Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center has announced the roster of artists for the 2012-2013 season.
In making the announcement, Performing Arts Center Director George C. Foreman said, “This will be a year filled with incomparable performances, a truly magical season and one of the best in our 17-year history.”
One of the highlights of the 2012-2013 line-up will be a performance by world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. “Last season, we presented Yo-Yo Ma,” Foreman said. “When I was planning the new season, I thought there was only one way to top that, and that was by bringing the world’s best violinist to Hodgson Hall.”
The Performing Arts Center will continue its partnership with the Classic Center in Athens with three special collaborations: Willie Nelson, the Boston Pops Orchestra and Blue Man Group. Foreman said, “I am excited about these events, all very different and certain to attract a broad and diverse audience.”
The Performing Arts Center’s classical music series, Masterworks and Classics, will feature the world’s finest orchestras and musicians in addition to classical ballet. The series will include renowned flutist Sir James Galway performing with his wife, Lady Jeanne, on his Legacy Tour, as well as the Athens debut of Nobuyuki Tsujii, the blind pianist who won the Van Cliburn Gold Medal.
National Public Radio’s From the Top comes back to record its popular program live in Hodgson Hall, and England’s beloved King’s Singers return with their impeccable vocal style and unique British wit.
The world’s premier banjo player, Béla Fleck, makes two appearances next season. He will perform in the fall with the Marcus Roberts Trio, a jazz ensemble, and later in the spring with the UGA Symphony Orchestra, playing his own Concerto for Banjo and Orchestra.
The Franklin College Chamber Music Series will feature the world’s finest chamber ensembles, notably the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, which continues its relationship with UGA in the Arch Chamber Music Festival. “The don’t-miss concert on the Franklin series will undoubtedly be the Tokyo String Quartet in its final season,” said Foreman.
The Show Biz and Off-Broadway series will offer something for everyone with Celtic and world music, comic magicians, Broadway song and dance, and even talking dogs. The Capitol Steps return to perform their trademark political satire one week prior to the presidential election, and Youtube sensations Igudesman and Joo will combine classical music with comedy in the style of P.D.Q. Bach and Victor Borge.
In 2012-2013, the Performing Arts Center will begin its 15th year recording concerts for broadcast on American Public Media’s Performance Today, enjoyed by millions of listeners across the country and around the world. In addition, the Performing Arts Center will continue its educational programs, offering master classes and lecture/demonstrations for UGA students and local public school students.
Subscriptions to the 2012-2013 season are on sale now. For more information or a free brochure, contact the Performing Arts Center box office at 706/542-4400 or toll free at 888/289-8497. The 2012-2013 season brochure can be viewed online at the Performing Arts Center’s redesigned website at pac.uga.edu.
Single tickets for individual Performing Arts Center events will go on sale Aug. 27. On-sale dates for Classic Center events will vary.
The following is the 2012-2013 season schedule of the UGA Performing Arts Center by series:
Special Events
Willie Nelson
Friday, Aug. 10 • 8 p.m.
Classic Center Theatre
Willie Nelson is an American musical icon. With hits such as “On the Road Again” and “Always on My Mind,” Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1993.
Itzhak Perlman, violin
Sunday, Dec. 9 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The reigning virtuoso of the violin, Itzhak Perlman regularly appears on the best-seller charts and has garnered 15 Grammy Awards.
Blue Man Group
Tuesday, Nov. 6 • 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 7 • 8 p.m.
Classic Center Theatre
A worldwide phenomenon, Blue Man Group is best known for multimedia performances that feature three bald and blue characters who take the audience on a journey that is funny, intelligent and visually stunning. (NOTE: Blue Man Group also is offered on the Show Biz and Off-Broadway series.)
The Boston Pops Orchestra
Keith Lockhart, conductor
Wednesday, Feb. 27 • 8 p.m.
Classic Center Theatre
Maestro Lockhart and the orchestra present a Bright Lights, Big City tribute to the Big Apple with works by Bernstein, Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Special guest, vocalist and songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway joins the orchestra in a tribute to Barbra Streisand.
