2020 | 2021 Performance Season
Index by Genre Public Performance Projects 8–9 | Let’s Dance Boston! Ensembles 10–11 | Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart Tour 22–23 | Not Our First Goat Rodeo Ma, Duncan, Meyer, Thile 28–29 | Berliner Philharmoniker 30–31 | What Makes It Great? Mozart’s Dissonance Quartet 32–33 | Watkins Family Hour, feat. Sara and Sean Watkins 38–39 | Tetzlaff Quartet 46–47 | Doric String Quartet, Benjamin Grosvenor, piano 74–75 | Julian Lage Trio 78–79 | Takács Quartet with Jeremy Denk 90–91 | KODO 108–109 | Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia 112–113 | Dreamers’ Circus 116–117 | Alisa Weilerstein & Trondheim Soloists 124–125 | Emerson String Quartet Instrumentalists 52–53 | The Romeros 60th Anniversary Tour, feat. Isabel Leonard 60–61 | Time for Three 86–87 | Simone Porter, violin 114–115 | An Evening with Itzhak Perlman 120–121 | Jess Gillam, saxophone Pianists 24–25 | Alexander Malofeev 36–37 | Seong-Jin Cho
42–43 | Conrad Tao 48–49 | Jean-Yves Thibaudet 84–85 | Sir András Schiff 118–119 | Evgeny Kissin Dance 20–21 | Compañía Nacional de Danza, Carmen 44–45 | Sankofa Danzafro, Accommodating Lie 50–51 | Aakash Odedra Company 56–57 | Doug Varone and Dancers 76–77 | Monica Bill Barnes & Company, The Running Show 80–81 | Circa En Masse 122–123 | Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater The Human Voice 16–17 | Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro 18–19 | Taylor Mac “A 24 Decade History of Popular Music (Abridged)” 34–35 | Joyce DiDonato, Die Winterreise 58–59 | Dashon Burton, bass-baritone 62–63 | What Makes It Great? Music of Lerner & Loewe 64–65 | A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul with Damien Sneed and Karen Clark Sheard 66–67 | Making the Music, featuring Anaïs Mitchell, Duncan Sheik and Shaina Taub 102–103 Benjamin Appl, baritone 104–105 David Sedaris
Jazz 12–13 | Redman · Mehldau · McBride · Blade, A MoodSwing Reunion 26–27 | Duets - Chucho Valdés, Dianne Reeves, Joe Lovano 40–41 | Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis and Rubén Blades 54–55 | Artemis 82–83 | Alfredo Rodriguez & Richard Bona 88–89 | Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords 110–111 | SFJAZZ Collective: The Music of Joni Mitchell Contemporary Music 14–15 | Silkroad Ensemble 92–93 | Cristina Pato 94–95 | Theo Bleckman & The Westerlies 96–97 | Nathalie Joachim & Spektral Quartet 98–99 | Mark Lettieri Trio 100–101 | Flor de Toloache Events 106–107 | SHINE! Celebrity Series Gala Celebrity Series Info 1 | Letter from the Executive Director 3 | Mission & Vision 6–7 | Arts for All! 70-73 | Calendar 128–129 | Subscribe & Support 130–133 | Place Your Order/ Ticketing policies 134–135 | Young Professionals Inside back cover | Board and Overseers Cover | Aakash Odedra Company
Dear Friends, Welcome to Celebrity Series 2020-2021 season! I often say that one of my favorite parts of every performance are those few moments when the house lights dim or the curtain goes up. Those moments are filled with anticipation, maybe even a little trepidation, on both sides of the stage. For what follows lies at the very heart of the Celebrity Series enterprise: artists and audiences making a connection and sharing an experience. Audiences at Celebrity Series are special. That is not idle flattery. That is the message I receive again and again from the artists during our season. Your reputation is one of being attentive, curious, and enthusiastic. When you also consider the wonderful performance halls throughout Boston, you can see why Celebrity Series is a highly respected destination for international artists. I think the artists we present are amazing. I have deep appreciation for what it takes any artist to walk onto a Celebrity Series stage: the years of work, the dedication, the commitment. In turn, we strive to provide opportunities for our artists to experiment, innovate, and grow. Their artistic journeys inform dynamic new programs and broaden our horizons every season. From searching new interpretations of iconic masterworks to the forging of new artistic genres, Celebrity Series brings an evolving world to Boston. It only takes three performances to take advantage of our subscriber benefits, and if you stretch a little more to become a 100% subscriber, the benefits are even better. With our array of artists and ensembles and our variety of performance spaces, I think you will find plenty of options to explore, revisit, sate your curiosity or be adventuresome. Join us this season and explore the joy of live performance at Celebrity Series! Gary Dunning President & Executive Director Celebrity Series of Boston 2020 | 2021 Season 1
2020 | 2021 Season By The Numbers Thanks to your support, Celebrity Series is able to inspire & enrich our community in countless ways. Here are a few highlights:
650+ international artists from 47 countries around the world
40+ emerging artists making their Boston debuts
86,000+ 70+ audience members of all ages
performances in Boston's premier venues
150+
3,000+
community concerts and workshops
free and discounted tickets
Our Mission To present performing artists who inspire and enrich our community.
Our Vision We believe in the power of excellence and innovation in the performing arts to enrich life experience, transform lives, and build better communities. We envision a community of Greater Boston where the performing arts are a valued, life-long, shared experience–on stages, on streets, in neighborhoods–everywhere. Celebrity Series of Boston is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization
2020 | 2021 Season 3
Top left: Taylor Mac Top right: Aakash Odedra Company Bottom: Monica Bill Barnes “Happy Hour”
Adventure and Discovery In recent years, Celebrity Series has presented more artist debuts, introduced new initiatives such as Stave Sessions, and produced works in unconventional spaces from District Hall to an intimate black box theater. It’s gratifying that audiences have responded enthusiastically to a new generation of artists as well as to our bold approach to programming and presenting. Celebrity Series audiences are now among the most adventurous and open-minded cultural patrons in Boston. We invite you to join us and actively participate in this new, exciting era of artistic creation where artists and audience members are exploring, learning, and evolving—together!
2020 | 2021 Season 5
Arts for All!
Arts for All! Get involved in Celebrity Series’ Community Engagement Programs! Neighborhood Arts Experience the talent of local artists and youth at free and $5/$10 Neighborhood Arts concerts in Dorchester, Hyde Park, Mattapan, Roslindale, Roxbury, and the South End (and come with us as we expand to Cambridge in 2020–2021)! Throughout the season, these same artists lead in-depth, interactive workshops for youth, in partnership with 50+ community organizations. Artist Connections Move with us at Artist Connections community workshops, or be inspired at post-performance artist talks and masterclasses for students from K–12 through conservatory-level. Many events are open to the public. Public Performance Projects These annual free outdoor events bring people of all walks of life from all across the city together to create and experience live performance. Join us for Let’s Dance Boston!, September 23–27, 2020! Take Your Seat Boston schools and community partners receive thousands of free and deeply discounted tickets to many of the performances in the pages that follow. To learn more about Arts for All! and how you can support our work, please visit celebrityseries.org/artsforall.
2020 | 2021 Season 7
Lets Dance Boston!
