Western Health Advantage Season of Performing Arts
Experience the thrill of what’s
16-17 Western Health Advantage Season of Performing Arts 3 Welcome 4 Orchestra Series 8 Concert Series 12 Jackson Hall Jazz Series 16 Studio Jazz Series 18 American Heritage Series 22 With A Twist Series 24 Visions 26 Holidays 28 India in the Artist’s Eye 30 World Stage Series 34 Dance Series 38 Marvels Series 40 Children’s Stage Series 42 Rising Stars of Opera 43 Young Artists Competition 44 Theater 45 Vocals 46 Speakers Series 50 Alexander String Quartet Series 52 Music @ UC Davis 54 Engagement + Education 57 Supporting Mondavi Center 58 Accessibility + Policies 59 How to Renew 60 Seating + Directions
JH
Jackson Hall
VST Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Director’s Choice event Add-On event Uncorked event, featuring complimentary wine pours for Inner Circle donors one hour prior to show time and during intermission in the Bartholomew Room.
We want you to get the most out of your Mondavi Center experience. Renewing your subscription is the best way to explore the diversity of the season while continuing to save up to 20%. Your deadline to renew— and keep your same seats—is April 30, 2016. Subscriptions go on sale to new subscribers on May 16, and prices will go up, so now is the best time to reserve the best available seats at the best prices.
Why Renew? Renewing your subscription(s) by April 30 allows you to: • Retain your current seats, or; • Request a new location in advance of public on-sale • Continue to receive the lowest ticket prices 2 Dance Theatre of Harlem >
Renew today! Get the Best Seats at the Best Prices!
I am pleased to introduce the 2016–17 Mondavi Center season. The best Mondavi Center seasons have strong currents of both the familiar and the new, and this one lives up to that high standard. Debuts in 2016–17 include the Los Angeles Philharmonic with music director Gustavo Dudamel, a West Coast premiere of Philip Glass’ 11th Symphony by the Bruckner Orchester Linz, jazz piano phenomenon Joey Alexander, spoken-word artist Shane Koyczan and Mr. Sulu himself, George Takei. We eagerly welcome back a number of artists including Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Itzhak Perlman, David Sedaris, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, among others. Another compelling theme this season is the gathering of artists from around the globe: Bassem Youssef, the “Jon Stewart of Egypt”; a partnership with UC Davis faculty to present India in the Artist’s Eye; the modern choreography of Beijing Dance Theater; Australian theater company Black Arm Band; Colombian jazz harpist Edmar Casteneda; Spanish flamenco singer Diego El Cigala and many more.
Don Roth, Ph.D. Executive Director
In all, we believe the 2016–17 season contains an unmatched collection of artists, thinkers and innovators. As you already know, the best way to experience this variety and quality is to take the subscription journey with us. I encourage you to sign up for additional events that may be outside your comfort zone. We hear time and again that those experiences are often the most surprising and exciting ones for you, our most faithful audience members and subscribers. I thank you for your patronage and wish you a most enjoyable voyage through our 15th Mondavi Center season.
Sincerely,
Don
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Orchestra Our signature series, showcasing preeminent orchestras from around the world, acclaimed soloists and expansive repertoire, all in the rich acoustic environment of Jackson Hall.
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Gustavo Dudamel >
“BOUNDLESS ENERGY, FEROCIOUS FOCUS AND AN IRREPRESSIBLE SENSE OF FUN.” —Bloomberg.com
SATURDAY
2
3
NOV
DEC
Los Angeles Philharmonic
China Philharmonic Orchestra
Gustavo Dudamel, MUSIC AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Long Yu, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Julian Rachlin, VIOLIN
Gustavo Dudamel’s arrival in Los Angeles in 2009 was met with the kind of fanfare reserved for rock stars and celebrities. His work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic has delivered on that promise, expanding access to a wide variety of symphonic music both in Walt Disney Concert Hall and in the community. The LA Phil’s eagerly anticipated Mondavi Center debut will feature Gustav Mahler’s final completed symphony, a meditation on mortality from the German master.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2016 8PM
Fresh off its 15th anniversary season, the China Philharmonic Orchestra, under the visionary leadership of Long Yu, continues to drive its own cultural revolution both at home and abroad. This fascinating program is a great example of that music sensibility, combining an exhilarating work from Chinese/French composer Qigang Chen (Messiaen’s final student), a landmark violin concerto from Felix Mendelssohn and one of Béla Bartók’s most enduring compositions.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2016 8PM
ADD-ON & CYO $191 $128 $64
ADD-ON & CYO $106
Mahler
$53
Symphony No. 9
Orchestra Orchestra Series $580/$414/$258 Jackson Hall Orchestra Seating
mondaviarts.org
Qigang Chen Mendelssohn Bartók
“LOS ANGELES PHILHARMONIC IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ORCHESTRA IN THE COUNTRY.” —The New York Times
Sponsored by
$78
16–17 Orchestra Series
WEDNESDAY
Enchantments Oubliés Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op. 64 Concerto for Orchestra
“THE MOST POWERFUL FIGURE IN CHINA’S CLASSICAL MUSIC SCENE.” —The New York Times on Long Yu
Subscription Package of 5 events includes: Los Angeles Philharmonic WED, NOV 2
China Philharmonic Orchestra SAT, DEC 3
PKF—Prague Philharmonia SAT, JAN 28
Bruckner Orchester Linz SAT, FEB 11
St. Petersburg Philharmonic SAT, MAR 18
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16–17 Orchestra Series
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
28
11
JAN
FEB
PKF—Prague Philharmonia
Bruckner Orchester Linz
Emmanuel Villaume, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Gautier Capuçon, CELLO
Dennis Russell Davies, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Robert McDuffie, VIOLIN
The PKF—Prague Philharmonia was founded in 1994 at the initiative of the world-famous conductor Jirí Belohlávek. In its “manifesto,” the orchestra highlights vigor, energy and perfectionism, as well as a tremendous love for the music, all of which it imbues in each and every concert. For this appearance, the orchestra, under the baton of Emmanuel Villaume, focuses exclusively on work by Czech composers: the delightful river travelogue Die Moldau by Bedřich Smetana, followed by Dvořák’s cello concerto (written during his time in the U.S.) and his innovative, joyful, eighth symphony.
Building upon more than 200 years of tradition and innovation, the Bruckner Orchester Linz is one of the premier orchestras in Central Europe. Under the direction of Dennis Russell Davies, the orchestra thrives in classical and contemporary repertoire, both of which will be on display during an extended visit to the Mondavi Center. The classical side is featured in this Orchestra Series program, with Schumann’s first symphony (written in just four days!), Barber’s intimate violin concerto and a suite of music from the famed Strauss opera.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 28, 2017 8PM
ADD-ON & CYO $106
ADD-ON & CYO $106
Smetana Dvořák Dvořák
$78
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2017 8PM $78
$53
$53
Schumann Barber Strauss
Die Moldau Cello Concerto in B Minor, Op.104 Symphony No. 8, Op. 88
Orchestra
Symphony No. 1 in B-flat Minor, Op. 38 “Spring” Violin Concerto, Op. 14 Der Rosenkavalier Suite
Supported by
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Prices subject to change.
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High Demand Shows We strongly recommend buying the Orchestra Series subscription to guarantee seats.