Masterworks
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Asher Fisch, conductor
Stewart Goodyear, piano
Sunday, Nov. 4 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Guest conductor Asher Fisch is joined by pianist Stewart Goodyear in a program that includes Mozart’s Rondo in D Major and Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, Death and Transfiguration by Richard Strauss, and Richard Wagner’s Suite from Die Meistersinger.
State Ballet Theatre of Russia
Cinderella
Tuesday, Jan 15 • 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 16 • 8 p.m.
Fine Arts Theatre
A favorite with Athens audiences, the company returns with its enchanting fully staged production of Cinderella.
The English Concert
Harry Bicket, conductor/harpsichord
Tuesday, Feb. 19 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Based in London, the English Concert has been hailed by critics and audiences alike as one of the finest chamber orchestras in the world. For its Athens concert, the orchestra will perform a program that includes Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 and Handel’s Water Music.
James Galway: The Legacy Tour
Sir James Galway, flute
Lady Jeanne Galway, flute
Thursday, March 7 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Sir James Galway is revered as the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer. For the Legacy Tour, Sir James is joined by his wife for a program that includes Mozart’s Flute Quartet in D Major, Debussy’s Clair de Lune, Bizet’s Carmen Fantasy, Irish folksongs and Henry Mancini’s Pennywhistle Jig.
Nobuyuki Tsujii, piano
Tuesday, March 19 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Blind since birth, Nobuyuki Tsujii won the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009.
Classics
Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra
Antoni Wit, conductor
Yulianna Avdeeva, piano
Thursday, Nov. 1 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The Warsaw Philharmonic is treasured as one of Poland’s most distinguished musical institutions. For the Hodgson Hall performance, young Russian pianist Yulianna Avdeeva, the 2010 first place winner of the International Frédéric Chopin Competition, will join Maestro Antoni Wit.
Venice Baroque Orchestra
Andrea Marcon, conductor
Sunday, Jan. 27 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The Venice Baroque Orchestra is one Europe’s premier ensembles devoted to period instrument performance.
The King’s Singers
Monday, Feb. 11 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
One of the world’s most celebrated ensembles, The King’s Singers have a discography of more than150 recordings and are known throughout the world for their television appearances.
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Robert Spano, conductor
Olli Mustonen, piano
Sunday, Feb. 24 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Music director Robert Spano returns to Hodgson Hall for a concert that features Ottorino
Respighi’s Piano Concerto in A Minor with Finnish pianist Olli Mustonen. The program includes Verdi’s Overture to La Forza del Destino and the Symphony No. 2 of Johannes Brahms.
From the Top
Christopher O’Riley, host
Sunday, March 3 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
For the past decade, From the Top has been a showcase for America’s most talented young musicians. Taped before a live audience, each program provides a compelling and entertaining window into the world of these extraordinary performers, who range in age from 8 to 18.
Special Bonus Concert
Béla Fleck and UGA Symphony Orchestra
Mark Cedel, conductor
Béla Fleck, banjo
Tuesday, March 26 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Béla Fleck’s virtuosity as a banjo player is unrivaled. Fleck joins the UGA Symphony Orchestra for a performance of his new Concerto for Banjo and Orchestra. This concert will be a bonus addition for both the Masterworks and Classics series.
Franklin College Chamber Music Series
Kopelman Quartet
The Payne Memorial Concert
Sunday, Oct. 7 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Founded a decade ago by a group of musicians who graduated from the Moscow Conservatoire, the quartet is steeped in the standards and style of the classic Russian school.
Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Chamber Ensemble
Wednesday, Oct. 24 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The Chamber Ensemble was created in 1967 by the principal players of the famed Academy of St. Martin in the Fields orchestra.
Tokyo String Quartet
Thursday, Feb. 21 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The Tokyo String Quartet has captivated audiences and critics around the world since it was founded 42 years ago. This concert will be an opportunity to experience the quartet in its final season.
Aspen String Trio
Wednesday, March 27 • 8 p.m.