Let’s Dance Boston! Our season launches with the return of Let’s Dance Boston!, the fiveday social dance extravaganza with five live bands and expert dance instructors. This wildly popular event is among the largest, free outdoor music and dance parties that Boston has ever experienced. Celebrity Series is thrilled to bring Let’s Dance Boston! back to the Greenway! Sep 23–27, 2020 | Rose Kennedy Greenway
Sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby, Amy & Joshua Boger, Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, and the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Partner:
2020 | 2021 Season 9
Sat | Sep 26 | 8pm Sanders Theatre
Béla Fleck
Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart Tour featuring Bryan Sutton, Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull and Mark Schatz Over the last four decades, Béla Fleck has made a point of boldly going where no banjo player has gone before, a musical journey that has earned him 15 Grammys in nine different fields, including Country, Pop, Jazz, Instrumental, Classical and World Music. But his roots are in bluegrass, and that’s where he returns with his first bluegrass tour in 24 years, My Bluegrass Heart. “I was kind of surprised, frankly, when I sent out the invite for the first touring ensemble, because everyone I asked said yes!” he said. Fleck’s first road band will spotlight some of the best of the new generation of bluegrass players, including guitarist Bryan Sutton, mandolin virtuoso Sierra Hull, 10-time IBMA Fiddle Player of the Year Michael Cleveland, along with bassist/multi-instrumentalist Mark Schatz. Sat | Sep 26 | 8pm | Sanders Theatre
2020 | 2021 Season 11
Sun | Oct 4 | 7pm Symphony Hall
Brian Blade, Brad Mehldau, Joshua Redman, and Christian McBride
Redman · Mehldau · McBride · Blade A MoodSwing Reunion MoodSwing, the 1994 album by Joshua Redman’s first permanent quartet, was an astonishing collection by four precociously talented musicians who would rapidly establish themselves as creative beacons. After years of individual triumphs, saxophonist Redman, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Brian Blade join forces again. Sun | Oct 4 | 7pm | Symphony Hall
“ ... MoodSwing plays like an artistic journey.” Entertainment Weekly
Sponsored by Susan & Michael Thonis President’s Circle Reception honoring the Board of Overseers Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 13
Sat | Oct 17 | 8pm Sanders Theatre
Silkroad Ensemble
Silkroad Ensemble Falling Out of Time, a song cycle by Osvaldo Golijov Three years ago, renowned composer Osvaldo Golijov read David Grossman’s Falling Out of Time. Part fable, part poem, part play, the book recounts a journey “out of time” as parents grieve the death of their child, trying to comprehend a loss with no name. Drawing on Grossman’s powerful text, Golijov wrote this song cycle for the Silkroad Ensemble, an all-star lineup that reads like a Who’s Who in the contemporary world music scene. Sat | Oct 17 | 8pm | Sanders Theatre Osvaldo Golijov Falling Out of Time (Boston Premiere)
Support for this performance is provided by the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 15
Sun | Oct 18 | 7pm Sanders Theatre
Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro
Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro Och & Oy, A Considered Cabaret Celebrity Series favorite, Alan Cumming, and Ari Shapiro of NPR’s All Things Considered, transport audiences to other worlds through their stories. Now, they are joining forces in song. Witness the Boston debut of their new evening of tunes and tall tales titled Och & Oy! A Considered Cabaret. Sun | Oct 18 | 7pm | Sanders Theatre
“ I realized our chemistry and the unusual combo of us, as well as the fact that Ari has an amazing voice, would make for a really great cabaret show.” Alan Cumming
Sponsored by Reuben Reynolds & Bill Casey Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 17
Fri | Oct 23 | 8pm Emerson Colonial Theatre
Taylor Mac
TBD Taylor Mac A 24 Decade History of Popular Music (Abridged) Taylor Mac is the American theater’s most beloved maximalist and a 2017 MacArthur Fellow. Creating extravagant performances with jesterlike magnetism, Mac’s work reflects the vast mosaic of the American imagination. Mac is your mischievous guide, with whom you will experience an abridged version of Taylor Mac’s epic 24-hour performance art concert, which deciphers the social history of the country through popular songs ranging from “She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain” to disco. The show is a dazzling experience that reflects our nation’s varied and sometimes dysfunctional story while reinvigorating our sense of national possibility. A 24-Decade History of Popular Music is the winner of the 2017 Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History and a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Fri | Oct 23 | 8pm | Emerson Colonial Theatre
“ Taylor Mac seduces you, breaks your heart, patches it back up again and sews sequins along the scars.” The Irish Times
Co-presented with 2020 | 2021 Season 19
Oct 24–25 Boch Center Shubert Theatre Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
Compañía Nacional de Danza
Compañía Nacional de Danza Carmen The story of Carmen and the music of Bizet’s opera have both proved irresistible to choreographers for decades. The latest is Swedish choreographer Johan Inger, whose 2015 version for Madrid’s CND reimagines the traditional Spanish myth as a 21st-century ballet for our times. In her flaming red dress, Carmen herself is still a femme fatale wielding her sexuality like a toreador’s blade, but she and the story’s other characters are far removed from stereotypes and the period normally associated with Bizet’s opera, becoming contemporary equivalents. Oct 24–25 | Boch Center Shubert Theatre Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation
2020 | 2021 Season 21
Mon | Oct 26 | 7pm Symphony Hall
Goat Rodeo Sessions
Not Our First Goat Rodeo Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile with guest vocalist Aoife O’Donovan The Goat Rodeo Sessions combines the talents of four different solo artists—Yo-Yo Ma on cello, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, Edgar Meyer on bass, and Chris Thile on mandolin—and reunites for the first time in nearly a decade for a one-of-a-kind concert that combines blues and bluegrass with hints of Bach. Joined by vocalist Aoife O’Donovan, these remarkable performers create a unique, genre-breaking sound that’s part composed, part improvised and uniquely American. The music is so difficult to pull off, the group likens it to a Goat Rodeo—an aviation term for a situation in which 100 things need to go right to avoid disaster. The audience for this one-of-a-kind ensemble’s Boston debut in 2012 will never forget their first Goat Rodeo! Mon | Oct 26 | 7pm | Symphony Hall
Sponsored by Eleanor & Frank Pao
2020 | 2021 Season 23
Wed | Oct 28 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall
Alexander Malofeev
Boston Debut
Alexander Malofeev Alexander Malofeev piano Moscow native Alexander Malofeev is receiving rave reviews across Europe. Now aged eighteen, the young “Russian genius” (Corriere della Sera) came to international prominence when, in 2014, he won the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians at age thirteen. Amadeus raved “... he demonstrated not only high technical accuracy but also an incredible maturity. Crystal clear sounds and perfect balance revealed his exceptional ability.” Don’t miss the Boston debut of this remarkable young pianist. Wed | Oct 28 | 8pm | Longy’s Pickman Hall Medtner 2 Skazki, Opus 48 Medtner Forgotten Melodies I, Opus 38 Brahms Four Pieces for Piano, Opus 119 Schumann Symphonic Etudes, Opus 13
Seating for this performance is limited The Debut Series is sponsored by Harriet & David Griesinger and the Longy School of Music of Bard College
2020 | 2021 Season 25
Sun | Nov 8 | 7pm Berklee Performance Center
Chucho Valdés, Dianne Reeves & Joe Lovano
Duets– Chucho Valdés, Dianne Reeves, & Joe Lovano Dianne Reeves vocals Chucho Valdés piano Joe Lovano saxophone A rare evening of intimate duets with three masters of jazz—with piano at the center. Winner of six Grammy and three Latin Grammy Awards, the Cuban pianist, composer and arranger Chucho Valdés is the most influential figure in modern Afro-Cuban jazz. Five-time Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves is the pre-eminent jazz vocalist in the world today— her arsenal of talents is richly on display in each and every song of her limitless repertoire. Hailed by The New York Times as “one of the greatest musicians in jazz history,” Grammy Award-winning saxophone titan Joe Lovano has distinguished himself as a prescient and pathfinding force in the arena of creative music. Sun | Nov 8 | 7pm | Berklee Performance Center
The Jazz Series is sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby Media Partner 2020 | 2021 Season 27
Wed | Nov 11 | 8pm Symphony Hall
Berliner Philharmoniker
Berliner Philharmoniker Kirill Petrenko conductor Theatrical and expressive on the podium, Kirill Petrenko is an extraordinary musician and orchestra leader. He brings out the best in his players, and has earned resounding ovations as the music director at two of Europe’s most important houses, the Bavarian State Opera and the Berliner Philharmoniker. An appearance by the mighty Berliner Philharmoniker is always a landmark occasion; Maestro Petrenko’s Boston debut with the orchestra—in just his second season as Chief Conductor—promises to be a can’t-miss event. Wed | Nov 11 | 8pm | Symphony Hall Webern Passacaglia Opus 1 Mendelssohn Symphony No. 1 Brahms Symphony No. 4
Sponsored by Dress Circle Dinner
2020 | 2021 Season 29
Sun | Nov 15 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Ariel Quartet
What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow and the Ariel Quartet Mozart’s Dissonance Quartet String Quartet No. 19 in C Major, K 465 is the last of Mozart’s set of six string quartets that were dedicated to the composer Joseph Haydn. The so-called “Dissonance Quartet” is noted especially for its divergence— particularly in the slow introduction—from the then-standard rules of harmony. Rob Kapilow and the Ariel Quartet will peer into this iconic work and expose the choices and genius constructed from an array of small decisions made by a master composer. Sun | Nov 15 | 3pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall
What Makes It Great? is sponsored by Amy & Joshua Boger Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 31
Sun | Nov 15 | 7pm Sanders Theatre
Watkins Family Hour
Watkins Family Hour, featuring Sara and Sean Watkins with special guest Hawktail For singer-songwriter/multi-instrumentalists Sara Watkins and Sean Watkins, the Watkins Family Hour has long been an oasis from the rigors of the road; a laboratory where these sibling co-conspirators can try out new material or master beloved cover songs. Boston fans of bluegrass and folk know Sara and Sean from their work as 2/3 of Nickel Creek, and Sara’s work with I’m With Her (A Celebrity Series favorite). Their monthly show at L.A.’s famed venue, Largo, has been hailed as a convivial, communal event where they welcome an impressive array of musician friends old and new. Now this not-so-well-kept secret is coming to the Celebrity Series. The Watkins Family Hour is always full of surprises and one-of-a-kind match-ups; serendipity plays as much of a role as virtuosity. Joining the Watkins Family Hour is the brilliant folk, bluegrass ensemble Hawktail featuring fiddler Brittany Haas (Crooked Still), bassist Paul Kowert (Punch Brothers), guitarist Jordan Tice, and mandolinist Dominick Leslie. Sun | Nov 15 | 7pm | Sanders Theatre
Media Partner 2020 | 2021 Season 33
Fri | Nov 20 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Joyce DiDonato
Joyce DiDonato Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano Bryan Wagorn piano The incomparable Joyce DiDonato returns to the Celebrity Series after her triumphant performance of SongPlay in 2019, this time with a fresh and unique interpretation of Schubert’s iconic song cycle Die Winterreise (Winter’s Journey). “With a voice nothing less than 24-carat gold” (The Times, London), DiDonato takes the audience through a dramatic performance of the masterpiece from the perspective of the protagonist’s love interest. “What happens to the winter’s journey,” DiDonato asks, “when we feel it through the heart of the one who was the impetus of such agony and despair? The survivor. The one left behind.” Fri | Nov 20 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Schubert Die Winterreise
An Aaron Richmond Recital Endowed by Nancy Richmond Winsten and the late Dr. Joseph Winsten Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 35
Sun | Dec 6 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Seong-Jin Cho
Boston Recital Debut
Seong-Jin Cho Seong-Jin Cho piano With an overwhelming talent and innate musicality, Seong-Jin Cho is a rising star on the world stage and considered one of the most distinctive pianists of his generation. His playing—by turns, thoughtful, poetic, assertive, tender, virtuosic and colorful—can combine panache with purity and is driven by an impressive natural sense of balance. Seong-Jin Cho first came to the world’s attention in 2015 when he became the first South Korean to win the prestigious Gold Medal at the Chopin International Competition in Warsaw. Sun | Dec 6 | 3pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Schumann Humoreske, Opus 20 Chopin Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Opus 20 Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Opus 31 Berg Piano Sonata, Opus 1 Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor
An Aaron Richmond Recital
2020 | 2021 Season 37
Fri | Dec 11 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Tetzlaff Quartet
Tetzlaff Quartet The Tetzlaff Quartet has rapidly established a reputation as “one of the world’s most fascinating chamber ensembles” (La Nazione). Discovering a mutual devotion to chamber music, Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff, Hanna Weinmeister and Elisabeth Kufferath formed their string quartet in 1994. Since then, the four musicians have toured frequently in Europe and North America, receiving impressive acclaim. Christian and Tanja Tetzlaff have performed previously on the Celebrity Series as members of the Tetzlaff Trio. This performance is the Celebrity Series debut of the Tetzlaff Quartet. Fri | Dec 11 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Beethoven String Quartet in C-sharp minor, Opus 131 String Quartet in A minor, Opus 132
Sponsored by an anonymous donor Additional support provided by the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany
2020 | 2021 Season 39
Sat | Dec 12 | 3pm & 8pm Berklee Performance Center
Top: Rubén Blades Bottom: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra
Two Performances!
