Step Afrika!

Presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Irvine Barclay Theatre

Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 8pm

Step Afrika! is the world’s first professional dance company devoted to the stepping tradition. Their captivating performances will awaken Orange County audiences through movement, theater, and music. Blending percussive dance styles of African American fraternities and sororities, traditional African dances, and contemporary art forms, Step Afrika! creates a cohesive and compelling artistic experience. Their shows feature storytelling, humor, and audience participation, making each performance much more than just a dance show. With top-notch technique, agility, and pure energy, Step Afrika! ranks among the top five African American dance companies in the U.S., leaving audiences with their hearts pounding.

UCI Dance Visions

February 22–24, 2024

Kelli Sharp and Cyrian Reed, artistic directors

Dance Visions 2024 is the premier annual production for the Department of Dance at UC Irvine’s Claire Trevor School of the Arts. Comprised of works by faculty choreographers, the concert presents a diverse program of genres. Each new performance draws upon the fusion of dance, music and theatrical elements and is the culmination of exploration in the creative space.

Backhausdance

Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at 8pm Jennifer Backhaus, artistic director

“A fluid, unforced fusion of classical and contemporary dance.”

– The Brooklyn Rail

Celebrating their 21st season, Orange County’s own Backhausdance is known for its ensemble aesthetic and lush movement vocabulary. The company’s deeply human and emotional creations are infused with a sense of humor and theatricality.

Backhausdance returns to the Barclay with an evening of new dance premieres, featuring powerful, athletic dances, emotionally-charged dramatic pieces, and whimsical glimpses of the human experience.

Festival Ballet Theatre: Coppélia

Saturday, April 27, 2024 at 7pm Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 2pm Salwa Rizkalla, artistic director

Set in a small European village, this beloved ballet tells the story of an eccentric inventor, Doctor Coppélius. Franz, a young villager, becomes infatuated with the mysterious girl sitting on the balcony of Doctor Coppélius’s house. Franz doesn’t know that the mysterious girl is a doll whom the toymaker is trying to bring to life. Swanhilda, who is engaged to Franz, decides to sneak into Dr. Coppélius’s house with her friends where she discovers the mysterious girl is a doll. She decides to show Franz his folly by dressing as the doll and pretending to come to life. Love triumphs over all, and the story ends with joyful celebration of the lovers’ wedding.

This production is set to the lively music of Léo Delibes and choreography by Artistic Director Salwa Rizkalla after Arthur Saint-Léon. Renowned guest artists are featured in the lead roles. The ballet premiered on May 25, 1870 at the Paris Theatre Imperial Opera.

Ballets Jazz Montréal: Dance Me – Music by Leonard Cohen

Friday, May 17, 2024 at 8pm

Dance Me — Music by Leonard Cohen is an exclusive creation inspired by the rich and profound work of Montréal-based poet, artist and songwriter, Leonard Cohen.

Approved by Cohen during his lifetime, this riveting homage to the famed artist evokes the grand cycles of existence, as described in Cohen’s deeply reflective music and poems.

Three internationally renowned choreographers were entrusted with putting movement to Cohen’s legendary songs: Andonis Foniadakis, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, and Ihsan Rustem. Their powerful and profound choreographic world reflective of Cohen’s singular work is brought to life by Ballets Jazz Montréal’s 14 artists and the strong, bold dramaturgy of Eric Jean.

Dance, music, lighting, scenography and videography all come together in this unforgettable show that pays tribute to Montréal’s greatest ambassador.

Hawaiian

Series sponsored by the Hiland Foundation and Richard & Elizabeth Steele Fund

Taimane

Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 8pm

“A phenomenally talented ukulele virtuoso, Taimane has developed a flamenco-inspired strumming technique that is breathtaking.”

— Maui News

Taimane, a ukulele virtuoso, singer, and songwriter, has become one of the world’s top players with her inventive style. Winner of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Favorite Entertainer of the Year in 2019, Taimane blends Polynesian and international influences to take listeners on a mesmerizing journey. From Bach to Led Zeppelin, her live shows are a sensation, captivating increasingly larger crowds with her signature sound that both inspires and soothes.