Orchestra Series $580/$414/$258 Jackson Hall Orchestra Seating
Subscription Package of 5 events includes: Los Angeles Philharmonic WED, NOV 2
China Philharmonic Orchestra SAT, DEC 3
PKF—Prague Philharmonia SAT, JAN 28
Bruckner Orchester Linz SAT, FEB 11
St. Petersburg Philharmonic SAT, MAR 18
Director’s Choice
Bruckner Orchester Linz
SATURDAY
MAR
18 St. Petersburg Philharmonic Yuri Temirkanov, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Garrick Ohlsson, PIANO The oldest and most celebrated symphonic ensemble in Russia, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic boasts a number of historic firsts, including the premiere of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 (Pathetique) conducted by the composer himself shortly before his death. Pianist Garrick Ohlsson joins the orchestra for the turbulent, romantic first piano concerto by Brahms, paired with Shostakovich’s fifth symphony, whose heroic strains won the composer a reprieve from Stalin.
For this Add-On performance, the Bruckner Orchester Linz dives into a fascinating mix of modern repertoire. The program begins with a suite of music from Duke Ellington’s landmark jazz symphony, and closes with a pair of Philip Glass works in celebration of the composer’s 80th birthday. Violin virtuoso Robert McDuffie performs Glass’ first violin concerto and, fresh off a world premiere at Carnegie Hall, his 11th Symphony makes its West Coast debut under the baton of Dennis Russell Davies, an exquisite interpreter and longtime champion of Glass’ work.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2017 8PM JH ADD-ON & CYO $72 $47 $30
Ellington Glass Glass
Black, Brown & Beige Suite Violin Concerto No. 1 Symphony No. 11
Supported by
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $106
$53
Piano Concerto No. 1 Symphony No. 5
This event is not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount. FRIDAY
FEB
10
mondaviarts.org
Brahms Shostakovich
$78
16–17 Orchestra Series + Add-On
Dennis Russell Davies, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Robert McDuffie, VIOLIN
“IS THERE A CONDUCTOR WITH MORE ELOQUENT HANDS THAN MAESTRO TEMIRKANOV? HE SAYS SO MUCH WITH EVERY GESTURE.” —AnnArbor.com
Sponsored by
Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
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Concert Featuring the finest and most celebrated classical artists and ensembles working today.
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Itzhak Perlman >
“ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST ACCLAIMED AND TALENTED CLASSICAL MUSICIANS. ” —Yahoo! News
SATURDAY
11
14
DEC
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
Itzhak Perlman, violin Rohan De Silva, piano
The Complete Brandenburg Concertos Called a “New York holiday staple” by The New York Times, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos stand at the pinnacle of Baroque music art. The exquisite players of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, under the artistic direction of David Finckel and Wu Han, bring this festive tradition to the Mondavi Center, playing the concerto cycle in its entirety to celebrate the holiday season.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2016 4PM ADD-ON & CYO $67 $53 $31
Brandenburg Concertos, BWV 1046-1051
Itzhak Perlman enjoys superstar status rarely afforded a classical musician. Beloved for his talent, charm and humanitarian efforts, he is treasured by audiences throughout the world. Communicating an irrepressible joy for making music, the violin virtuoso is one of the most in-demand artists in music. His sold-out performances at the Mondavi Center have been delighting local audiences for more than a decade. Classical music’s most prominent ambassador, Perlman has been granted a Kennedy Center Honor, a National Medal of Arts, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. His longtime accompanist Rohan De Silva joins Perlman in yet another peerless evening of music-making.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $106
“IMPECCABLE MUSICIANSHIP.” —The New York Times
High Demand Shows We strongly recommend buying the Concert Series subscription to guarantee seats.
$78
$43
mondaviarts.org
J.S. Bach
JAN
16–17 Concert Series
SUNDAY
Concert
Concert Series
$326/$246/$139 Jackson Hall Concert Seating
Subscription Package of 4 events includes: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center SUN, DEC 11
Itzhak Perlman, violin Rohan De Silva, piano SAT, JAN 14
Joshua Bell, violin THU, FEB 2
Venice Baroque Orchestra SAT, FEB 25
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16–17 Concert Series
THURSDAY
SATURDAY
2
25
FEB
FEB
Venice Baroque Orchestra
Joshua Bell, violin
“MR. BELL DOESN’T STAND IN ANYONE’S SHADOW.” —The New York Times
For more than two decades, Joshua Bell has enchanted audiences worldwide with his breathtaking virtuosity and tone of rare beauty on his Gibson Stradivarius. Equally at home as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestra leader, as his recent work as the music director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields attests, his restless curiosity and multi-faceted musical interests have taken him in exciting new directions. This return appearance at the Mondavi Center is sure to be a highlight of the season.
Nicola Benedetti, VIOLIN There are few pieces of music as instantly recognizable as Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. And yet, as it is so often heard only in fragments, the complete piece still has the capacity to surprise and delight. The Venice Baroque Orchestra performed the Venetian masterpiece alongside Philip Glass’ “American Four Seasons” in 2010. The group is joined by violin soloist Nicola Benedetti, whose highly personal interpretations of Vivaldi’s work have been called “teasingly wistful one minute, electrifying and explosive the next” (The Scotsman). The program is rounded out by a number of lesser-known, but no less engaging, Baroque masterworks from Italy and England.
SATURDAY, FEBRURAY 25, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $67 $53 $31
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $106
$78
Concert
Prices subject to change.
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Vivaldi’s Four Seasons
High Demand Shows We strongly recommend buying the Concert Series subscription to guarantee seats.
$43
Galuppi Concerto a Quattro No. 2 in G Major Avison Concerto Grosso No. 8 in E Minor, after D. Scarlatti Geminiani Concerto Grosso for strings in D Minor, “La Follia” Vivaldi Concerto in D Major for violin, strings and basso continuo, RV 212a, “Per la solennità della S. lingua di S. Antonio in Padua” Vivaldi The Four Seasons
Concert Series
$326/$246/$139 Jackson Hall Concert Seating
Subscription Package of 4 events includes: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center SUN, DEC 11
Itzhak Perlman, violin Rohan De Silva, piano SAT, JAN 14
Joshua Bell, violin THU, FEB 2
Venice Baroque Orchestra SAT, FEB 25
Curtis on Tour Curtis Chamber Orchestra The Complete Mozart Violin Concertos Shmuel Ashkenasi, VIOLIN Roberto Díaz, VIOLA
SATURDAY
JAN
21
The Curtis Institute of Music educates and trains exceptionally gifted young musicians for careers as performing artists at the highest professional level. This unique professional training (and the full tuition scholarships provided to all of its students) has enabled Curtis alumni like Lang Lang, Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein and others, to assume prominent positions in America’s leading orchestras and ensembles around the world. In this return engagement, the future stars in the Curtis Chamber Orchestra will perform the five Mozart violin concertos with five soloists from within the orchestra. The program’s highlight—the magnificent Sinfonia Concertante—features renowned violist Roberto Díaz, president of the Curtis Institute of Music, and legendary violinist and faculty member Shmuel Ashkenasi.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 3PM JH ADD-ON & CYO $64
3PM: Mozart
Violin Concerto No. 1 Violin Concerto No. 3 Violin Concerto No. 5
mondaviarts.org
This performance is broken into two parts around an extended dinner break and is sold as a single event.