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis Big Band Holidays con Rubén Blades Salsa giant and international icon Rubén Blades joins the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis to wish you Feliz Navidad! Under the musical direction of JLCO bassist Carlos Henriquez, Blades and the orchestra will present a lively new take on the Grammy Award–nominated, annually sold-out Big Band Holidays program. With swinging, big-band versions of holiday classics, it’s an uplifting seasonal event perfect for the whole family. Witness the reunion of this historic musical collaboration, and celebrate “the most wonderful time of the year” alongside your fellow music lovers in the House of Swing! Sat | Dec 12 | 3pm & 8pm | Berklee Performance Center
The Jazz Series is sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby
2020 | 2021 Season 41
Wed | Dec 16 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall
Conrad Tao
Boston Recital Debut
Conrad Tao Conrad Tao piano Conrad Tao is, quite simply, a phenomenon. The pianist and composer has been dubbed a musician of “probing intellect and open-hearted vision” by The New York Times. Tao is a recipient of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, and was named a Gilmore Young Artist—an honor awarded every two years highlighting the most promising American pianists of the new generation. Celebrity Series audiences were electrified by More Forever, Tao’s stunning collaboration with dancer Caleb Teicher in January 2020. This can’t-miss concert is sure to be a landmark musical event. Wed | Dec 16 | 8pm | Longy’s Pickman Hall Jason Eckardt Echoes’ White Veil Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 17 in D Minor, Opus 31, no. 2 “Tempest” Tao New work (co-commissioned by Celebrity Series) Schumann Kreisleriana
Seating for this performance is limited The Debut Series is sponsored by Harriet & David Griesinger and the Longy School of Music of Bard College
2020 | 2021 Season 43
Jan 21–23 NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Thu | 8pm Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Sankofa Danzafro
Sankofa Danzafro Accommodating Lie Accommodating Lie is Rafael Palacios’ latest full-length work for Sankofa Danzafro, the Colombian dance company that thrilled Celebrity Series audiences in 2018. One hour in length, Accommodating Lie showcases seven dancers with live music (drums, native flute, marimba, and voice). The piece seeks to dismantle stereotypes, clichés, and falsehoods about the black body and what it means to be of African descent. The Sankofa dancers embody decades of slavery and overt racism, rewriting history from the perspective of colonized Colombians. Jan 21–23 | NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Thu | 8pm Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Seating for this performance is limited The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation Support for this performance is provided by the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative
2020 | 2021 Season 45
Sat | Jan 23 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Top: Doric String Quartet Bottom: Benjamin Grosvenor
Doric String Quartet with Benjamin Grosvenor Benjamin Grosvenor piano British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor is internationally recognized for his electrifying performances, distinctive sound and insightful interpretations. The Doric String Quartet is firmly established as one of the leading quartets of its generation. Both of these illustrious artists are alumni of our Debut Series at Longy’s Pickman Hall, the Doric String Quartet in 2018 and Benjamin Grosvenor in 2013. This piano quintet performance is sure to be a season highlight! Sat | Jan 23 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Mozart String Quartet in F Major, K590 Fauré Piano Quintet No. 1 Elgar Piano Quintet
An Aaron Richmond Recital
2020 | 2021 Season 47
Fri | Jan 29 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Jean-Yves Thibaudet
Boston Recital Debut
Jean-Yves Thibaudet Jean-Yves Thibaudet piano For more than three decades, Jean-Yves Thibaudet has performed around the world, recorded more than 50 albums, and built a reputation as one of today’s finest pianists. After four prior appearances on the Series as an orchestral soloist and as a collaborative pianist (most recently in 2011), he makes his solo recital debut with a program featuring Debussy’s Preludes. Fri | Jan 29 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Debussy Preludes Book 1 and 2
“ Thibaudet’s five-fingered virtuosity handled the leaping notes with such ease and fluency, one would swear that two hands were playing.” Chicago Classical Review
An Aaron Richmond Recital
2020 | 2021 Season 49
Jan 29–30 NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Aakash Odedra Company
Boston Debut
Aakash Odedra Company One of the most exciting young talents on the international dance scene, British artist Aakash Odedra makes his highly anticipated Boston debut in a captivating solo show featuring his own choreography as well as contributions from high profile European artists Akram Khan and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. An extraordinary and multifaceted dancer, Odedra is known for his mesmerizing agility, razor-sharp precision, and enviable poise. Drawing on his background in classical Indian dance styles of Kathak and Bharatanatyam, Odedra creates an evening of contemporary dance that is lyrical and graceful, brutal and raw, edgy and animalistic. Jan 29–30 | NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Seating for this performance is limited The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation Support for this performance is provided by the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative.
