We welcomed a company we've presented three of the past four years last week the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, AAADT worked with acappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, also making a return appearance in Chapel Hill, on a new work choreographed by Durham native Hope Boykin called Go in Grace. It was a remarkable collaboration between two American institutions, set to a familiar 'coming of age' story. They also performed Suite Otis, a 1971 piece by George Faison set to a medley of Otis Redding songs and ended with the masterwork Revelations, which nearly 40 years later, still seems as new as it must have seemed back then.
As usual, the dancers soared, with precision and grace. The first night had a different energy both on stage and in the audience, a contrast that is both interesting and elusive. Attempting to choreograph the exchange between artist and audience continues to be an exciting challenge, and when done successfully elevates the experience to new heights for all.
We have a break until our visiting by the Bolshoi in June..... Stay tuned...
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Andras Schiff and 4 for the price of 3
World-renowned pianist made a stop in Chapel Hill as part of his two year Beethoven cycle, performing and recording all 32 sonatas!
Before the recital began, we presented him with tokens of our men's basketball national championship, a t-shirt and baseball cap! He said he was very intrigued by american sport, and in particular enjoyed basketball more than baseball.
However, we found a common love of english premier league football. I am an ardent follower of Liverpool while Andras has an interest in Man U. We both share mutual disdain for the blue of Chelsea!!!
He played to a sold out house last night, performing Beethoven sonatas, 27, 28 and 29 or Op. 90, 101 and 106.
His playing is sublime and his knowledge of the music is unparalleled. The Guardian (UK) recorded 32 lectures given by Schiff on each of the sonatas. They are available here!
http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html
He also gave a series of interviews on NPR on the subject!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102395352&ft=1&f=1039
And our audiences were enthralled and gave Schiff 3 curtain calls. In recognition, we expected an encore of Bach or Mozart but instead he gave us Op. 109! Four sonatas for the price of three in the end!!! A great value!
Before the recital began, we presented him with tokens of our men's basketball national championship, a t-shirt and baseball cap! He said he was very intrigued by american sport, and in particular enjoyed basketball more than baseball.
However, we found a common love of english premier league football. I am an ardent follower of Liverpool while Andras has an interest in Man U. We both share mutual disdain for the blue of Chelsea!!!
He played to a sold out house last night, performing Beethoven sonatas, 27, 28 and 29 or Op. 90, 101 and 106.
His playing is sublime and his knowledge of the music is unparalleled. The Guardian (UK) recorded 32 lectures given by Schiff on each of the sonatas. They are available here!
http://music.guardian.co.uk/classical/page/0,,1943867,00.html
He also gave a series of interviews on NPR on the subject!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102395352&ft=1&f=1039
And our audiences were enthralled and gave Schiff 3 curtain calls. In recognition, we expected an encore of Bach or Mozart but instead he gave us Op. 109! Four sonatas for the price of three in the end!!! A great value!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Carolina Men's Basketball, Andras Schiff, Beethoven, and Top 10 Facebook Status Updates
While our men's basketball team won a national championship last night, world-renowned pianist Andras Schiff also arrived to town, in preparation to perform a sold-out recital tonight at Memorial Hall. Thank God the recital wasn't last night, or Mr. Schiff would have played to an audience of one, me!
It seems Mr. Schiff, a warm, kind, and reserved gentleman, caught the Tar Heel spirit with the Carolina Blue sweater he wore during the day....
Its amazing how March Madness has had a profound impact on our spring seasons since our opening 2005-06 season... Here is a glimpse back:
April 5, 2008 - National Semi-Finals - UNC vs. Kansas - Also the night of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with substitute conductor Sir Neville Marriner, who fills in for an ill Murray Perahia. Rising star Yuja Wang fills in on the keyboard. What was supposed to be a sold-out house ends up 75% full. It turns out the 25% who didnt show would have had a better night at Memorial Hall as the Carolina men lose, although they closed the gap from over 40 down to as close as 4.
March 25, 2007 - Elite Eight - UNC vs. Georgetown - Also the night of Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. at 8:00pm, the game is still going and Wynton refuses to leave his hotel room at the Carolina Inn as he, and some band mates are watching the game. Ultimately, UNC loses to Georgetown and Wynton starts the concert at 8:25pm. He begins by acknowledging the loss to the audience, and proceeds to tell the audience about the healing power of music....Again, while we are technically sold-out, we have a couple of hundred no-shows...
March 19, 2006 - Second Round - UNC vs. George Mason - While there isn't a performance this night, the Tar Heel faithful are stunned with the loss of 3 seed UNC to mid-major and 11 seed George Mason, 65-60....