16–17 Concert Series + Add-On
Director’s Choice
8PM: Mozart
Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
Violin Concerto No. 2 Violin Concerto No. 4 Sinfonia Concertante
This event is not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
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Jackson Hall Jazz Unparalleled genius and astounding virtuosity presented on our grandest stage. 12
“THE FINEST BIG BAND IN THE WORLD TODAY.” —London’s Daily Telegraph
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by Wynton Marsalis, is made up of 15 of the finest soloists, ensemble players, and arrangers in jazz music today. Each time the group returns to the Mondavi Center, it continues to surprise with new repertoire from its talented musicians/composers, as well as presenting jazz classics from the likes of Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and others. This year, they kick off the jazz series, bringing a fresh, ever-evolving glimpse of America’s music.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $55 $42 $23
WEDNESDAY
SEP
28
on SFJAZZ Collective
SFJAZZ Collective The Music of Miles Davis and Original Compositions
OCT
14
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2016 8PM
mondaviarts.org
FRIDAY
Musicians are still reckoning with Miles Davis’ influence on jazz. As a composer, bandleader, instrumentalist and innovator, Davis pushed the music and the culture in countless new directions, from cool jazz (Birth of the Cool), post-bop (Kind of Blue) to the heady days of fusion (In a Silent Way) and beyond. It has only been a matter of time for the eight performers and composers of the SFJAZZ Collective to reckon with Davis’ influence. They will do so with new arrangements of his compositions played alongside new pieces by the Collective members.
16–17 Jackson Hall Jazz Series
“YOU CAN PROPOSE VARIOUS DEFINITIONS FOR WHAT THIS BAND REPRESENTS, BUT IT’S A SUPERBRAIN FOR WHAT SERIOUS JAZZ SOUNDS LIKE NOW.” —The New York Times
ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
Sponsored by
Jackson Hall Jazz Series $160/$123/$82 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 4 events includes: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra WED, SEP 28
SFJAZZ Collective FRI, OCT 14
Jelly and George featuring Aaron Diehl and Cécile McLorin Salvant TUE, MAR 14
Aziza Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland WED, APR 5
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16–17 Jackson Hall Jazz Series
Director’s Choice
Jelly and George featuring Aaron Diehl and Cécile McLorin Salvant TUESDAY
MAR
14 “THE FINEST JAZZ SINGER TO EMERGE IN THE LAST DECADE.” —The New York Times on Cécile McLorin Salvant
Jelly Roll Morton was a ragtime and stride legend, while George Gershwin worked on the borders of jazz, classical and popular song. Now a new generation of musicians, led by pianist Aaron Diehl and singer Cécile McLorin Salvant, turns the spotlight on timeless classics and little-known gems by these jazz masters. Diehl is a pianist who plays with “melodic precision, harmonic erudition, and elegant restraint.” Salvant was a highlight of last season’s Jackson Hall Jazz series, a singer who has “the fresh perspective of a savvy post-modern thinker who has digested the entire repertoire and uses it to tell her own stories” (The Times-Picayune).
TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
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Jackson Hall Jazz Series $160/$123/$82 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 4 events includes: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra WED, SEP 28
SFJAZZ Collective FRI, OCT 14
Jelly and George featuring Aaron Diehl and Cécile McLorin Salvant TUE, MAR 14
Aziza Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland WED, APR 5
WEDNESDAY
APR
5
Aziza Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5, 2017 8PM
mondaviarts.org
The collaborative nature of jazz makes the idea of super groups almost commonplace. So, when a group comes along with such a distinct identity and history, it is always worth a close listen. Dave Holland stands among the giants of jazz bass, having worked with everyone from Miles Davis to Roy Haynes. Chris Potter is a saxophonist whose powerful playing is matched only by his progressive spirit. Guitarist Lionel Loueke carries the musical expression of his native Benin and the ghost of Jimi Hendrix in his spirit. And Eric Harland is a globetrotting rhythmic superpower, innovating with taste and precision.
16–17 Jackson Hall Jazz Series
“THE COMMANDER-INCHIEF OF A FIRST RATE, CUTTING EDGE GROUP HAS TO BE EVERYTHING: CREATIVE GENIUS AND EFFECTIVE ENTREPRENEUR, POWER PLAYER AND DIPLOMAT ... FEW CURRENT LEADERS EXEMPLIFY THE ROLE AS WELL AS BASSIST DAVE HOLLAND.” —Downbeat
ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21 WEDNESDAY
APR
5
Sponsored by
Jazz The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
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Studio Jazz
Director’s Choice
Your favorite intimate jazz club, featuring emerging and established artists.
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Joey Alexander Trio An extraordinary and uniquely gifted young pianist from Bali, Joey Alexander taught himself to play piano by listening with his father to classic jazz albums. Alexander’s father soon recognized that his son’s gift to grasp complicated musical concepts was beyond someone of his years. The family relocated to New York City to allow Alexander’s gift to flourish. It clearly was a wise decision: his recording debut, My Favorite Things, was nominated as Best Instrumental Jazz Album for the 2016 Grammy Awards. This is a rare opportunity to see a prodigious musical talent at the outset of his career.
WEDNESDAY–SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19–22, 2016 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $40
WEDNESDAY– SATURDAY
OCT
19-22 “I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING: THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THIS MUSIC.” —Gary Walker, WBGO
WEDNESDAY– SATURDAY
15-18
26-29
FEB
“ALMOST A WORLD UNTO HIMSELF.” —The New York Times
APR
Edmar Castaneda Trio
Etienne Charles
WEDNESDAY–SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15–18, 2017 8PM
Creole Soul Hailed by Jazz Times as “a daring improviser who delivers with heart-rending lyricism,” Etienne Charles cuts across musical boundaries in the most appealing of ways. Whether dropping stirring improvisation into Afro-Caribbean grooves or diving into the work of calypso legends Lord Kitchener, Mighty Sparrow and Roaring Lion, Charles has a knack for connecting with his musical roots. He and his band bring a high-energy show that will have audiences stirring it up in their seats.
WEDNESDAY–SATURDAY, APRIL 26–29, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $40
ADD-ON & CYO $40
Jazz Sponsored by
Studio Jazz Series
$113 Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Cabaret Seating
“JAZZ IS CREOLE MUSIC ... I COME FROM A FUSION OF RHYTHMS, A FUSION OF CULTURES. ” —Etienne Charles
mondaviarts.org
Jazz has a long history of embracing new sounds—from Yusef Lateef’s Chinese flute to Sun Ra’s use of theremin. So the jazz harp, made famous by Alice Coltrane, is relatively standard fare. But no one has played the harp with the virtuosity of Colombia’s Edmar Castaneda. A frequent collaborator with Pacquito D’Rivera, Castaneda plays an intricate fascinating music that draws on South American sounds and the improvisational language of jazz. He crafts almost unbelievable feats of cross-rhythms, layered with chordal nuances rivaling the most celebrated flamenco guitarist’s efforts.
16–17 Studio Jazz Series
WEDNESDAY– SATURDAY
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: Joey Alexander Trio WED–SAT, OCT 19–22
Edmar Castaneda Trio WED–SAT, FEB 15–18
Etienne Charles WED–SAT, APR 26–29
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
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American Heritage From acoustic folk to electric blues, from soulful gospel to classic rock, a celebration of our musical legacy. 18
Del McCoury Band >
FRIDAY
OCT
28 Maceo Parker with The Jones Family Singers Saxophonist Maceo Parker embodies the legacy of soul and funk music like no other musician can. Parker has been a common thread in the history of funk—helping to pioneer the sound of the genre in collaborations alongside seminal icons like James Brown, George Clinton, and Prince, all the while honing his own signature brand of showmanship. In this only-at-Mondavi Center pairing, we dig into the gospel roots of funk with The Jones Family Singers. Consisting in part of five sisters, two brothers and their father, the Texas-based gospel powerhouse are modern practitioners of a long musical tradition, infusing joyful and reverent songs with vintage soul, funk and R&B.
mondaviarts.org
“THE THREEGENERATION GOSPEL COLLECTIVE’S HIGHENERGY PERFORMANCES ARE THE LIVING EMBODIMENT OF THE INDELIBLE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE BLACK CHURCH AND ITS ROCK & SOUL OFFSPRING.”
