|
 Purchase, NY - Leading musicians, dancers and other performing artists from America, Eastern Europe, France, Israel, Asia, Africa and beyond comprise much of the new 2008-09 season at The Performing Arts Center Purchase College, it was announced Tuesday.
“Bringing world-class performances to our varied communities has always been a priority here,” said Laura Kaminsky, Interim Director of The Performing Arts Center and Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. In her presentation to Purchase College community, press and other guests, Kaminsky noted the college’s commitment to exploring global cultures—with The Performing Arts Center, Neuberger Museum of Art and the college’s academic divisions all promoting global understanding from their own perspectives.
Performers during the 31st season at The Performing Arts Center range from locally based, world-renowned musicians Garrick Ohlsson and the Harlem String Quartet to such universal artists as the National Philharmonic of Russia, Argentina’s Estampas Porteñas, Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir, Italy’s Interpreti Veneziani, and Israel’s Chava Alberstein and The Idan Raichel Project. Harlan Jacobson’s Talk Cinema Series also returns with screenings and discussions of notable new foreign and independent films from the world’s film festivals. The season introduces two new series: String Awakening and Conversations on Creativity, Craft and Career.
The season opens on Sept. 27th with opera superstar Denyce Graves, performing with pianist Brian Zeger.
Subscription Options
Subscription renewals are currently underway, with new subscription sales beginning June 2nd. Tickets for individual events go on sale in September.
This season, a wider choice of subscription options provides cost savings over single ticket prices. In addition to conventional series subscriptions (e.g., “Dance” or “Great Performances”), patrons may create their own subscription group of three or more events (e.g., a dance, jazz and theatre performance). Either option offers a savings of 20% off the regular ticket prices.
A new “create your own” subscription package of eight or more performances provides the ultimate in flexibility and cost savings – 40% off the regular ticket price.
Other features of the new season at The Performing Arts Center include:
Dance
The most eclectic group of dance performances ever offered at The Center is sure to enthrall the most discerning audiences and add to the growing legions of dance lovers. From Israel, in the year of its 60th anniversary, comes the Inbal Pinto Dance Company – combining a witty blend of modern, ballet, mime and acrobatics – and the inspirational Batsheva Dance Company, co-founded by Martha Graham. The venerable Paul Taylor Dance Company is an American institution led by one of the world’s greatest living choreographers. Shen Wei Dance Arts combines dance, theatre, Chinese opera, painting and sculpture in their sensory feast. The wildly inventive American company Pilobolus is back, demonstrating the company’s signature approach to dance.
World Stage
The Concert Hall at The Center is the site of the World Stage Series, a group of three extravaganzas that proved to be enormously popular during recent seasons. Tap dancing superstar Savion Glover, whose sold-out show two seasons ago drew one of the most enthusiastic audiences, returns with his new show, Bare Soundz. A sizzling new production of Tango Fire -- from Argentina’s hottest tango company, Estampas Porteñas – features the music of the legendary Astor Piazzolla. Another must-see return engagement is the Soweto Gospel Choir, with sheer exuberance that inspires those of all faiths.
Classical Music
As one of the tristate area’s premier venues for classical music, The Performing Arts Center continues to attract the most sought-after world-class solo artists and orchestras. Featured orchestras – with their featured piano soloists -- are Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Jean-Yves Thibaudet), Warsaw Philharmonic (Valentina Lisitsa), Estonian National Symphony Orchestra (Joyce Yang) and National Philharmonic of Russia (Denis Matsuev).
Chamber music, under the banner of the String Awakening Series, features the Claremont Trio, Colorado String Quartet (with pianist Margaret Kampmeier) and Harlem String Quartet (with cellist Carter Brey). Perennial favorite piano virtuoso, Garrick Ohlsson, stars in the new Great Performances Series, along with violinist Hilary Hahn and cellist Lynn Harrell.
The intimate setting of The Recital Hall brings “Exquisite Encounters” with three classical groups from Europe and Russia: Britain’s Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble, Italy’s Interpreti Veneziani (in an all-Vivaldi program) and Russia’s renowned a cappella Male Choir of St. Petersburg (in its U.S. debut tour). To celebrate the December holiday season, The Recital Hall will be the site of a performance of Brandenburg All-Stars, featuring some of New York’s finest musical talents.
Jazz
Another hot jazz season is planned with the Christian McBride Band, McCoy Tyner, and the Maria Schneider Orchestra. Irvin Mayfield & the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra heat up the holiday season with a rare performance of selections from Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite highlighting an evening titled Home for the Holidays.
Theatre
Count on Purchase College, one of America’s top training grounds for actors, to present provocative theatre. Shakespeare & Company undertakes its first national tour with its stunning new production of Hamlet. Homer’s epic story, Iliad, is in the deft hands of the Aquila Theatre Company, another Center favorite. And the renowned troupe, The Acting Company, presents two riveting plays during its two-day engagement: The Spy, based on James Fenimore Cooper’s classic novel, and King Henry V (in association with Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater).
Great Conversations
Another new series in the innovative 2008-09 season is Conversations on Creativity, Craft and Career. Isaiah Sheffer, host of the popular WNYC New York Public Radio program Selected Shorts, engages in stimulating dialog with renowned artists. The roster of the four-part series includes actor Frances Sternhagen, author and Pulitzer Prize winner Frank McCourt, and dancer/choreographers Jacques D’Amboise and Carmen de Lavallade.
Kids Time
In addition to a host of family-friendly events throughout the season, The Performing Arts Center is presenting five shows geared to children. They include the wildly popular singer/songwriter Tom Chapin & Friends, and Michael Cooper, a one-man extravaganza whose stories and madcap physical repertoire captivate kids of all ages. Other acclaimed shows include The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley, The Phantom Tollbooth, and Addy: An American Girl Story.
For more information and to buy tickets, contact The Performing Arts Center ticket office (914-251-6200). For further information, log onto The Center’s website at http://www.artscenter.org.
The Center's 31st season is made possible, in part, by the Basic Program Support Grant of the Westchester Arts Council with funds from Westchester County Government. Pilobolus’ presentation of Ocellus was made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts’ American Masterpieces: Dance Initiative, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts.
Purchase College is located 28 miles northeast of New York City at the Connecticut border. The college, part of the State University of New York, is a major institution of public higher education encompassing the liberal arts and sciences, professional training in the performing and visual arts, continuing education, The Neuberger Museum of Art, and The Performing Arts Center.
 |