2020 | 2021 Season 51
Sat | Jan 30 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Top: The Romeros Bottom: Isabel Leonard
The Romeros 60th Anniversary Tour featuring Isabel Leonard Isabel Leonard mezzo-soprano Sixty years after walking onto the world stage as the first classical guitar quartet, The Romeros continue to be a veritable institution in the world of classical music, dazzling countless audiences and winning the raves of reviewers worldwide. The multi-Grammy Award winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard joins the ensemble as featured guest. Together, Leonard and The Romeros will perform guitar and vocal selections by Manuel de Falla, Joaquin Rodrigo, Heitor Villa Lobos, Federico Moreno Torroba, among others. Sat | Jan 30 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall
“ [Isabel Leonard] was a major reason to be there. Her deeply-colored Latin tone eloquently lined up behind the lyrics.” Philadelphia Inquirer
2020 | 2021 Season 53
Fri | Feb 5 | 8pm Sanders Theatre
Artemis Allison Miller, Norko Ueda, Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Anat Cohen, Melissa Aldana
Boston Debut
Artemis Renee Rosnes piano Ingrid Jensen trumpet Anat Cohen clarinet Melissa Aldana tenor saxophone Norko Ueda bass Allison Miller drums Hailing from America, Canada, France, Israel, Chile and Japan, Artemis is an international all-star group featuring six of the top performers on the jazz scene today: pianist and musical director Renee Rosnes, trumpeter Ingrid Jensen, clarinetist Anat Cohen, tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana, bassist Noriko Ueda and drummer Allison Miller. This group plays with passion, power and sensitivity. They will bring their collective artistry to Sanders Theatre with unforgettable performances of high-wire interplay and pure joy. Fri | Feb 5 | 8pm | Sanders Theatre
“ Their set played like an expertly crafted mixtape.” Rolling Stone
2020 | 2021 Season 55
Feb 5–6 NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Doug Varone and Dancers
Doug Varone and Dancers Doug Varone and Dancers devotes itself to the humanity and virtuosity of dance, reaching out to their audiences well beyond the proscenium arch. The recipient of 11 Bessie Awards, the company has toured to more than 125 cities in 45 states across the US and in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. This program includes the company’s latest work, Somewhere, inspired by Varone’s life-long obsession with the 1961 movie version of West Side Story. This is a purely abstract dance work that absorbs the iconic masterpiece in all its aspects without re-enacting any of its dramatic narrative, but coming alive in an intimate setting. Feb 5–6 | NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Seating for this performance is limited The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation Support for this performance is provided by the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative
2020 | 2021 Season 57
Wed | Feb 10 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall
Dashon Burton
Dashon Burton Dashon Burton bass-baritone Lindsay Garritson piano A founding member of contemporary vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, Burton is equally at home performing as a soloist in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, as Sarastro in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, or as featured artist in Caroline Shaw’s The Listeners. In his Celebrity Series recital debut, Dashon will present a uniquely American program with works by John Jacobs Niles, to Kurt Weill’s Four Songs of Walt Whitman, Paul Bowles’ Blue Mountain Ballads, and selections of Moses Hogan Spirituals. Wed | Feb 10 | 8pm | Longy’s Pickman Hall
“ This young American singer is the real thing–a bass-baritone with a rich, rounded voice, faultless diction and a natural, expressive style that had one hanging on every word.” Chicago Classical Review
Seating for this performance is limited The Debut Series is sponsored by Harriet & David Griesinger and the Longy School of Music of Bard College 2020 | 2021 Season 59
Fri | Feb 12 | 8pm Sanders Theatre
Time for Three
Time for Three Defying convention and boundaries, Time For Three stands at the busy intersection of Americana, modern pop, and classical music. A Time For Three performance blends the various eras, styles, and traditions of Western music together and lets them emerge renewed. The highenergy trio has collaborated with artists as diverse as Ben Folds, Branford Marsalis, Joshua Bell, Aoife O’Donovan, Natasha Bedingfield, and Arlo Guthrie. With the uncommon blend of their instruments and vocals, Charles Yang (violin, vocals), Nicolas “Nick” Kendall (violin, vocals), and Ranaan Meyer (double bass, vocals), have found a unique and captivating voice. Fri | Feb 12 | 8pm | Sanders Theatre
Sponsored by Julia Byers & Steven Holtzman
2020 | 2021 Season 61
Fri | Feb 19 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Rob Kapilow
What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow The Music of Lerner and Loewe From perhaps the most unlikely songwriting pair in history came three of the world’s most unforgettable musicals. With Brigadoon, Camelot, and My Fair Lady, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe created some of the most enduring works of musical theater for Broadway and film. Join Rob Kapilow as he dissects iconic songs such as Almost Like Being in Love, and I Could Have Danced All Night and find out how Lerner and Loewe’s collaboration defined the wit and glamour in the golden era of Broadway musical. Fri | Feb 19 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall
What Makes It Great? is sponsored by Amy & Joshua Boger
2020 | 2021 Season 63
Sun | Feb 21 | 7pm Berklee Performance Center
Top: Damien Sneed Bottom: Aretha Franklin
A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul with Damien Sneed and Karen Clark Sheard Formed in the Baptist congregations of Detroit, Aretha Franklin’s expressive and powerful vocals propelled her to international stardom. Musician, vocalist, and composer Damien Sneed toured with Aretha in the later years of her life, developing a strong mentee relationship with the soul legend. In Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul, Sneed pays homage to Franklin with fresh takes on her most cherished hits including “Respect,” “Knew You Were Waiting,” “Precious Memories,” “Think,” “Daydreaming,” “Freeway,” “Natural Woman,” and others. Backed by an accomplished cast of jazz, gospel, and soul musicians and vocalists, along with four-time GRAMMY Award-winner and multiple Stellar and GMA Dove Award winner Karen Clark Sheard, Damien Sneed’s tribute will be a tender and spiritual reflection. Sun | Feb 21 | 7pm | Berklee Performance Center
The Jazz Series is sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby
2020 | 2021 Season 65
Wed | Feb 24 | 8pm Sanders Theatre
Top: Anaïs Mitchell Bottom left: Duncan Sheik Bottom right: Shaina Taub
Making the Music featuring Anaïs Mitchell, Duncan Sheik and Shaina Taub Three outstanding contemporary singer-songwriters and stunning performers whose musical visions are currently energizing the stages of Broadway share their music in this intimate evening. Celebrity Series favorite Anaïs Mitchell, the Grammy winner and celebrated two-time 2019 Tony winner for Hadestown; Duncan Sheik, the two-time Tony and Grammy-winning composer of Broadway phenomenon Spring Awakening; and Shaina Taub, the Emmy-nominated songwriter and lyricist for Elton John’s upcoming The Devil Wears Prada, come together for Making the Music—a unique and unforgettable, collaborative concert. Wed | Feb 24 | 8pm | Sanders Theatre
Sponsored by Kathleen & Chris Gaffney
2020 | 2021 Season 67
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2020 | 2021 Season 69
2020 | 2021 Calendar Let’s Dance Boston! Sep 23–27 Rose Kennedy Greenway Pages 8–9 Béla Fleck’s My Bluegrass Heart Tour with William Apostol, Michael Cleveland, Sierra Hull and Mark Schatz Sat | Sep 26 | 8pm Sanders Theatre Pages 10–11 Redman · Mehldau · McBride · Blade A MoodSwing Reunion Sun | Oct 4 | 7pm Symphony Hall Pages 12–13 Silkroad Ensemble Falling Out of Time, Osvaldo Golijov Sat | Oct 17 | 8pm Sanders Theatre Pages 14–15 Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro, Och & Oy, A Considered Cabaret Sun | Oct 18 | 7pm Sanders Theatre Pages 16–17 Taylor Mac A 24 Decade History of Popular Music (Abridged) Fri | Oct 23 | 8pm Emerson Colonial Theatre Pages 18–19
Compañía Nacional de Danza, Carmen Oct 24–25 Boch Center Shubert Theatre Pages 20–21 Not Our First Goat Rodeo Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer, and Chris Thile and guest vocalist Aoife O’Donovan Mon | Oct 26 | 7pm Symphony Hall Pages 22–23 Alexander Malofeev, piano Wed | Oct 28 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall Pages 24–25 Duets– Chucho Valdés, Dianne Reeves, & Joe Lovano Sun | Nov 8 | 7pm Berklee Performance Center Pages 26–27 Berliner Philharmoniker, Kirill Petrenko, conductor Wed | Nov 11 | 8pm Symphony Hall Pages 28–29 What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow and The Ariel Quartet Mozart’s “Dissonance” Quartet Sun | Nov 15 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 30–31
Watkins Family Hour, featuring Sara and Sean Watkins Sun | Nov 15 | 7pm Sanders Theatre Pages 32–33 Joyce DiDonato, mezzo-soprano Die Winterreise Fri | Nov 20 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 34–35 Seong-Jin Cho, piano Sun | Dec 6 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 36–37 Tetzlaff Quartet Fri | Dec 11 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 38–39 Two Performances! Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis Big Band Holidays con Rubén Blades Sat | Dec 12 | 3pm & 8pm Berklee Performance Center Pages 40–41 Conrad Tao, piano Wed | Dec 16 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall Pages 42–43
Sankofa Danzafro, Accommodating Lie Jan 21–23 NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Pages 44–45 Doric String Quartet with Benjamin Grosvenor, piano Sat | Jan 23 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 46–47 Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano Fri | Jan 29 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 48–49
Doug Varone and Dancers Feb 5–6 NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Pages 56–57 Dashon Burton, bass-baritone Wed | Feb 10 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall Pages 58–59 Time for Three Fri | Feb 12 | 8pm Sanders Theatre Pages 60–61
Aakash Odedra Company Jan 29–30 NEC’s Plimpton Shattuck Black Box Theatre Pages 50–51
What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow The Music of Lerner and Loewe Fri | Feb 19 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 62–63