16–17 American Heritage Series
“MACEO PARKER IS A FUNK TITAN .... MUST BE REGARDED AS SIMPLY ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT SAXOPHONISTS.” —San Jose Mercury News
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016 8PM
—Austin Chronicle
ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
American Heritage Series $134/$102/$65 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: Maceo Parker with The Jones Family Singers FRI, OCT 28
The Real Nashville TUE, MAR 21
Arlo Guthrie SAT, APR 15
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
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16–17 American Heritage Series
SATURDAY
21
15
MAR
APR
The Real Nashville Featuring the Del McCoury Band, Béla Fleck and Abigail Washburn
Arlo Guthrie Running Down the Road On his last sold-out visit to the Mondavi Center, Arlo Guthrie celebrated the 50th anniversary of “Alice’s Restaurant.” Now the beloved 1960s counterculture singer-songwriter and social commentator revisits his classic album, Running Down the Road, bringing his singular voice, timeless stories and unforgettable classic tunes including the psychedelic title song and folk-rock styling of “Coming into Los Angeles.”
Nashville, Tennessee has long been the home to country music. In recent years Music City has lived up to its name, with musicians of all stripes and backgrounds settling in to explore their artistic muse. This special tour dives into Americana music with two of the most exhilarating groups working today. Del McCoury is bluegrass royalty with the most awarded band in bluegrass music (multiple Grammys and nine Entertainer of the Year Awards). Béla Fleck, long known for his adventurous expansion of the banjo, teams with vocalist and banjo player Abigail Washburn for an equally creative exploration of American sounds.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
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TUESDAY
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $55 $42 $23
Heritage American Heritage Series $134/$102/$65 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: Maceo Parker with The Jones Family Singers FRI, OCT 28
The Real Nashville TUE, MAR 21
Arlo Guthrie SAT, APR 15
—The Huffington Post
Bumper Jacksons The Bumper Jacksons paint America’s story from New Orleans’ Storyville to Appalachian hollers. Unafraid to scrap together new sounds from forgotten 78s, the band runs hot and sweet, paying homage to the richest threads of American music tradition while fashioning their own unique DIY style. The plaintive touch of pedal steel and trombone round out the creative original tunes and re-imagined roots sounds. The band balances power and tenderness while dropping audiences into the center of a musical party where everyone is invited.
WEDNESDAY–SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5–8, 2016 8PM VST ADD-ON & CYO $40
mondaviarts.org
This event is not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
16–17 American Heritage Series + Add-On
“THEIR HELLACIOUS DEVIL MUSIC WILL MAKE YOU GET UP AND DANCE!”
WEDNESDAY– SATURDAY
OCT
5-8 Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
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With A Twist All is not what it seems in this quirky series where you can expect the unexpected!
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TUESDAY
DEC
13 The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain Holiday Show Celebrating “30 plucking years” of funny, virtuosic, twanging, footstomping rock-n-roll and melodious entertainment featuring only the “bonsai guitar,” the Ukes continue to share the astonishingly rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles and singing (and a bit of whistling), this time with a first-ever holiday program. The Orchestra uses the limitations of the instrument to create a musical freedom that reveals unsuspected musical insights. You may never think about popular music (or the charming selection of holiday tunes) in the same way once you’ve been exposed to the Ukes’ delightfully depraved musicology. Tune your ukes (and your voices) for a much-anticipated string-and-sing-along (details to follow on our website).
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 7PM ADD-ON & CYO $67 $53 $31
“THE UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN REALLY SHOULD BE A NATIONAL INSTITUTION OF THE SAME ILK AS GRAMMAR SCHOOLS, FISH AND CHIPS, TRAFFIC JAMS AND THE NHS.” —Manchester Evening News
SUNDAY
SATURDAY
29
1
JAN
APR
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
rescue instruments from dust bunnies, lockers and local pawn shops. Given the fact this show drops on April Fools’ Day, all should be prepared for hijinks of the first order.
SATURDAY, APRIL 1, 2017 8PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 29, 2017 7PM
mondaviarts.org
Packing, unpacking, and repacking tutus and giant-sized toe shoes are a way of life for this international dance phenomenon. Celebrating over 40 years of presenting their playful, but decidedly rigorous, view of traditional, classical ballet en travesti, the Trocks continue to charm with their inspired blend of loving knowledge of dance, comic approach and the astounding fact that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces. From the early days of performing in late-late shows in off-off Broadway lofts to the stages of the Bolshoi and the Folies Bergere, this company of professional male dancers have deservedly enjoyed both popular and critical success around the world.
“A BRILLIANTLY Mucca Pazza CALCULATED It takes music stands and artistic discipline to keep the members MONDO-BIZARRO of Mucca Pazza from bounding out of their seats and into the audience. This composers collective emerged from the thriving DEMENTIA, AND Chicago underground music scene and draws inspiration LIBERAL AMOUNTS from Ellington, Esquivel and Zappa. Combining marching band traditions and street theater spectacle with rock and OF HUMOR.” roll sensibilities and a high level of musicianship, Mucca Pazza performances will surely incite future and former band geeks to —The Wall Street Journal
16–17 With A Twist Series
“ONE OF THE GREAT COMIC CREATIONS OF THE AMERICAN STAGE.” —San Francisco Chronicle
ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
ADD-ON & CYO $49 $40 $21
Twist Sponsored by
With A Twist Series $146/$115/$70 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain TUE, DEC 13
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo SUN, JAN 29
Mucca Pazza SAT, APR 1
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
23
Visions
Add-On:
Get up close and personal with some of the most innovative artists working today, in spaces that encourage engagement and discovery.
These Visions events are not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
SATURDAY
SATURDAY
8
29
OCT
Ethel
Lara Downes
Documerica
America Again
In 1971, the newly established Environmental Protection Agency launched Project Documerica, commissioning photographers to create a massive “snapshot” of America. Inspired by the massive archive of this tumultuous time, modern string quartet Ethel created Documerica, a multimedia project that interweaves stunning projections of over 3,000 vintage photographs with newly commissioned contemporary music by Mary Ellen Childs, Ulysses Owens, Jr., Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate and James Kimo Williams. Coupled with Ethel’s own original works, the music explores blues, jazz, Native American traditional, bluegrass and old-time string band, filtered through a distinctly 21st-century lens.