Kalani Pe’a

Friday, October 13, 2023 at 8pm

“Gifted with a gorgeous voice and a flair for composing resonant Hawaiian songs, [Kalani Pe’a] is a major, innovative figure in contemporary Hawaiian music.” – Maui News

With his distinctive vocal range and a gift for composing soulful Hawaiian songs, Kalani Pe’a is one of Hawai’i’s brightest stars. He won the Best Regional Roots Music Album Grammy in 2017 for his debut album, E Walea, and became the first Hawaiian artist to achieve this feat. His third album, Kau Ka Pe’a, earned him his third Grammy and two Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year. Combining classical and R&B influences, Kalani creates a unique musical style with hauntingly beautiful harmonies and resonant lyrics that embody the soul of Hawai’i.

Amy Hanaiali’i: Pālehua: 25th Anniversary Tour

Friday, January 26, 2024 at 8pm

“[Amy Hanaiali’i’s] voice is rich and soulful. She turns song lyrics into stories that have you hanging on every word. She’s a captivating entertainer...sexy, funny, as self-deprecating as she is powerful.” — Maui News

Amy Hanaiali’i, Hawai’i’s best-selling female vocalist, promotes Hawaiian culture by blending ancient language with various music styles. She has received 6 Grammy nominations and 18 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, including Song of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Hawaiian Album of the Year. Amy has performed in various countries and collaborated with renowned musicians. “Pālehua,” a classic song, was written 25 years ago by Amy Hanaiali’i and the late Uncle Willie K on O’ahu’s Pālehua mountain and has since become one of Hawai’i’s most celebrated songs.

The Mākaha Sons

Friday, March 22, 2024 at 8pm

The Mākaha Sons are one of Hawai‘i’s premier musical groups committed to perpetuating traditional Hawaiian music. The trio creates an iconic sound with alluring harmonies and melodies, authentic storytelling, and breathtakingly memorable songs. Their distinct sound and delightful stage presence have won the hearts of thousands of fans worldwide. Winners of countless Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards for their timeless recordings (22 albums thus far), The Mākaha Sons are the recipients of a Lifetime Achievement Award and are inductees of the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. Their legacy persists with founding member and front-man, Jerome Koko on vocals and 12-string guitar, Kimo Artis on vocals and electric bass, and Hanale Ka’anapu on vocals and 6-string guitar.

SAVE 20% when you subscribe to the 4-concert Hawaiian series and keep your same seats all year long! Packages start at $37 per show.

Rachmaninoff & Turina

Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 5pm

RACHMANINOFF: Trio élégiaque No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 9

TURINA: Piano Trio No. 2, Op. 76

Ravel’s Piano Trio

Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 5pm

RAVEL: Piano Trio in A Minor

Additional repertoire to be announced

Beethoven’s “Ghost” Trio

Sunday, March 24, 2024 at 5pm

BEETHOVEN: Trio in D Major, Op. 70, No. 1, “Ghost”

Additional repertoire to be announced

Ensemble-in-residence Trio Barclay returns to the stage with the timeless beauty and emotional power of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Trio élégiaque and Joaquín Turina’s Piano Trio No. 2. The former is a single-movement work composed in memory of Tchaikovsky, exuding mournful tones and concluding with a haunting coda. The latter is a lively and concise piece infused with Spanish elements, featuring flamenco-like dance rhythms in its middle movement.

Performance Sponsors: Goran and Susan Matijasevic, Bob Romney, Al Spector and Tatjana Soli, Charlie and Ling Zhang Artist Sponsors: Judy and Wes Whitmore

In their second performance of the season, Trio Barclay brings to life Ravel’s Piano Trio, an unparalleled masterpiece of classical music. Written in 1914, this work is considered one of the greatest examples of Impressionist period music and showcases Ravel’s extraordinary talent for blending different musical styles including Baroque, jazz, and Basque folk music from the region where the composer lived as a child. This remarkable work is a definitional piece for piano trios. Since its premier in 1915, the work has been performed and recorded by each generation’s greatest trios.

Performance Sponsors: Mike and Ellie Gordon, Karen Kuo-Limb and Jong C. Limb, Dot and Rick Nelson

Trio Barclay concludes their three-concert series with what is considered one of Beethoven’s most remarkable works, his Piano Trio No. 1 in D Major, also known as the “Ghost” trio. This remarkable work was first performed in 1808 in Vienna, with Beethoven himself on piano. Its second movement (Largo) is famous for its mournful melody in the violin and cello, accompanied by an eerie, ghost-like piano part. Despite mixed reviews at first, it’s now one of Beethoven’s most beloved chamber works. The Trio’s sweeping melodies will unsettle you with rich contrasts of mood — from restless to transfixing to exuberant. Performance Sponsors: Carol and Eugene Choi, Terry and Judy Jones, Ken and Sandy Tokita