UR Modlin Center 2009-10

Three of the most acclaimed pianists at work today – the American Jeremy Denk, the Canadian Angela Hewitt and the Chinese-born Yuja Wang – will return to the University of Richmond in next season’s Great Performances series at the Modlin Arts Center.

Hewitt will play concertos by Bach and Stravinsky with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on Jan. 29. Wang will perform on Feb. 14 with the Shanghai Quartet (with whom she made her Richmond debut in November 2007). Denk will give a solo recital on March 21.

The contemporary music sextet eighth blackbird, in its sixth season as UR’s ensemble-in-residence, will present two programs – "SPAM," rock-influenced chamber works by Mayke Nas, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Marc Mellits and Bent Sørensen, on Sept. 16; and "Slide," featuring recent works by Rinde Eckert and Steve Mackey, on March 3 – as well as performing in the Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival, Nov. 6-7.

Other classical artists scheduled for 2009-10 Modlin Center dates:

* The Shanghai Quartet with cellist Lynn Harrell, Oct. 19.

* Baritone Thomas Hampson in "The Song of America Project," Oct. 21.

* The LA Guitar Quartet with narrator Jim Dale in "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote: Words and music from the Time of Cervantes," Nov. 9.

* The Rose Ensemble in "Cantigas from the Land of Three Faiths," a program of vocal music from the Islamic, Jewish and Christian cultures of medieval Spain, Jan. 13.

* David Finckel, cellist of the Emerson Quartet, and pianist Wu Han – spouses and co-artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center – joined by Emerson violinist Philip Seltzer in Schubert’s two piano trios, Feb. 20.

Oliver Sacks, the neurologist and author of "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain," will give the Neumann Lecture on Music on Feb. 5. Sacks’ talk coincides with the exhibit "Slightly Unbalanced" at the University Museums. Also in conjunction with the exhibit, UR-based soprano Jennifer Cable and harpsichordist Kenneth Merrill will perform "Mad Songs," from theatrical works of the 17th and 18th centuries, on March 1.

Other performances by UR faculty include a duo-piano program of Stravinsky, Ravel and Messiaen by Joanne Kong and Paul Hanson, Sept. 20; eighth blackbird violinist Matt Albert with Chicago-based violinist Andrew McCain in duos by Leclair, Prokofiev, Stephen Hartke and others, Oct. 5; flutist Jeremy McEntire and pianist Charles Hulin in a recital featuring a new work by Richmond composer Allan Blank, Jan. 24; and an Easter-season presentation of Handel’s "Messiah," with Jeffrey Riehl conducting UR’s Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale, guest soloists and a period-instruments orchestra, April 11.

The Modlin Center’s Great Performances series also will present programs of jazz, world music, theater and dance, including visits by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and "Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour" to the Carpenter Theatre of the new Richmond CenterStage downtown arts complex. (The Carpenter Foundation co-sponsors these events.) And the Modlin Center will be host to performances by faculty and student music, dance and theater troupes.

For information on Great Performances subscription-ticket packages, and tickets for University Players and University Dancers events, call the Modlin Center box office at (804) 289-8980 or visit www.modlin.richmond.edu

The complete 2009-10 Modlin Center schedule (GP denotes Great Performances series events):

All at 7:30 p.m. unless listed otherwise

Sept. 8-9 (Jepson Theatre) – The Actors’ Gang in Daniel Berrigan's "The Trial of the Catonsville 9." (GP)

Sept. 11-12 (Jepson Theatre) – The Second City Touring Company 59th Anniversary Tour. (GP)

Sept. 14-15 (Cousins Studio Theatre) – Monday Night World Theatre, Walter Schoen directing, in Roald Hoffman’s "Something That Belongs to You." (GP)

Sept. 16 (Camp Concert Hall) – eighth blackbird in "SPAM," works by Mayke Nas, Mark-Anthony Turnage, Marc Mellits and Bent Sørensen. (GP)

Sept. 20 (Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – "American Bluegrass Masters," featuring J.D. Crowe, Bobby Osborne, others. (GP)

Sept. 20 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Joanne Kong and Paul Hanson, piano duo, in works by Stravinsky, Ravel and Messiaen. (Free)

Oct. 2 (Camp Concert Hall) – UR Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Gamelan Orchestra, Women’s Chorale and Schola Cantorum in Family Weekend Concert. (Free)

Oct. 4 (Camp Concert Hall) – Béla Fleck, banjo; Zakir Hussain, tabla; Edgar Meyer, double-bass. (GP)

Oct. 5 (Camp Concert Hall) – Matt Albert and Andrew McCain, violins, in works by Leclair, Prokofiev and Stephen Hartke. (Free)

Oct. 6-7 (Jepson Theatre) – Pilobolus Dance Theater. (GP)

Oct. 14 (Camp Concert Hall) – Geoff Haydon, piano, in classical and jazz works. (Free)

Oct. 16 (Camp Concert Hall) – David Esleck Trio in jazz. (Free)

Oct. 17 (Jepson Theatre) – Universes poetry and theater troupe in Chay Yew’s "Ameriville." (GP)

Oct. 19 (Camp Concert Hall) – Shanghai Quartet with Lynn Harrell, cello. (GP)

Oct. 21 (Camp Concert Hall) – Thomas Hampson, baritone, in "The Song of America Project." (GP)

Oct. 22-23 (Jepson Theatre) – Circo Aereo in "Espresso." (GP)

Oct. 25 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Judith Cline, soprano, and Cara Ellen Modisett, piano, in Alan Smith’s "Vignettes: Ellis Island." (Free)

Oct. 27 (Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – "Genesis: a Conversation with R. Crumb and Françoise Mouly." (GP)