Recipient of the 2016 Sphinx Organization Medal of Excellence, Lara Downes presents a recital of American music inspired by the Langston Hughes poem Let America Be America Again. Selections from Gershwin, Barber, Beach, Copland, Ellington, Bernstein and more join in a chorus of voices inspired by the persistent, often unrealized American dream of equality and opportunity. These performances mark the release of Downes’ America Again album on the Sono Luminus label.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2016 8PM JH STAGE
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016 8PM JH STAGE
ADD-ON & CYO $30
ADD-ON & CYO $30
Explore the season! 24
OCT
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
THURSDAY– SATURDAY
25-26
16-18
FEB
“LUSCIOUS, MOODY AND DREAMY.” —The New York Times
Richter Uzur Duo
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2017 8PM VST CABARET SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 2PM VST CABARET ADD-ON & CYO $30
Director’s Choice
Shane Koyczan Shane Koyczan is an extraordinary talent, one that has blown the dust off of the traditional designation “poet.” His performance in the opening ceremony of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics brought him to the world’s attention, and his viral “To This Day” Project video focused new emotional urgency on the subject of bullying. Winner of the U.S. Slam Poetry Championship and the Canadian Spoken Word Olympics, Koyczan is best experienced up close and personal, with his rhythmic verse in high gear, piloting his audience through social and political territory with a furious honesty and a tender humanity.
mondaviarts.org
Trained at the Royal College of Music and the Moscow Conservatory, respectively, guitarist Brad Richter and cellist Viktor Uzur pair original compositions with blazing improvisations and iconic works by composers such as Bartók, Gershwin, Rimsky-Korsakov and SaintSaëns. A staple on NPR’s Performance Today, the duo’s unique programs combine elements of classical music, rock, Eastern European folk and North American indigenous music—all played with a native sense of vernacular, integrity and charm—to produce a sound that is all their own.
MAR
16–17 Add-On: Visions
SATURDAY– SUNDAY
THURSDAY–SATURDAY, MARCH 16–18, 2017 8PM VST CABARET ADD-ON & CYO $30
“ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING DUOS ON THE SCENE TODAY.” —Guitar International
“SHANE KOYCZAN IS AT THE HEART OF A CATEGORY FIVE CREATIVE HURRICANE.” —The Vancouver Sun
25
Holidays
Add-On:
These Holidays events are not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
26
TUESDAY
NOV
29 Vienna Boys Choir Christmas in Vienna Kick start your holidays with the beloved Vienna Boys Choir in an extraordinary program featuring Austrian folk songs, classical masterpieces, popular songs and, of course, holiday favorites. Boys have been singing at Vienna’s Imperial Chapel since 1296. In 1498, Maximilian I moved his court to Vienna and instructed there were to be six singing boys among his musicians. This marked the foundation of what is known today as the Vienna Boys Choir. Over the centuries, the Viennese Court attracted musicians like Mozart, Salieri and Bruckner; Joseph Haydn, Michael Haydn, and Franz Schubert were themselves choristers. Today the Choir, under the direction of Gerald Wirth, features 100 singers between the ages of 9 and 14, performing over 300 concerts a year.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2016 7PM JH ADD-ON & CYO $67 $53 $31
“THE VIENNA BOYS CHOIR IS A WORLD TREASURE, NOT JUST AN AUSTRIAN ONE.” —Fort Worth Star Telegram
TUESDAY
10
13
DEC
DEC
The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
Messiah
Holiday Show
Messiah was originally written for Easter services, and at a time when George Frideric Handel was at the height of his powers and popularity. Upon its debut in April of 1742, the oratorio was so popular that ladies were asked to leave their hoop skirts at home so more people could fit into the concert hall. Though tradition has evolved to stage Messiah at Christmas time, audiences continue to pack houses for the masterwork, especially when the acclaimed American Bach Soloists come to town. This bi-annual tradition at the Mondavi Center returns, under the baton of UC Davis professor and early-music scholar Jeffrey Thomas.
Celebrating “30 plucking years” of funny, virtuosic, twanging, foot-stomping rock-n-roll and melodious entertainment featuring only the “bonsai guitar,” the Ukes continue to share the astonishingly rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles and singing (and a bit of whistling), this time with a first-ever holiday program. The Orchestra uses the limitations of the instrument to create a musical freedom that reveals unsuspected musical insights. You may never think about popular music (or the charming selection of holiday tunes) in the same way once you’ve been exposed to the Ukes’ delightfully depraved musicology. Tune your ukes (and your voices) for a much-anticipated string-and-sing-along (details to follow on our website).
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2016 7PM JH
Also part of With A Twist Series. See p. 22
mondaviarts.org
American Bach Soloists
16–17 Add-On: Holidays
SATURDAY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 7PM JH ADD-ON & CYO $67 $53 $31
ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
These Holidays events are not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
27
India in the Artist’s Eye
Add-On:
All events in this festival are Director’s Choice
These India in the Artist’s Eye events are not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
28
”INDIA IN THE ARTIST’S EYE IS A YEAR-LONG FESTIVAL CELEBRATING AND INTERROGATING THE ROLE OF THE ARTIST IN SHAPING OUR UNDERSTANDING AND RECEPTION OF INDIA.”
The festival gathers artists from India and the United States, and will showcase a range of artistic sensibilities. The inaugural event on the kolam/ rangoli highlights women’s domestic art, while the musical theater production by Devendra Sharma’s California-based troupe, brings Swang-Nautanki, a popular northern Indian theater practice to Davis for the first time. In the winter, two of India’s most famous musicians, Sikkil Gurucharan and Shujaat Khan, both hailing from legendary musical lineages, will perform together in a musical dialogue between the two great Indian classical music traditions. In the spring, we will host a film festival, Persistance Resistance, curated by New Delhi-based Gargi Sen on independent cinema from the Indian subcontinent. Clare Arni’s photography exhibition Disappearing Professions in Urban India will run through the year, as an invitation into the many disappearing artistic-labor worlds of India. India in the Artist’s Eye is a dialogue about artists and with artists about what it means to be an ‘Indian artist’ and how India emerges with(in) the eye of the artist. —Archana Venkatesan, Chair, Department of Religious Studies and Associate Professor of Comparative Literature
Disappearing Professions in Urban India A Photo Exhibit by Clare Arni
Madh Island, fishing baskets, color coded by the Koli fishing women, stored in a tree near the fish drying yards. Photo by Clare Arni
In this body of work, Arni explores the historical patterns of the disappearing professions in urban India and investigates how some of these professions have become obsolete while others have survived through a process of adaptation.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016–JUNE, 2017 YOCHA DEHE GRAND LOBBY FREE
Kolam/Rangoli Kolam, Rangoli or Rangavalli Muggu is an artistic creation drawn with rice flour on the thresholds of homes. In keeping with this practice, accomplished kolam artist, Harini Muralidharan, accompanied by several local artists, will decorate the threshold of the Mondavi Center with a variety of kolams representing the diversity of India, on the inaugural day of the India in the Artist’s Eye festival. Professor Vijaya Nagarajan, University of San Francisco, an expert of the kolam, will be on hand to explicate the many cultural dimensions of the kolam.
FREE
Detail from Vijaya Nagarajan’s presentation “Kolam: Feeding a Thousand Souls.”
Swang-Nantuki Musical Theater
Sultana Daku
Sultana Daku depicts the exploits of Sultana, the notorious dacoit (thief ) from early 20th-century India who lived in the jungles of Uttar Pradesh with his gang of 300 robbers and his lover, Phulkanwar. This Nautanki is a humorous tale of the cat and mouse chase between Sultana and the British superintendent of police—Freddie Young. Dr. Devendra Sharma brings this century old, extremely popular Nautanki classic to life for a contemporary audience. FRIDAY
SEP
30
Dr. Sharma as Sultana in Nautanki Sultana Daku
A complete schedule of festival events can be found online at mondaviarts.org.
