SYNERGY: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS

WENDY WHELAN, MARC BAMUTHI JOSEPH, FRANCESCA HARPER

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 · 7:30 PM

THE BAKER-BAUM CONCERT HALL

Co-commissioned by La Jolla Music Society for SummerFest’s Synergy Initiative

PRELUDE 6:30 PM

Carnival of the Animals is a new evening-length piece by spoken word artist and poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph, legendary dancer Wendy Whelan (Associate Artistic Director, New York City Ballet), and acclaimed choreographer

Francesca Harper (Artistic Director, Alvin Ailey II). Rooted in the iconic Saint-Saëns composition, this reimagined vision comes to life with poignant spoken word and transcendent movement, with music from the original Saint-Saëns as well as a variety of composers spanning four centuries. Together they create a multidisciplinary mixtape that imagines the animals that reside in our country’s contemporary political jungle. Co-commissioned by the Synergy Initiative,

New York’s Lincoln Center, Washington DC’s National Gallery, Seattle’s Meany Center, and others, this major new work receives a special preview performance at La Jolla SummerFest and features festival artists Inon Barnatan, Joyce Yang, Geneva Lewis, and Gabriel Martins.