The Romeros 60th Anniversary Tour featuring Isabel Leonard, mezzo-soprano Sat | Jan 30 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 52–53
A Tribute to Aretha Franklin: The Queen of Soul with Damien Sneed and Karen Clark Sheard Sun | Feb 21 | 7pm Berklee Performance Center Pages 64–65
Artemis featuring Renee Rosnes, Ingrid Jensen, Anat Cohen, Melissa Aldana, Norko Ueda, Allison Miller Fri | Feb 5 | 8pm Sanders Theatre Pages 54–55
Making the Music featuring Anaïs Mitchell, Duncan Sheik and Shaina Taub Wed | Feb 24 | 8pm Sanders Theatre Pages 66–67
Julian Lage Trio Thu | Feb 25 | 8pm Berklee Performance Center Pages 74–75 Monica Bill Barnes & Company, The Running Show Feb 27–28 Boch Center Shubert Theatre Pages 76–77 Takács Quartet with Jeremy Denk, piano Sun | Feb 28 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 78–79 Circa En Masse Mar 3–7 Emerson Paramount Center Pages 80–81 Alfredo Rodriguez & Richard Bona Sat | Mar 6 | 8pm Berklee Performance Center Pages 82–83 Sir András Schiff, piano Sun | Mar 7 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Page 84–85 Simone Porter, violin Wed | Mar 10 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall Pages 86–87
2020 | 2021 Season 71
2020 | 2021 Calendar Maria Schneider Orchestra, Data Lords Fri | Mar 12 | 8pm Sanders Theatre Pages 88–89
Stave Sessions Flor de Toloache Sat | Mar 20 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston Pages 100–101
KODO Sun | Mar 14 | 5pm Symphony Hall Pages 90–91
Benjamin Appl, baritone Wed | Apr 7 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall Pages 102–103
Stave Sessions Cristina Pato Quartet Tue | Mar 16 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston Pages 92–93
David Sedaris Fri | Apr 9 | 7pm Symphony Hall Pages 104–105
Stave Sessions The Westerlies & Theo Bleckmann Wed | Mar 17 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston Pages 94–95 Stave Sessions Nathalie Joachim & Spektral Quartet Fanm d’Ayiti Thu | Mar 18 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston Pages 96–97 Stave Sessions Mark Lettieri Trio Fri | Mar 19 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston Pages 98–99
SHINE! Celebrity Series Gala Sat | Apr 10, 2021 Location To Be Announced Pages 106–107 Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Sir Antonio Pappano, Music Director and Conductor Maxim Vengerov, violin soloist Sun | Apr 11 | 5pm Symphony Hall Pages 108–109 SFJAZZ Collective: The Music of Joni Mitchell featuring Lizz Wright and Chris Potter Thu | Apr 15 | 8pm Berklee Performance Center Pages 110–111
Dreamers’ Circus Sat | Apr 17 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 112–113 An Evening with Itzhak Perlman Sun | Apr 18 | 5pm Symphony Hall Pages 114–115 Alisa Weilerstein & Trondheim Soloists Sat | Apr 24 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 116–117 Evgeny Kissin, piano Sun | Apr 25 | 5pm Symphony Hall Pages 118–119 Jess Gillam, saxophone Wed | Apr 28 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall Pages 120–121 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Apr 29–May 2 Boch Center Wang Theatre Pages 122–123 Emerson String Quartet Fri | May 7 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall Pages 124–125
celebrityseries.org
Celebrity Series of Boston is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization Programs and seating sections subject to change
2020–2021 Season Sponsors Amy & Joshua Boger Celebrity Series of Boston 20 Park Plaza, Suite 1032 Boston, MA 02116 Box Office hours | Monday through Friday, 10am–4pm Main | 617.482.2595 Box Office | 617.482.6661 2020 | 2021 Season 73
Thu | Feb 25 | 8pm Berklee Performance Center
Julian Lage Trio
Julian Lage Trio Hailed as one of the most prodigious guitarists of his generation, Julian Lage has spent more than a decade searching through the myriad strains of American musical history with free-ranging spirit. The New York-based musician boasts a long, prolific résumé as sideman (alongside such icons as Gary Burton and John Zorn), duo partner (with Nels Cline, Chris Eldridge and Fred Hersch, among others), and as soloist and bandleader. Lage and his rhythm section build upon the wandering sonic outlook of his previous LPs, further impelling his defining amalgam of jazz fusion, jam band liberation, standards, and embryonic rock ‘n’ roll with virtuosic precision, adventurous improvisation, and a remarkably clear vision. Thu | Feb 25 | 8pm | Berklee Performance Center
“ … fleet precision, open-road possibility and radiant self-assurance.” NPR
The Jazz Series is sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby
2020 | 2021 Season 75
Feb 27–28 Boch Center Shubert Theatre Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
Monica Bill Barnes & Company
Monica Bill Barnes & Company The Running Show A 7 year old falls in love with dance at her first recital. 40 years later, she works every day to stay in the game. At 70 she keeps moving. The Running Show documents the life of a dancer through movement, interviews, and stories. The show features a large cast of local performers, including dance students from Boston Conservatory at Berklee. The show gives the audience an unprecedented look into the life of a dancer as a new kind of sports hero that keeps moving against all odds. Celebrity Series audiences have enjoyed Monica Bill Barnes via her Happy Hour performances at District Hall in the Seaport in 2019 and her appearance with NPR host Ira Glass in 2015. Monica is an artist who mixes the whimsical and the poignant to unique effect. Feb 27–28 | Boch Center Shubert Theatre Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation
2020 | 2021 Season 77
Sun | Feb 28 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Top: Takács Quartet Bottom: Jeremy Denk
Takács Quartet with Jeremy Denk Jeremy Denk piano The Takács Quartet, now entering its forty-fifth season, is renowned for the vitality of its interpretations. The New York Times recently lauded the ensemble for “revealing the familiar as unfamiliar, making the most traditional of works feel radical once more.” Jeremy Denk is one of America’s foremost pianists. Winner of a MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, and the Avery Fisher Prize, Denk was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. You won’t want to miss this collaboration between chamber music giants! Sun | Feb 28 | 3pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Mozart String Quartet in D minor, K421 Dutilleux Ainsi La Nuit Schumann Piano Quintet
Sponsored by Michael & Margaret Simon An Aaron Richmond Recital Impresario Circle Reception honoring members of the Martha H. Jones Society for Lifetime Giving
2020 | 2021 Season 79
Mar 3–7 Emerson Paramount Center Wed | 8pm Thu | 8pm Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
Circa En Masse
Circa En Masse Created by Yaron Lifschitz with the Circa Ensemble with live music A wild, tender, and savage ride, En Masse presents two visions of humanity at its extremes through circus settings of Schubert’s Winterreise and selections from Schwanengesang, as well as Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Glitches and grooves by Swedish composer Klara Lewis are interspersed with Schubert’s exquisite songs of loss and love as a sole tenor and acrobats veer between anarchic energy and exquisite loss. Then Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, with its ecstatic tribal energy, is played live by pianists while acrobats are pitted in a life-and-death struggle between group and victim in this first-ever circus setting of Rite of Spring. The Circa ensemble puts bodies on the line in electrifying explosions of physicality and power. With live music by tenor Robert Murray, and pianists Tamara-Anna Cislowska and Michael Kieran Harvey. Mar 3–7 | Emerson Paramount Center Wed | 8pm Thu | 8pm Fri | 8pm Sat | 8pm
Sun | 3pm
The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation Presented in association with
2020 | 2021 Season 81
Sat | Mar 6 | 8pm Berklee Performance Center
Alfredo Rodriguez & Richard Bona
Alfredo Rodriguez & Richard Bona Bassist Richard Bona and pianist Alfredo Rodriguez met through their shared mentor, Quincy Jones. Rodriguez, a Cuban immigrant, was trained in the rigorous classical conservatories of Havana and is a virtuoso pianist. Bona, hailing from Cameroon, is a musical disciple of the late Jaco Pastorius, one of the most highly acclaimed bass players in the world. The music from this international collaboration, steeped in close friendship, is a can’t miss addition to your season! Sat | Mar 6 | 8pm | Berklee Performance Center
The Jazz Series is sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby
2020 | 2021 Season 83
Sun | Mar 7 | 3pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Sir András Schiff
Sir András Schiff Sir András Schiff piano A longtime favorite of Series audiences, the consistently astounding Sir András Schiff returns for his seventh solo recital and eighth appearance on the Series, his first since the 2015–16 season. Sun | Mar 7 | 3pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Bach Overture in the French Style in B minor, BWV 831 Beethoven Piano Sonata No. 7 in D Major, Opus 10, no. 3 Haydn Piano Sonata in B minor, Hob. XVI:32 Schubert Piano Sonata in D Major, D 850
“ To attend an András Schiff recital is to enter a secular temple to music.” The Washington Post
An Aaron Richmond Recital Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 85
Wed | Mar 10 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall
Simone Porter
Boston Recital Debut
Simone Porter Simone Porter violin Hsin-I Huang piano Seattle native Simone Porter has everything—a lovely tone, power, a musical maturity beyond her years, and an Avery Fisher Career Grant. Best of all, she seems utterly entranced by the music, rather than flamboyantly performing. That musicality is what makes her such a compelling performer and exciting prospect. Porter offers a personal program designed to show how literature can enrich our understanding of, and love for, music. Simone will introduce the program and guide the audience through this wonderful journey. Wed | Mar 10 | 8pm | Longy’s Pickman Hall Andrew Norman Sabina Grazyna Bacewicz Sonata No. 4 Esa Pekka Salonen Lachen Verlent Biber Passacaglia Franck Sonata in A Major
Seating for this performance is limited The Debut Series is sponsored by Harriet & David Griesinger and the Longy School of Music of Bard College
2020 | 2021 Season 87
Fri | Mar 12 | 8pm Sanders Theatre
Maria Schneider Orchestra