DATE TBD VST ADD-ON & CYO $35
Sikkil Gurucharan and Shujaat Khan in Concert
Presented with the Ravi Shankar Foundation
A Jugalbandi
“Electrifying,” “entrancing” and “unbelievable” are just three of the accolades most often heard when tabla player Bickram Ghosh performs with his group Drums of India. Comprised of four master drummers from India, playing a variety of traditional Indian drums, and supported with sitar, this ensemble has thrilled audiences throughout the Indian continent. Drums of India comes for its first North American tour in partnership with the Ravi Shankar Foundation.
Jugalbandi, a term that translates as “entwined twins,” describes a musical dialog between two solo performers. India’s two great classical music systems, the Carnatic and Hindustani, are showcased by two legendary Indian musicians, Sikkil Gurucharan and Shujaat Khan, respectively. Exploring melodic modes (raga), lyric (sahitya), and rhythm (tala), through collaboration and improvisation, the artists reveal both what is distinctive and complementary in Carnatic and Hindustani music.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 8PM JH
SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2017 8PM VST SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 2017 2PM VST
ADD-ON & CYO $45 $35 $25
ADD-ON & CYO $35
mondaviarts.org
Bickram Ghosh’s Drums of India
16–17 Add-On: India in the Artist’s Eye
One of the most popular performance genres of northern India, Nautanki’s rich musical compositions, fine poetry, and humorous, entertaining storylines hold a strong influence over north Indian people’s imagination. Even after the spread of mass media, a crowd of 10,000 to 15,000 can be seen at the top Nautanki performances.
Persistence Resistance
A festival of contemporary documentaries from India and South Asia curated by Gargi Sen Since its inception in 2008 in New Delhi, India, Persistence Resistance has interrogated what happens when art gets inextricably linked to the politics of subversion and resistance. This six-part film series is an invitation to celebrate the changing limits of history, narrative, ideology, culture and aesthetics as expressed through independent documentary cinema from South Asia. It invites the spectator not simply to view but to engage, argue, articulate and to participate. Spandan Banerjee’s You Don’t Belong
Documentary filmmaker Gargi Sen
DATE TBD VST ADD-ON & CYO $10
29
World Stage A musical journey around the globe with some of the world’s finest cultural ambassadors.
30
Diego El Cigala >
“THE UNDISPUTED KING OF SPAIN’S FLAMENCO SINGERS.” —Thom Jurek, AllMusic
SATURDAY
1
12
NOV
NOV
Diego El Cigala
Havana Cuba All-Stars Cuban Nights The Cuban word for friendship is asere. In their inaugural tour of North America, the Havana Cuba All-Stars, some of Cuba’s greatest and most prominent living musicians, have brought asere in abundance. Drawing their inspiration from traditional Cuban son, they have developed a fresh sound with inventive songwriting while preserving the traditions of the Cuban musical art form. From the familiar cha cha cha rhythm that inspired the world, to contemporary narratives on today’s Cuba, Cuban Nights is an eclectic yet intimate collection of son sounds revealing the rich Cuban tapestry of music that includes Latin, European and African roots as well as influences from Caribbean neighbors Haiti and Jamaica.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2016 8PM
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016 8PM
ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
mondaviarts.org
Three-time Grammy winner Diego El Cigala has captivated audiences all over the world with his gravelly voice and passionate interpretation of flamenco. Born in Madrid, El Cigala has often been touted as “The Sinatra of Flamenco.” His various collaborations with world-renowned Latin American artists have earned him a reputation for seamlessly melding the rhythms and melodies of his Spanish Gitano heritage with styles ranging from bolero to tango, Afro-Caribbean jazz, and son (a style of music and dance that originated in Cuba and gained worldwide popularity during the 1930s).
16–17 World Stage Series
TUESDAY
ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
World Stage World Stage Series $190/$150/$100 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 5 events includes: Diego El Cigala TUE, NOV 1
Havana Cuba All-Stars SAT, NOV 12
Black Arm Band WED, FEB 8
The Chieftains SUN, FEB 19
Dervish & Le Vent du Nord FRI, MAR 17
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
31
16–17 World Stage Series
WEDNESDAY
SUNDAY
8
19
FEB
Director’s Choice
Black Arm Band dirtsong In Aboriginal tradition, it is believed that uttering the name or viewing an image of a person no longer living will recall and disturb the spirit. Yet it is the spirit—of the people, the land, the history and the traditions—that infuses dirtsong, an unforgettable and powerful multimedia journey through Australia’s cultural heartland. Set against a stunning backdrop of moving images and language, the performance features unforgettable songs performed in 11 different Aboriginal languages from some of the most extraordinary performers in the land, backed by an exciting ensemble of Melbourne’s finest jazz musicians.
“AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE THAT SAYS MORE ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE SOLIDARITY THAN A MILLION PARLIAMENTARY SPEECHES.” —The West Australian
FEB
The Chieftains After five decades of making some of the most beautiful music in the world, the members of the Chieftains remain as fresh and relevant as when they first began. Their ability to transcend musical boundaries and to blend traditional with modern music has garnered them six Grammy awards. As cultural ambassadors, their performances have been linked with seminal historic events, such as being the first Western musicians to perform on the Great Wall of China and being the first ensemble to perform a concert in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. As regular visitors to the Mondavi Center know, they always bring the house down.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2017 7PM ADD-ON & CYO $49 $40 $21
World
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
32
World Stage Series $190/$150/$100 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 5 events includes: Diego El Cigala TUE, NOV 1
Havana Cuba All-Stars SAT, NOV 12
Black Arm Band WED, FEB 8
The Chieftains SUN, FEB 19
Dervish & Le Vent du Nord FRI, MAR 17
A mandolin virtuoso and composer, the supremely gifted Danilo Brito explores the unique cultural tradition of choro music from his native Brazil. With 19th-century origins, choro is an instrumental form marked by virtuosity, improvisation, syncopation and counterpoint. It’s considered by many the first Brazilian genre of popular music. A child prodigy, Brito did not take formal lessons until age 12 and still retains much of the natural expressionism he developed as a child playing rodas de choro (Brazilian jam sessions).
WEDNESDAY–SATURDAY, MARCH 22–25, 2017 8PM VST ADD-ON & CYO $30
FRIDAY
MAR
17 This event is not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
Dervish Le Vent du Nord
WEDNESDAY– SATURDAY
MAR
Featuring the charismatic vocals of Cathy Jordan and the virtuosity of its award-winning instrumentalists, Dervish is the preeminent traditional music band from Ireland’s Wild West. Its colorful 20-year career has taken Dervish to every corner of the globe and has seen them share the stage with such names as James Brown, R.E.M., Beck and many more. For this St. Patrick’s Day celebration they’re joined by their Celtic cousins further west, Juno award-winning Le Vent du Nord. Drawing on a deep Quebecois folk tradition, the quartet will kick off the evening with a performance that has all the vital energy, humor and intimacy of a Friday evening house party.