Thursday, March 28 • 8 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall
These three instrumentalists have a long-time association as artist-faculty with the famous Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. UGA faculty members Michael Heald, Maggie Snyder and David Starkweather will join the trio.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
The Arch Chamber Music Festival
Saturday, April 13 • 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 14 • 3 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The Arch Chamber Music Festival presents a full weekend of performances by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, America’s foremost repertory company for chamber music. Pianist Wu Han and cellist David Finckel, co-directors of the CMS, head the list of musicians who will perform in Hodgson Hall.
Show Biz
Leahy
Monday, Oct. 15 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Leahy is a Canadian powerhouse of eight musical brothers and sisters who have been playing together their entire lives. Leahy swept the Juno Awards (Canada’s Grammys), winning best new group, best country group and best instrumental album. The group features a mix of folk, country and Celtic music.
Blue Man Group
Tuesday, Nov. 6 • 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 7 • 8p.m.
Classic Center Theatre
Béla Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio
Friday, Nov. 9 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The world’s premier banjo player, Béla Fleck is a true musical genius. With 14 Grammy Awards and 30 nominations to his credit, Fleck has been honored in more different music categories than anyone in Grammy history. The Marcus Roberts Trio with Roberts on piano, Jason Marsalis on drums and Rodney Jordan on bass, is known as a keen torch holder of the classic jazz tradition.
Celtic Crossroads
Monday, March 4 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Celtic Crossroads fuses traditional Irish music with Eastern European gypsy, American bluegrass, jazz and world music. The show incorporates seven musicians who play more than 20 different instruments, while some of Ireland’s most respected dancers high-kick to the rhythm.
Neil Berg’s Broadway Song and Dance
Thursday, April 18 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Neil Berg’s Broadway Song and Dance is an all-new show that recreates some of the greatest moments from popular musicals and features some of Broadway’s most memorable choreography. The cast includes actual stars from such Broadway hits as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Cats and Jesus Christ Superstar performing the songs they helped make famous.
Off-Broadway
The Chipper Experience
Tuesday, Oct. 16 • 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 • 8 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall
Chipper Lowell is an award-winning performer who has twice been named Comedy Magician of the Year by the International Magicians Society. Magic Magazine calls him one of the “funniest magicians performing today.”
The Capitol Steps
Tuesday, Oct. 30 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
The company that put the “mock” in Democracy returns for another fast-paced evening of perfectly timed fun just one week before the presidential election.
Blue Man Group
Tuesday, Nov. 6 • 8 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 7 • 8 p.m.
Classic Center Theatre
Igudesman and Joo
Tuesday, Jan. 29 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Violinist Aleksey Igudesman and pianist Hyung-ki Joo combine humor with classical music. They have become an Internet sensation; their YouTube clips have already garnered more than 28 million hits.
Todd Oliver’s “Dogs Gone Wild”
Friday, Feb. 8 • 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 9 • 8 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall
Comedian and ventriloquist Todd Oliver takes the stage with his three talking dogs-Irving, Lucy and Elvis. Oliver and his canine pals have been featured on The Today Show, The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Ramsey Concert Hall Series
miXt
Tuesday, Nov. 13 • 8 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall
Three dynamic young classical music stars come together in the innovative new ensemble, miXt. Spanish clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester, who also will perform in Athens this season with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center; Bulgarian violinist Bella Hristova; and Israeli pianist Ran Dank comprise the group.
Patrice Jackson, cello
Tuesday, Feb 5 • 8 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall
A graduate of the Juilliard School and the Yale School of Music, the St. Louis native has performed with the Atlanta, Detroit, Dallas, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, St. Louis and Nashville symphonies, as well as with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
George Li, piano
Tuesday, April 2 • 8 p.m.
Ramsey Concert Hall
Sixteen-year-old pianist George Li possesses virtuosity and interpretive depth beyond his years. Last season, he captured a Gilmore Young Artist Award.
The Arco Series
ARCO Chamber Orchestra
Thursday, Nov. 15 • 8 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 25 • 8 p.m.
Hodgson Concert Hall
Established in 1990 by Levon Ambartsumian during his years as professor of violin at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, the ARCO Chamber Orchestra drew high critical praise during tours to Italy, Spain, Germany, Romania, France and Korea. Since 1995, the orchestra has been based in Athens, where Ambartsumian is now the Franklin Professor of Violin at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.
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