Maria Schneider Orchestra Data Lords Audiences were wowed by her ensemble’s last Celebrity Series appearance in 2014. The 2019 NEA Jazz Master and five-time Grammy Award winner, Maria Schneider is one of the jazz world’s most respected and original voices. For this performance, Schneider brings her ensemble to Sanders Theatre for the Boston-area premiere of her latest project, Data Lords. Her first recording since the Grammy Award-winning The Thompson Fields, Data Lords is Schneider’s statement on the polarized digital/organic environment we live in. Be among the first to experience this extraordinary artist’s vital, relevant new work and her continued search for beauty. Fri | Mar 12 | 8pm | Sanders Theatre
Sponsored by Amy & Joshua Boger Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 89
Sun | Mar 14 | 5pm Symphony Hall
KODO
KODO Exploring the limitless possibilities of the taiko, the traditional Japanese drum, Kodo is forging new directions for a vibrant living art form. Since the group’s debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has given over 3,700 performances on five continents. Don’t miss this Boston favorite at Symphony Hall! Sun | Mar 14 | 5pm | Symphony Hall
“ The spectator is crushed by their power and then suddenly, silence. Complete silence as if life had stopped in an instant, no applause, not even a breath... Don’t miss this, the sound of their drums will be engraved forever on your memory.” Le Quotidien de Paris
Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 91
Tue | Mar 16 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Cristina Pato
Stave Sessions
Cristina Pato Quartet Cristina Pato is a master of the gaita (Galician bagpipes), a classical pianist, and a passionate educator. She has collaborated with Chicago Symphony, Yo-Yo Ma, Arturo O’Farrill, New York Philharmonic, Paquito D’Rivera and dancers Damian Woetzel and Lil Buck. Hailed as “a virtuosic burst of energy” by the New York Times, Cristina serves as Learning Advisor for Silkroad, and is the founder of the multidisciplinary Galician Connection Festival. Pato is a whirlwind of artistic vitality. Her dynamism and virtuosity make each performance an unforgettable experience. Tue | Mar 16 | 8pm | 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Stave Sessions is sponsored by Susan & Michael Thonis and the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Additional support provided by Debra & Michael Raizman, Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy, Randolph Hawthorne & Carliss Baldwin, and Marylen Sternweiler
2020 | 2021 Season 93
Wed | Mar 17 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Theo Bleckmann & The Westerlies
Stave Sessions
Theo Bleckmann & The Westerlies This Land Theo Bleckmann is a Grammy-nominated jazz singer and new music composer of eclectic tastes and prodigious gifts. He has collaborated with an array of contemporary performers including Laurie Anderson, Philip Glass, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Meredith Monk. The Westerlies are a New York-based brass quartet who explore jazz, roots, and chamber music influences to create the rarest of hybrids: music that is both “folk-like and composerly, lovely and intellectually rigorous” (NPR Music). This Land uses music and texts from Joni Mitchell, Woody Guthrie, Joe Hill, Donald Rumsfeld, and Bertholt Brecht, seeking to balance music’s integral role in protest movements with the power of songs to provide internal solace amidst external turmoil. Wed | Mar 17 | 8pm | 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Stave Sessions is sponsored by Susan & Michael Thonis and the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Additional support provided by Debra & Michael Raizman, Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy, Randolph Hawthorne & Carliss Baldwin, and Marylen Sternweiler
2020 | 2021 Season 95
Thu | Mar 18 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Top: Nathalie Joachim Bottom: Spektral Quartet
Stave Sessions
Nathalie Joachim & Spektral Quartet Fanm d'Ayiti Flutist and composer Nathalie Joachim (Eighth Blackbird, Flutronix), brings her infectious passion for music and living tradition to her new concertlength work Fanm d’Ayiti (Women of Haiti). An exploration of Haitian song and of the role of women’s voices in Haitian music culture, Fanm d’Ayiti was nominated for a Grammy for Best World Music Album in 2019. Multi-Grammy nominees, the Spektral Quartet actively pursues a vivid conversation between exhilarating works of the traditional repertoire and those written this decade, this year, or this week. In Fanm d’Ayiti, field recordings, interviews, and personal anecdotes are interwoven to create deep connections and lasting resonance. Thu | Mar 18 | 8pm | 160 Mass. Ave., Boston Nathalie Joachim Fanm D’Ayiti, for string quartet, flute, and voice
Stave Sessions is sponsored by Susan & Michael Thonis and the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Additional support provided by Debra & Michael Raizman, Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy, Randolph Hawthorne & Carliss Baldwin, and Marylen Sternweiler
2020 | 2021 Season 97
Fri | Mar 19 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Mark Lettieri Trio
Stave Sessions
Mark Lettieri Trio Three-time Grammy winner and member of the jazz/world group Snarky Puppy, Mark Lettieri is a guitarist, composer, producer, and instructor based in Fort Worth. In demand across multiple musical genres, Lettieri has logged miles as member of the bands of neo-soul icon Erykah Badu and gospel singer Anthony Evans, and recorded with David Crosby, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Adam Levine. The Mark Lettieri Trio features Wes Stephenson (Funky Knuckles) on bass and Jason “JT” Thomas (Snarky Puppy, Forq) on drums. Fri | Mar 19 | 8pm | 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
“ His funky, fleet-fingered lines gave way to Prince-like jabs, and those few spidery guitar riffs are what drew the biggest applause from the crowd.” Los Angeles Times
Stave Sessions is sponsored by Susan & Michael Thonis and the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Additional support provided by Debra & Michael Raizman, Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy, Randolph Hawthorne & Carliss Baldwin, and Marylen Sternweiler
2020 | 2021 Season 99
Sat | Mar 20 | 8pm 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
Flor de Toloache
Stave Sessions
Flor de Toloache Flor de Toloache is a Latin Grammy-winning, New York-based all-female mariachi ensemble known for stretching the boundaries of this rich traditional music into decidedly new places. Flor de Toloache’s soaring vocals and innovative arrangements have won fans worldwide via recent appearances at the Coachella Festival, NPR Tiny Desk Concerts, a 2018 TED Talk, and the 42nd Annual Kennedy Center Honors. Sat | Mar 20 | 8pm | 160 Mass. Ave., Boston
“ [Flor de Toloache] … pushes the boundaries of mariachi music and its instruments through reimagined pop covers, originals and original collaborations.” NPR
Stave Sessions is sponsored by Susan & Michael Thonis and the Barr Foundation through its ArtsAmplified initiative Additional support provided by Debra & Michael Raizman, Yukiko Ueno & Eran Egozy, Randolph Hawthorne & Carliss Baldwin, and Marylen Sternweiler
2020 | 2021 Season 101
Wed | Apr 7 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall
Benjamin Appl
Debut Series
Benjamin Appl Benjamin Appl baritone James Baillieu piano Described as “the current front-runner in the new generation of Lieder singers” (Gramophone), Benjamin Appl is celebrated by audiences and critics in recital, concerts and opera settings. The German baritone was a BBC New Generation Artist, and as such performed throughout Europe. He became an exclusive SONY Classical recording artist in May 2016 and won the Gramophone Young Artist of the Year Award in 2016. The recital program, entitled Nocturne, features works by Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Schumann, Bolcom, Brahms, and Grieg. Don’t miss this exciting baritone sensation! Wed | Apr 7 | 8pm | Longy’s Pickman Hall
Seating for this performance is limited The Debut Series is sponsored by Harriet & David Griesinger and the Longy School of Music of Bard College
2020 | 2021 Season 103
Fri | Apr 9 | 7pm Symphony Hall
David Sedaris
David Sedaris David Sedaris has shared his life with us—millions of us—and made us laugh for decades. From the absurdist adventures of his early career to his wry and devastating recent examinations of aging, family, and mortality, his essays, diaries, and bestselling books have reflected his expansive curiosity, his relentless powers of observation, his cheerful misanthropy…and his often surprisingly, hilariously revolting streak. Join David for a touching, morbid, hilarious, shocking evening of essays, diary entries, and more, and make plans to stay after the reading to meet him in person. Fri | Apr 9 | 7pm | Symphony Hall
“ I mean, a clean show is fine, but no finer than a filthy one. Me, I like a nice balance.” David Sedaris
Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 105
SHINE! Celebrity Series Gala For over 80 years, Celebrity Series has presented innovative performing artists that inspire and enrich our community. Our annual gala is our moment to celebrate Celebrity Series’ impact, and raise vital support to ensure that the Series continues to lead the effort to promote live performance all throughout Boston. We hope you will join us for this unforgettable evening of shining moments from cocktail hour to the after party. You do not want to miss it! Sat | Apr 10, 2021 | Location to be Announced
• • • • •
Premier Table Sponsor | 20 guests | $50,000 Priority Table Sponsor | 10 guests | $25,000 Table Sponsor | 10 guests | $10,000 Table Sponsor | 6 guests | $6,000 Ticket Sponsor | 1 guests | $1,000
Proceeds from the evening will benefit the performance and community engagement programs of the Celebrity Series. To reserve a table or ticket(s), simply include the Gala in your order or contact Emily Eagan at ee@celebrityseries.org or 617.598.3231. A portion of each ticket will be tax-deductible. celebrityseries.org/gala
2020 | 2021 Season 107
Sun | Apr 11 | 5pm Symphony Hall
Top: Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Bottom: Maxim Vengerov
Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia Sir Antonio Pappano Music Director and Conductor Maxim Vengerov Violin Soloist In his fifteen years at the helm of Rome’s Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Sir Antonio Pappano has breathed new life into the orchestra and cultivated a sound that allows for sweeping drama and fine articulation. Boston audiences were thrilled by the orchestra’s sold out concert in 2018 and look forward to this rare visit from renowned violinist Maxim Vengerov as a highlight of the season. Sun | Apr 11 | 5pm | Symphony Hall Ponchielli Elegia Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3
Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 109
Thu | Apr 15 | 8pm Berklee Performance Center
Top: SFJAZZ Collective Bottom: Lizz Wright
SFJAZZ Collective: The Music of Joni Mitchell featuring guest vocalist Lizz Wright and Chris Potter The SFJAZZ Collective is an all-star award-winning jazz ensemble made up of eight of the finest performers/composers at work in jazz today. The current octet is a burnished international ensemble comprising tenor saxophonist David Sánchez, vibraphonist Warren Wolf, trumpeter Etienne Charles, pianist Edward Simon, bassist and vocalist Aneesa Strings, drummer Obed Calvaire, saxophonist and Artistic Director Chris Potter, and featuring guest vocalist and Celebrity Series favorite, Lizz Wright. For this performance, the Collective celebrates the music of iconic singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell—a singular artist with deep connections to the jazz continuum whose work continues to have an extraordinary influence on popular culture. Thu | Apr 15 | 8pm | Berklee Performance Center
The Jazz Series is sponsored by Leslie & Howard Appleby
2020 | 2021 Season 111
Sat | Apr 17 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Dreamers’ Circus
Dreamers’ Circus A new force in Nordic world music is the young Danish trio, Dreamers’ Circus. Contemporary and innovative in their approach, they draw inspiration from the deep traditions of folk music in the region and reshape them into something bright, shiny and new. Their art embraces music from Denmark and Sweden as well as Iceland, Finland and the far reaches of the windswept Faroe Islands. Dreamers’ Circus are Nikolaj Busk on piano and accordion, Ale Carr on Nordic cittern and Rune Tonsgaard Sørensen— also of the Danish String Quartet—on violin. The ensemble has won five prestigious Danish Music Awards and frequently collaborates with the Danish String Quartet and the Copenhagen Philharmonic. Sat | Apr 17 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall
“ It bristles with confidence, with nods to music as diverse as Danish folk and Erik Satie.” fRoots
Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 113
Sun | Apr 18 | 5pm Symphony Hall
Itzhak Perlman
An Evening with Itzhak Perlman Celebrity Series audiences have loved the great Itzhak Perlman since his first Boston recital in 1971. The great violinist never disappoints, but this time he will bring a different sort of concert experience. More music, more stories, more humor, more Itzhak. This special evening will give Perlman fans insights and glimpses into his long and celebrated career. Enjoy an intimate multimedia evening of music and storytelling featuring Perlman sharing personal anecdotes from his life and career through humorous vignettes, musical pieces, and personal photos and videos from his archives. Appearing with Perlman is his longtime pianist Rohan de Silva. Sun | Apr 18 | 5pm | Symphony Hall
“ Indisputably one of the great violinists …” The Guardian
Aaron Richmond Legacy Society Event Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 115
Sat | Apr 24 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Alisa Weilerstein
Alisa Weilerstein & Trondheim Soloists Alisa Weilerstein, last heard on the Series in an extraordinary performance of Bach’s Unaccompanied Cello Suites, returns to Jordan Hall with company: Norway’s Trondheim Soloists, one of Europe’s most outstanding young ensembles. Weilerstein and the Trondheim Soloists came together for the acclaimed recording Transfigured Night in 2018, and selections from the album—Haydn’s First Cello Concerto and the title work by Schoenberg— anchor their Jordan Hall recital program. Sat | Apr 24 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Golijov Last Round Vasks Presence Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 Schoenberg Verklarte Nacht
Sponsored by Dorothy & Stephen Weber
2020 | 2021 Season 117
Sun | Apr 25 | 5pm Symphony Hall
Evgeny Kissin
Evgeny Kissin Evgeny Kissin piano In recent seasons, Evgeny Kissin has done it all; he’s appeared to acclaim on the Series as a chamber music partner with the Emerson String Quartet, and as a collaborative pianist with the esteemed violinist Itzhak Perlman. He goes back to center stage in 2021 with his first Symphony Hall solo recital since 2013-14, an event that promises power, staggering technical prowess, and sublime music-making. Sun | Apr 25 | 5pm | Symphony Hall Chopin Nocturnes Schumann Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Opus 14 Debussy Selections from Préludes, Book I and Book II Scriabin Piano Sonata No. 4, Opus 30
Sponsored by Melinda & James Rabb Sponsor’s Circle Reception Media Partner
2020 | 2021 Season 119
Wed | Apr 28 | 8pm Longy’s Pickman Hall
Jess Gillam
Boston Debut
Jess Gillam Jess Gillam saxophone Thomas Weaver piano Jess Gillam is an extraordinary 20-year-old saxophonist, known for being one of the most exciting emerging artists in classical music. Last year, she was the recipient of a Classic Brit Award in the Sound of Classical Poll 2018, which recognizes the best emerging artists in classical music. Gillam was also the first-ever saxophonist to reach the final of BBC Young Musician. With her flawless technique and stunning musicality, Gillam is an compelling ambassador for her instrument on the classical stage. Wed | Apr 28 | 8pm | Longy’s Pickman Hall
“ Gillam...spreads joy” The Times, London
Seating for this performance is limited The Debut Series is sponsored by Harriet & David Griesinger and the Longy School of Music of Bard College
2020 | 2021 Season 121
Apr 29–May 2 Boch Center Wang Theatre Thurs | 8pm Fri | 8pm Sat | 2pm Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is one of the world’s premier modern dance companies and under the direction of Robert Battle, the company continues to nurture a new generation of choreographers, honor the AfricanAmerican experience, and perform works from around the world. From seminal repertoire like Alvin Ailey’s Revelations and Night Creatures, to new material that engages with vital social movements and other choreographic traditions, the company creates dances with the power to transform. Apr 29–May 2 | Boch Center Wang Theatre Thu | 8pm Fri | 8pm Sat | 2pm Sat | 8pm Sun | 3pm
“ ... irresistible élan.” The Guardian
The Dance Series is sponsored by Stephanie L. Brown Foundation, Cynthia & John S. Reed Foundation, and Royal Little Family Foundation Opening night Celebrity Circle Reception
2020 | 2021 Season 123
Fri | May 7 | 8pm NEC’s Jordan Hall
Emerson String Quartet
Emerson String Quartet The Emerson String Quartet has maintained its status as one of the world’s premier chamber music ensembles for more than four decades. “With musicians like this,” wrote a reviewer for The Times, London, “there must be some hope for humanity.” The Quartet has made more than 30 acclaimed recordings, and has been honored with nine GRAMMY Awards (including two for Best Classical Album), three Gramophone Awards, the Avery Fisher Prize, and Musical America’s “Ensemble of the Year” award. An Emerson String Quartet performance is simply indispensable. Fri | May 7 | 8pm | NEC’s Jordan Hall Borodin Quartet No. 2 in D Major Adés Four Quarters Haydn Seven Last Words
Sponsored by Sally S. Seaver, PhD
2020 | 2021 Season 125
Exchange Subscribers can exchange tickets for any other show within the season—it’s easy!
For details: celebrityseries.org/subscriberbenefits
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When prices change, subscriber prices stay the same. In 2019-2020, our subscribers saved as much as $40 per ticket over box office prices. Subscription add-on tickets now available online! For details: celebrityseries.org/subscriberbenefits
2020 | 2021 Season 127
Subscribe Create your own series. Curate your own experience. It only takes 3 events to enjoy the benefits that come with a subscription! Important benefits include: Ticket Exchange If your plans change, just return your tickets to Celebrity Series via an online form or by mail and choose another performance. Many organizations charge for this benefit. Celebrity Series Subscribers get it for free! Locked In Ticket Prices Add additional tickets at any time and get the guaranteed subscriber price, even if single ticket prices goes up. One-Time Fee When you subscribe, you pay a one-time fee of $15 for the whole season, no matter how many events you add during the season. Other benefits include subscriber-only waitlist, pre-sale access, lost ticket protection, and 50% off child tickets. Find a full list of Subscriber Benefits at celebrityseries.org/subscriberbenefits Prefer a paper order form? Send us a note at boxoffice@celebrityseries.org to request a mail-in paper order form.
Support Make a difference. Share Your Experience. Our members receive great benefits and ensure that live performances can be a lifelong, valued, shared experience for all. Ways to become a member: 100% Subscriber Make a gift of $100 or more with your subscription to receive advance priority seating by membership level. Join the Dress Circle Make a gift of $1,250 or more to gain access to premium seats, VIP ticketing service, and invitations to exclusive events. What does my gift do? Your gift supports free and discounted tickets for students and families, hands-on interactive workshops for youth, great performances by internationally acclaimed artists, and so much more. Your support is powerful. When you make your gift, look for a monthly email spotlighting the different ways your gift has made a difference. Visit celebrityseries.org for more details.
2020 | 2021 Season 129
Ready to place your order? Let’s get started! How to order your subscription Online | Purchase online today at celebrityseries.org By Mail | Download a paper order form at celebrityseries.org or request one at boxoffice@celebrityseries.org and send by mail Walk In | Bring your order to our office (Check-in with building ID required, please call ahead) Box Office Hours | Monday through Friday, 10am–4pm Celebrity Series of Boston 20 Park Plaza | Suite 1032 | Boston, MA 02116 Main: 617.482.2595 | Box office: 617.482.6661 | Fax: 617.598.3291 Important Dates Priority Seating Deadline | Friday, May 22, 2020 Phone Orders Begin | Wednesday, May 27, 2020 Single Ticket (non subscription) Sales Begin | Monday, September 14, 2020 Deadline for Subscription Orders | Friday, September 25, 2020 (Business day before the first performance of the season) Don’t Forget! 100% Subscribers are seated first during the renewal period (deadline May 22). Non-donor subscribers are seated next beginning with renewing orders of 7 or more events. Orders must be received by May 22 in order to ensure being seated before the general public. Some events will sell out.