22-25
16–17 World Stage Series + Add-On
Danilo Brito Trio
“SUPREMELY GIFTED.” — Mandolin Magazine
FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017 7PM ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
Stage Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
33
Dance Movement, music and acclaimed choreography come together creating unique expressions of the human experience. 34
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE >
“MR. BROWN’S MESHING OF AFRICAN AND MODERN DANCE IS LIKE AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE THAT FIRST HITS THE SHOULDERS AND DRAWS A LINE DOWN TO THE FEET AMID SWIVELING HIPS AND SLICING ARMS.” —The New York Times
THURSDAY
NOV
JAN
5
26
CANCELLED
Beijing Dance Theater
Director’s Choice
Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE A Dance Company
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2016 8PM
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $42 $31 $21
“WE ARE CHINA’S FIRST CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY AND WE HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE HOW CHINESE PEOPLE VIEW THE ART.” —Wang Yuanyuan
mondaviarts.org
Deep spirituality and an embrace of the rhythms of the African diaspora are hallmarks of Ronald K. Brown’s work. Founded by Brown in 1985, and based in Brooklyn, New York, EVIDENCE, A Dance Company uses movement as a way to reinforce the importance of community in African American culture and to acquaint audiences with the beauty of traditional African forms and rhythms. This program has a deep focus on Cuba: Why You Follow is a rousing ensemble piece exploring Afro-Cuban rhythms, while IFE/Heart takes a look at the parallel journey of U.S., Cuban and West African traditions towards love. The two pieces are presented alongside the duet March.
Founded in 2008, Beijing Dance Theater is led by its choreographer Wang Yuanyuan together with visual artists Tan Shaoyuan and Hanjiang. It has collaborated with many internationally renowned dramatists, musicians and designers, enriching the international dance stages with its stunning productions, each of which represents the highest level of Chinese contemporary dance.
16–17 Dance Series
SATURDAY
Dance
ADD-ON & CYO $42 $31 $21
Dance Series
$118/$89/$60 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE SAT, NOV 5
Beijing Dance Theater THU, JAN 26
ODC/Dance SAT, APR 29
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
35
16–17 Dance Series
SATURDAY
APR
29 “A COLOSSAL TRIUMPH OF THE IMAGINATION, CONTINUALLY DRAWING US BACK TO THE MYSTERY OF GOLDSWORTHY’S DANCE WITH NATURE.” —The Huffington Post
ODC/Dance Boulders and Bones ODC/Dance is one of San Francisco’s finest dance companies, merging ballet and modern techniques, while actively collaborating with musicians and artists like Bobby McFerrin, Paul Dresher and Wayne Thiebaud. Boulders and Bones is a landmark work inspired by the creations of visual artist Andy Goldsworthy. Set to a commissioned score by acclaimed cellist Zoë Keating, Brenda Way and KT Nelson’s choreography touches on transformation in both art and nature, while RJ Muna’s cinematic mise en scène traces the shifting light, changing landscape, and building process of Goldsworthy’s work.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $42 $31 $21
Dance
36
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
Dance Series
$118/$89/$60 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE SAT, NOV 5
Beijing Dance Theater THU, JAN 26
ODC/Dance SAT, APR 29
Dance Theatre of Harlem brings a legacy of more than 40 years of creative expression to its every performance. From its creation by Arthur Mitchell in 1969 to its current tenure under Virginia Johnson, the company has grown into a multi-cultural dance organization with an extraordinary legacy of providing opportunities for creative expression and artistic excellence. The company has garnered critical acclaim for history-making productions across an eclectic repertoire, and its current rebirth has seen an infusion of new work from remarkable choreographers.
THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 8PM JH ADD-ON & CYO $49 $40 $21
This event is not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
THURSDAY
MAR
2
16–17 Dance Series + Add-On
Dance Theatre of Harlem
mondaviarts.org
Explore the season!
Add-On
37
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
11
Marvels Visual delights and fantastical feats ... breathtaking fun for the young and the young at heart!
The Passing Zone The Passing Zone Saves the World Roaring chainsaws fly through the air. Scooters zip around the stage. Audience members become part of the fun by juggling or being swung around the stage in astronaut suits. After meeting in college, Jon Wee and Owen Morse decided to forego careers in economics and psychology, and instead, lit some torches, and started throwing stuff into the air. They have since gone on to win prestigious juggling competitions, broken several world records, opened for comedy legends, and performed for presidents and princes. And now, with The Passing Zone Saves the World, they put the superhero capes, and the world’s troubles, on their shoulders in an attempt to save us all!
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2016 3PM ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
38
SUNDAY
OCT
16
SUNDAY
SUNDAY
26
26
FEB
MAR
Lightwire
Diavolo
Dino-Light A Glow-in-the-Dark Adventure
L.O.S.T.: Passengers
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 3PM
SUNDAY, MARCH 26, 2017 3PM
Marvels
ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
Sponsored by
Artistic Director
mondaviarts.org
Based in New Orleans, Lightwire Theater is internationally recognized for their signature brand of electroluminescent artistry, poignant storytelling and evocative music scores that create an imaginative audiovisual experience. In Dino-Light a famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the curious dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love. A recipient of the prestigious Jim Henson Foundation Grant, Dino-Light has been praised for its cutting-edge blend of puppetry, technology and dance by audiences all over the world.
The Los Angeles-based Diavolo, founded by choreographer and visionary Jacques Heim, uses dance to explore the relationship between the human body and its architectural environment. The company celebrates 25 years of visceral and awe-inspiring works that reveal how we are affected emotionally, physically and socially by the spaces we inhabit, with a brand new work: L.O.S.T. (Losing One’s Self Temporarily) Passengers. On and around a giant morphing staircase with multiple doors, passageways and shifting surfaces, dancers reckon with transitions and tenuous balance, taking the audience on a journey between vulnerability and control, losing and reshaping ourselves as we traverse our daily lives.
“WHAT WE DO ON STAGE IS LIKE A LIVE ABSTRACT PAINTING.” —Jacques Heim, Diavolo
16–17 Marvels Series
“ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.” —Rolling Stone
ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
Marvels Series $122/$94/$65 Jackson Hall Standard Seating
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: The Passing Zone SUN, OCT 16
Lightwire SUN, FEB 26
Diavolo SUN, MAR 26
39
Children’s Stage
SUNDAY
NOV
6
“GOODNIGHT STARS, GOODNIGHT AIR, GOODNIGHT NOISES EVERYWHERE.” —Goodnight Moon
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny
Music, puppetry and storytelling, oh my! Introducing the joys of live performance to our youngest patrons.
Adapted from Margaret Wise Brown’s 60-year-old classic, Goodnight Moon is a celebration of familiar nighttime rituals, while The Runaway Bunny’s pretend tale of leaving home evokes reassuring responses from his loving mom. Both stage adaptations feature endearing animal puppets and stunning scenic effects based on Clement Hurd’s illustrations, and evocative musical accompaniment. The hour-long staged adaptation from the internationally acclaimed Mermaid Theatre brings a fresh appreciation of the stories and images that have delighted several generations, and is perfect for kids 2-years-old and up.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 3PM JH 40
ADD-ON & CYO $17
SATURDAY– SUNDAY
23-30
8-9
OCT
Cashore Marionettes
APR
Director’s Choice
Sound Maze by Paul Dresher
Simple Gifts
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2016 4PM VST SATURDAY–SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29–30, 2016 2PM & 4PM VST ADD-ON & CYO $34
An immersive, interactive experience Sound Maze is an immersive, interactive experience of sound and mechanics, consisting of over a dozen newly invented musical instruments and sound sculptures. Designed for audiences of all ages—regardless of musical experience—participants are fully encouraged to engage, experiment with, improve upon, and play these extraordinary inventions to discover new ways of creating sound and music. Created and built by Bay Area composer and instrument inventor Paul Dresher in collaboration with Alex Vittum and Daniel Schmidt, Sound Maze is designed to unleash the musical creativity of all our participants, rewarding the curious but musically inexperienced as well as those who have a lifelong engagement with sound and music.