Lastly......
These are some funny status updates that appeared this morning on my Facebook home page by our Carolina faithful.… The names are removed to protect the innocent…
10)…best night EVER live from DETROIT!!!!!!!!! wooooooohooooo, NATIONAL CHAMPS BABY, #1
9)…I'M A NATIONAL CHAMPION. WHO ARE YOU?
8)… Detroit Rock City
7)…. Franklin Street, I sacrificed my cell phone to you in return for the most best f***ing college basketball game ever. EDTYLERTYDEONBOBBYWAYNEDANNYLARRYMARCUS
6)… I jumped over fire tonight. I am invincible. I am Sparta!! Oh wait...we just beat them...
5)….is glad she can party on Franklin Street until 1:30 and still make it to work on time...and she is proud to be a Tar Heel!
4)…will have a panic attack on Franklin St. any day....as long as it's in honor of those National Champions!
3)….lost both of her shoes on franklin st then FOUND THEM AGAIN. since she can't be ty lawson, this is her proudest moment of last night.
2)…Go Heels! And Hooray for Women's Global Health Luncheon Series!!
and a tie for Number 1)…..
1)….wow I feel at once elated and very satisfied. go heels, I need an egg sandwich.
1) “…finds it difficult to move past the glow of the fabulous Tar Heel success, but I must post that on this date in 1791, Geo Washington, after enjoying a week at Mt. Vernon, continued his Southern Tour. Within hours, there was calamity on Occoquan Creek (essentially the US 1 crossing today), when 4 horses and nearly his carriage, tumbled from the ferry into the water. The horses swam ashore.”
It seems Mr. Schiff, a warm, kind, and reserved gentleman, caught the Tar Heel spirit with the Carolina Blue sweater he wore during the day....
Its amazing how March Madness has had a profound impact on our spring seasons since our opening 2005-06 season... Here is a glimpse back:
April 5, 2008 - National Semi-Finals - UNC vs. Kansas - Also the night of the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with substitute conductor Sir Neville Marriner, who fills in for an ill Murray Perahia. Rising star Yuja Wang fills in on the keyboard. What was supposed to be a sold-out house ends up 75% full. It turns out the 25% who didnt show would have had a better night at Memorial Hall as the Carolina men lose, although they closed the gap from over 40 down to as close as 4.
March 25, 2007 - Elite Eight - UNC vs. Georgetown - Also the night of Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. at 8:00pm, the game is still going and Wynton refuses to leave his hotel room at the Carolina Inn as he, and some band mates are watching the game. Ultimately, UNC loses to Georgetown and Wynton starts the concert at 8:25pm. He begins by acknowledging the loss to the audience, and proceeds to tell the audience about the healing power of music....Again, while we are technically sold-out, we have a couple of hundred no-shows...
March 19, 2006 - Second Round - UNC vs. George Mason - While there isn't a performance this night, the Tar Heel faithful are stunned with the loss of 3 seed UNC to mid-major and 11 seed George Mason, 65-60....
Lastly......
These are some funny status updates that appeared this morning on my Facebook home page by our Carolina faithful.… The names are removed to protect the innocent…
10)…best night EVER live from DETROIT!!!!!!!!! wooooooohooooo, NATIONAL CHAMPS BABY, #1
9)…I'M A NATIONAL CHAMPION. WHO ARE YOU?
8)… Detroit Rock City
7)…. Franklin Street, I sacrificed my cell phone to you in return for the most best f***ing college basketball game ever. EDTYLERTYDEONBOBBYWAYNEDANNYLARRYMARCUS
6)… I jumped over fire tonight. I am invincible. I am Sparta!! Oh wait...we just beat them...
5)….is glad she can party on Franklin Street until 1:30 and still make it to work on time...and she is proud to be a Tar Heel!
4)…will have a panic attack on Franklin St. any day....as long as it's in honor of those National Champions!
3)….lost both of her shoes on franklin st then FOUND THEM AGAIN. since she can't be ty lawson, this is her proudest moment of last night.
2)…Go Heels! And Hooray for Women's Global Health Luncheon Series!!
and a tie for Number 1)…..
1)….wow I feel at once elated and very satisfied. go heels, I need an egg sandwich.
1) “…finds it difficult to move past the glow of the fabulous Tar Heel success, but I must post that on this date in 1791, Geo Washington, after enjoying a week at Mt. Vernon, continued his Southern Tour. Within hours, there was calamity on Occoquan Creek (essentially the US 1 crossing today), when 4 horses and nearly his carriage, tumbled from the ferry into the water. The horses swam ashore.”
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