Subscriber Ticketing Policies and Information For more information on seating and ticketing, visit celebrityseries.org/faq Exchanges Exchange tickets for another performance in the 2020–2021 season quickly and easily. If your plans change, just return your tickets to the Celebrity Series Box Office by noon the business day before the performance and choose another performance or event. Many organizations charge for this benefit. Celebrity Series subscribers get it for free. To initiate your exchange, fill out the form online at celebrityseries.org/exchange, or follow the instructions below: 1. Contact the Box Office at 617.482.6661 and let us know you would like to initiate an exchange into a future performance. 2. Select your new performance! Please note that not all ticket prices are the same. If there is a balance due, payment will be required at the time of your exchange. If you are exchanging into a less expensive show, the credit will remain on your account for the rest of the season to use for additional tickets or upgrades. 3. Send in your voided tickets! Tickets must be received no later than noon the business day before the performance you are exchanging out of. Simply write “VOID” on the face of each ticket, take a picture, and email it to boxoffice@celebrityseries.org. You may also fax or mail in your ticket if it is more convenient, but please allow enough time before the deadline. You will receive confirmation that your exchange is complete once we receive your voided tickets. 2020 | 2021 Season 131
Credit on Account Not sure what you would like to attend? If you return your tickets to the Celebrity Series Box Office before noon the business day before the performance, we can put the value of the tickets on your account. You can use this credit to purchase additional tickets any time during the season! Tax-deductible Ticket Donations Subscribers who are unable to use tickets for a particular performance and do not wish to exchange to another performance may choose to donate the value of the tickets to the Celebrity Series. Tickets must be returned to the Box Office by noon on the business day prior to the performance. Subscribers who donate tickets will receive a tax receipt noting the value of the donation. Tax-deductible ticket donations cannot be made at the venue or on the day of the performance. Adding Tickets to Your Subscription Need more tickets during the season? Pay no fees and get the guaranteed subscriber price on all additional ticket purchases. Additional tickets must be purchased from the Celebrity Series Box Office (price is guaranteed until noon the business day before the performance, but not ticket availability). Tickets can now be purchased online by selecting Subscriber Access and logging into your account. Waiting List Subscribers can get tickets for sold out performances or upgrade their seats with exclusive subscriber-only waiting lists. When other subscribers return tickets, we go to this private subscriber-only list first to fill seats! To add your name to the wait list, call or email the Box Office with the number of
seats you would like, the best phone number to reach you, and any specific seating requests. When tickets become available, we will contact the next person on the wait list with a deadline to call back and purchase. If the show is less than a week away, we will call the wait list to alert subscribers that new seats are available with no guarantee. Child Subscription Tickets Get specially-priced child seats adjacent to your seats for children ages 6–16. Child tickets are available for a 50% discount per ticket for most events (Limit 4 child tickets per event. Only available during Priority Seating period. See order form or call the Box Office for specific performances and details) Refund Policy Celebrity Series of Boston operates on a no-refund policy at all times, even in the case of inclement weather (unless a performance is cancelled). Per Event Ticket Limit Due to the increasing number of ticket resellers operating in our market and for the protection of our customers, we have instituted a new policy for subscription orders, limiting each online order or paper order form order to a maximum of 6 tickets for any one engagement. If you wish to order more than 6 tickets for an engagement, please contact our box office at 617.482.6661, 10am–4pm, Monday–Friday. ANY PERSON NOT LICENSED PURSUANT TO M.G.L. c. 140, § 185A RESELLING ANY TICKET THAT IS PART OF A SUBSCRIPTION TO THE CELEBRITY SERIES, AND ANY PERSON SO LICENSED RESELLING THIS TICKET ON AN AUCTION WEB SITE OR IN VIOLATION OF ANY APPLICABLE LAW, IS SUBJECT TO LOSS OF AND REVOCATION OF TICKET PRIVILEGES. Subscribers whose tickets are resold in violation of these prohibitions are subject to cancellation without notice or refund. The Celebrity Series retains the right to refuse to sell tickets to any person or entity that has been, or currently is, in violation of these prohibitions. The Celebrity Series expressly prohibits the use of tickets for advertising and promotional purposes (including contests and sweepstakes or other trade purposes) without express permission.
2020 | 2021 Season 133
Young Professionals Calling all young professionals to join Celebrity Society! Celebrity Society Make a splash at great performances and parties with Celebrity Society, the hottest club for young professional arts lovers in Boston. Celebrity Society is geared toward individuals ages 21–35 and offers special membership offerings and activities. How much are tickets? You can spend as little as $90 to see three amazing performances. Plans change? No worries—you can exchange your tickets at any time for something else on the specially curated list of performances. What do I get? Great performances at an affordable price and invitations to parties and meet-ups! How to join? Visit our website at celebrityseries.org/celebritysociety and sign up. Offerings will be announced Wednesday, July 8.
To learn more, visit our website at celebrityseries.org/celebritysociety
2020 | 2021 Season 135
Thank You Celebrity Series thanks the many generous individuals, corporations, foundations, and government agencies that make our work possible.
The D.L. Saunders Real Estate Corp.
Please visit celebrityseries.org/supporters to view a full list of our institutional supporters.
Photos in this book were taken by Uwe Arens, Jacob Boll, Jesse Kitt, Andy Laviolette, Takashi Akamoto, Josué Azor, Daniel Azoulay, Emma Bella Holley, George Bertazzi, Caroline Bittencourt, Jay Blakesberg, Lars Borges, Marco Borggreve, Damien Bredberg, Felix Broede, Dennis Callahan, Robin Clewley, Bob Coscolleula, Jeremy Cowart, Tatiana Dubek, Benjamin Ealovega, Andrew Eccles, Becca Fay, Jürgen Frank, Piero Gianti, Steve Glick, Sasha Gusov, Brantley Gutierrez, Holger Hage, Jimmy Katz, Shervin Lainez, Whit Lane, Paula Lobo, Liudmilla Malofeeva, Emil Matveev, Marie Mazzucco, Chris Nash, David O’Connor, Xan Padron, Sunshine Riddle, Sheila Rock, Nadia Romanini, Chris Singer, Paul Stuart. Yutaka Suzuki, Amanda Tipton, Robert Torres, Jesus Vallinas, Sarah Walker, Nathan West, Andy Wilsher, Michael Wilson, David Wilson Barnes, and Sophie Wright.
Celebrity Series Boards Board of Directors Joshua Boger, PhD | Chair+ Howard Appleby Stephanie L. Brown+ Michael S. Canning+ Joanne Cheng Amy d’Ablemont Burnes Margaret Eagle Kathleen Gaffney+ Gabor Garai Paul D. Goldenheim, MD Randolph Hawthorne | ex officio Yvette Hochberg Andrea Hoff Anna Kolchinsky John Patterson Leontyne Price | Honorary Director Melinda Rabb Reuben Reynolds Sharon L. Rich* Lawrence Stifler* Mary Elisabeth Swerz+ Belinda Termeer Susan Thonis
Yukiko Ueno Dorothy Altman Weber* Janet Zwanziger* Board Emeriti Harris A. Berman, MD* Caroline Collings Benjamin H. Lacy Jann E. Leeming Robert I. Lurie‡ Norman C. Nicholson, Jr. Eleanor Y. Pao Walter W. Pierce* Nancy Richmond Winsten* Arnold B. Zetcher Board of Overseers Randolph Hawthorne | Chair Bill Casey | Vice Chair Leslie Appleby Meryl Beckingham Marilyn Benson* Nadine Broude Martin Carmichael* Joseph C. Cefalu Fernadina Chan
+ Denotes Executive Committee * Denotes 25+-year subscriber ‡ Deceased
Jolyon Cowan JoAnne Dickinson* Timothy W. Diggins C. Nancy Fisher Gail Flatto Susan Y. Friedman Ellen Glanz Dr. Joan Goldberg* Dr. Peter H. Gordon* Rosalind E. Gorin Harriet Griesinger Teri Groome Zachary R. Haroutunian Stephen C. Harrison* Paul Hartung Betty Hillmon Ilisa Hurowitz Cindy Lewiton Jackson Maurice Joffe Lisa Kelly-Croswell Stephen Leonard* Margot LeStrange* Valeria Lowe-Barehmi Susan Shapiro Magdanz* Theresa C. McLoud, MD Marilyn Miller* Dr. Gordon Moore*
James L. J. Nuzzo James Perrin Stephen C. Perry* Dr. Beth Pinals Suzanne Priebatsch Oliver Radford* Michael Raizman* Mona J. Roberts* Millard Rose Abby Rosenfeld* Sally S. Seaver, PhD* Sandra Shapiro* Dr. Samuel J. Shubrooks, Jr.* Dr. Michael Silverman Dr. Margaret Simon Lori Solon Joel A. Stein* Marylen R. Sternweiler* Jeffrey A. Thomson* Elizabeth G. Tréhu, MD Paul Walsh Sarah Rainwater Ward Wendy L. Watson Barnet Weinstein Sharon R. Weinstein, MD Peter J. Wender* Sarkis Zerounian
Celebrity Series of Boston, Inc. 20 Park Plaza, Suite 1032 Boston, MA 02116-4303
2020 | 2021 subscriptions on sale! celebrityseries.org Printed on recycled paper containing 10% post-consumer fiber using soy-based inks.