Oct. 28 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Wind Ensemble, David Niethamer directing, and Longwood Wind Symphony, Gordon Ring directing. (Free)

Oct. 30 (Camp Concert Hall) – Terence Blanchard Quintet in jazz. (GP)

Nov. 1 (Camp Concert Hall) – Neil Berg’s "101 Years of Broadway." (GP)

Nov. 6-7 (various times, Camp Concert Hall) – Third Practice Electroacoustic Music Festival, Benjamin Broening directing, with eighth blackbird and Arthur Campbell, clarinet. (Free)

Nov. 8 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – UR Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale, Jeffrey Riehl and David Pedersen directing. (Free)

Nov. 9 (Camp Concert Hall) – The LA Guitar Quartet with narrator Jim Dale in "The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote: Words and Music from the Time of Cervantes." (GP)

Nov. 13-14, 15 (2 p.m.), 19-21 (Jepson Theatre) – The African Company in Carlyle Brown’s "Richard III."

Nov. 15 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Wind Ensemble, Thom Ritter George directing. (Free)

Nov. 16 (Cannon Chapel) – Bruce Stevens, organ, in works by Buxtehude, Bach, Vivaldi, Rheinberger, others. (Free)

Nov. 23 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Jazz Ensemble, Mike Davison directing. (Free)

Nov. 30 (Perkinson Recital Hall, North Court) – University Chamber Music Ensembles and Opera Scenes, including selections from Mozart’s "Così fan tutte." (Free)

Dec. 2 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Orchestra, Alexander Kordzaia conducting, with Natalia Sanders and Jessica Clough, violins, in works by Kabalevsky, Barber, others. (Free)

Dec. 3 (Camp Concert Hall) – World music concert, Andrew McGraw directing. (Free)

Dec. 6 (5 and 8 p.m., Cannon Chapel) – Annual Christmas Candlelight Service, with Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale, Jeffrey Riehl directing. (Free)

Dec. 6 (Camp Concert Hall) – The Klezmatics. (GP)

Jan. 13 (Camp Concert Hall) – The Rose Ensemble, Jordan Sramek directing, in "Cantigas from the Land of Three Faiths." (GP)

Jan. 19-20 (Jepson Theatre) – Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. (GP)

Jan. 22 (Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – Band of the Irish Guards and Royal Regiment of Scotland. (GP)

Jan. 24 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jeremy McEntire, flute, and Charles Hulin, piano, in works by Allan Blank, others. (Free)

Jan. 26 (Jepson Theatre) – Richard Alston Dance. (GP)

Jan. 29 (Camp Concert Hall) – Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with Angela Hewitt, piano, in works by Bach, Stravinsky, others. (GP)

Jan. 31, Feb. 2 (Camp Concert Hall) – L.A. Theatre Works in "The RFK Project." (GP)

Feb. 5 (Camp Concert Hall) – Oliver Sacks in Neumann Lecture in Music. (Free; tickets required)

Feb. 7 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Richard Becker, piano, in works by Chopin and Liszt. (Free)

Feb. 8 (Camp Concert Hall) – The Luciana Souza Trio in jazz. (GP)

Feb. 14 (Camp Concert Hall) – Shanghai Quartet with Yuja Wang, piano. (GP)

Feb. 17 (Camp Concert Hall) – Jazz Faculty All-Stars, featuring Mike Davison, trumpet, in Mardi Gras Celebration. (Free)

Feb. 20 (Camp Concert Hall) – David Finckel, cello; Wu Han, piano; and Philip Seltzer, violin, in Schubert’s two piano trios. (GP)

Feb. 23 (Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – "Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour," featuring Kenny Barron, piano; Regina Carter, violin; Kurt Elling, vocals; Russell Malone, guitar. (GP)

Feb. 26-27, 28 (2 p.m.) (Jepson Theatre) – University Dancers, Myra Daleng directing, in "Twenty 5."

March 1 (Camp Concert Hall) – Jennifer Cable, soprano, and Kenneth Merrill, harpsichord, in "Mad Songs," works by Purcell, Boyce, Arne, others. (Free)

March 3 (Camp Concert Hall) – eighth blackbird in "Slide," works by Rinde Eckert and Steve Mackey. (GP)

March 15 (Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – Elieen Ivers, Irish fiddle, in "Beyond the Bog Road." (GP)

March 17-18 (Jepson Theatre) – Luna Negra Dance Theater. (GP)

March 21 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Jeremy Denk, piano. (GP)

March 22-23 (Cousins Studio Theatre) – University Players in John Kennedy Toole’s "A Confederacy of Dunces," staged reading of adaptation by Matt Di Cintio and Walter Schoen.

March 28 (3 p.m., Camp Concert Hall) – Richard Becker and Doris Wylee-Becker, piano duo, in works by Schubert, Saint-Saëns, Stravinsky, others. (Free)

April 7 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Orchestra, Alexander Kordzaia conducting, with Joanne Kong and Paul Hanson, pianos, in works by Chopin, Schumann, Beethoven, Bernstein. (Free)

April 8 (Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage) – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. (GP)

April 9-10, 11 (2 p.m.), 15-17 (Jepson Theatre) – University Players, Dorothy Holland directing, in Jean Girandoux’s "The Madwoman of Chaillot."

April 11 (5 p.m., Cannon Chapel) – Schola Cantorum and Women’s Chorale with soloists and baroque orchestra, Jeffrey Riehl conducting, in Handel’s "Messiah." (Free)

April 12 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo, Mike Davison directing. (Free)

April 14 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Wind Ensemble, David Niethamer directing. (Free)

April 19 (Camp Concert Hall) – University Chamber Ensembles. (Free)