Times of Civil Unrest," including Barber’s Adagio for strings, Haydn’s "Mass in Time of War," Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony, Op. 110a. (Tickets required.)

Feb. 1 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Pianist Richard Becker in works by Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt.

Feb. 12 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jepson Leadership Forum: William Lee Miller speaking on "The Magnanimity of President Lincoln," with University Orchestra, Alexander Kordzaia conducting, and narrator TBA, in Copland’s "A Lincoln Portrait."

Feb. 20 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Pianist Doris Wylee-Becker in works by Bach, Rachmaninoff, others.

Feb. 23 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – "Scintallating Centenarians," violinist Matt Albert, percussionist Matthew Duvall, clarinetist Michael Maccaferri, flutist Tim Munro, cellist Nicholas Photinos, pianists Paul Hanson and Joanne Kong in Messiaen’s "Visions de l’Amen" and Elliott Carter’s "Night Fantasies," "Con Leggerezza Pensosa," "Enchanted Preludes," "Esprit Rude/Esprit Doux I & II."

March 16 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Soprano Jennifer Cable, tenor Jeffrey Riehl and harpsichordist Kenneth Merrill in Monteverdi’s "Madrigals of Love and War."

April 4 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – University Wind Ensemble, David Niethamer directing, in program TBA.

April 5 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Schola Cantorum, Jeffrey Riehl directing, and University Women’s Chorale, Dwight Graham directing, with pianist Mary Beth Bennett, in works from Central and Eastern Europe.

April 6 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jazz and Brazilian Combo, Mike Davison, Kevin Harding, David Esleck and Charles Arthur directing.

April 8 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – University Orchestra, Alexander Kordzaia conducting, in works by Mozart, Rossini, Schubert, Copland.

April 9 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – University Chamber Music Ensembles in program TBA.

April 13 (7:30 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo, Mike Davison directing.

April 19 (3 p.m., Jenkins Greek Theater) – World Music Concert, Andrew McGraw and Kevin Harding directing. (Rain location: Camp Concert Hall).