SATURDAY–SUNDAY, APRIL 8–9, 2017 VST ADD-ON & CYO
mondaviarts.org
The internationally acclaimed Cashore Marionettes redefine the art of puppetry. The program, Simple Gifts, is a series of touching portrayals and poignant scenes from everyday life set to stunning music by such composers as Vivaldi, Strauss, Beethoven and Copland. Through a combination of virtuoso manipulation, beautiful music, theatrical illusion, and artistic insight, the original vignettes presented in Simple Gifts provide an entertaining and sensitive vision of what it is to be human. Engineering marvels with an extraordinary quality of movement, the marionettes explore a range of emotions with characters and actions that are amazingly convincing in the gifted hands of their master.
16–17 Children’s Stage Series
SUNDAY– SUNDAY
$17
Children’s Stage
Sound Maze will have timed entries on each hour, and be accessible for one hour windows. Please select your preferred entry window on the order form, and we will do our best to accommodate you.
Sponsored by
Children’s Stage Series $64
Subscription Package of 3 events includes: Cashore Marionettes SUN–SUN, OCT 23–30
Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia SUN, NOV 6
Sound Maze by Paul Dresher SAT–SUN, APR 8–9
41
Rising Stars of Opera
Add-On: SATURDAY
OCT
1
Rising Stars of Opera Members of San Francisco Opera Adler Fellows UC Davis Symphony Orchestra Christian Baldini, MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR Rising Stars of Opera presents the San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellows, a select group of exceptionally gifted young singers who are gracing renowned opera house stages throughout the world. Now a celebrated Mondavi Center tradition, the Rising Stars of Opera performance is presented in two halves: a recital with pianist Mark Morash accompanying several of the Adler Fellows, followed by a full orchestral performance, conducted by Christian Baldini, featuring familiar arias and duets. This special event is provided free to the community through the generosity of our dear Mondavi Center friend, Barbara K. Jackson.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2016 7PM JH Free. Limit 4 per order. This event does not count towards a CYO Subscription.
42
Christian Baldini, UC Davis Symphony Orchestra music director and conductor
“Because the tickets are free, each year students and community members who otherwise might not attend an opera-related performance give the music a try, perhaps because they have a friend or roommate playing in the orchestra, or perhaps because they’re just curious. And many of these casual attendees discover that opera can be a lot of fun—a discovery that brings a big smile to Jackson’s face.”
—Jeff Hudson, Davis Enterprise on the annual Rising Stars of Opera event.
The 13th Annual national Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition (YAC) supports young artists in the early stages of their careers, providing scholarships to further their musical studies as well as valuable performance opportunities to encourage their artistic growth. This year the competition features the Founders Prize in Violin to U.S.-residents ages 18–22, and the Young Artists Prize to California-resident pianists and instrumentalists ages 12–17. The weekend-long finals celebration includes three events:
FRIDAY– SUNDAY
MAY
5-7
Young Artists All-Stars Concert
Young Artists Competition Finals
Young Artists Competition Winners Concert
The Young Artists Competition weekend kicks off with a celebratory concert featuring YAC alumni in a mixed repertoire program.
Talented young musicians from across the United States take the stage with their best repertoire before an esteemed panel of judges. The finalists will be competing for cash prizes and a spot in the Young Artists Competition Winners Concert.
Mondavi Center resident pianist Lara Downes hosts the celebratory concert featuring the incredibly talented winners of the 13th annual Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition. The competition, held by live auditions in cities throughout the U.S., is juried by a panel of internationally renowned musicians, with winners in multiple instrumental categories.
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017 8PM JH
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017 10AM JH
SUNDAY, MAY 7, 2017 2PM JH
Young Artists Competition
Add-On:
Young Artists Competition is sold as a 3-event package. ADD-ON & CYO
$42
Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
43
Theater
Add-On:
These Theater events are not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
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FRIDAY
TUESDAY
24
18
FEB
Director’s Choice
Sichuan Opera Theater Flaming Mountain Founded in 1960 in Chengdu, southwest China, Sichuan Opera Theater’s exquisitely executed productions, elaborate costumes, and spectacular stagings of traditional Chinese opera have been winning awards and acclaim across the globe. In this performance of Flaming Mountain, a Buddhist monk on pilgrimage to India is accompanied by a Monkey King with magical powers who protects him from demons along the way. Their journey through the Tianshan Mountains, specifically Flaming Mountain, is told through traditional Chinese opera singing, martial arts-inspired dance, characters transforming using the “face changing” technique, and brilliant acrobatics.
APR
L.A. Theatre Works Judgment at Nuremberg L.A. Theatre Works has been the foremost radio theater company in the United States for more than two decades. Its unique live radio theater-style performances, where a first-rate cast performs on stage with scripts in hand, and a Foley artist creates sound effects, are immediate, spontaneous and create a connection to the audience rarely felt in a traditional theater setting. One of the great courtroom dramas of the last century, Judgment at Nuremberg became an Academy Award-winning film and a stage play that is both surprising and unsettling. This cast of unforgettable characters play out their high-stakes game against the backdrop of a looming Cold War, shifting political alliances and the shocking and vivid memories of the Holocaust and World War II.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 8PM JH
TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 2017 8PM JH
ADD-ON & CYO $42 $31 $21
ADD-ON & CYO $42 $31 $21
SATURDAY
THURSDAY
11
6
MAR
Brian Jagde, tenor with special guest Ailyn Pérez, soprano American tenor Brian Jagde has quickly emerged as one of the most engaging and exciting lyric tenors of his generation. Since his first Mondavi Center appearance (the 2013 Rising Stars of Opera concert), Jagde has gone on to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Teatro San Carlo and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Soprano Ailyn Pérez is winner of both the 2012 Richard Tucker Award, the only Hispanic recipient in the award’s 35-year history, and the 15th annual Plácido Domingo Award. Perez and Jagde will be exploring romantic arias and duets from the operatic repertoire and more, including Mozart, Verdi, Massenet, Bizet, Puccini, and Bernstein.
SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2017 8PM ANN E. PITZER CENTER ADD-ON & CYO $64 Co-Presented with
APR
Michael Fabiano, tenor Considered one of the most important young talents in the world today, Michael Fabiano is a “possessor of [a] rich, honeyed tenor ... that promises a huge amount in the future” (Opera Britannia). A Grand Prize winner of the 2007 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Fabiano is a commanding stage presence with a captivating voice. For this intimate recital, Fabiano will appear in the cabaret setting onstage in Jackson Hall, allowing vocal fans a rare opportunity to enjoy Fabiano’s artistry in an intimate setting.
THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 2017 8PM JH STAGE
Vocals
Add-On:
These Vocals events are not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
ADD-ON & CYO $64
“MICHAEL FABIANO’S VOICE HAS THE POWER TO BRING THE ENTIRE AUDITORIUM TO ITS KNEES.”
—The Argus
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Speakers Provocative and engaging talks from some of the most original and inspirational thinkers of our time. 46
George Takei >
SATURDAY
24
15
SEP
About Scott Syphax Speakers Series Q&A Moderator
Science Friday
An Evening with George Takei
From exploring the outer reaches of space to the tiniest microbes in our bodies, Science Friday is the source for entertaining and educational stories about science, technology and other cool stuff. Created in 1991 by host and executive producer Ira Flatow, it’s much more than just a radio show (which airs on over 400 public stations nationwide). Science Friday produces award-winning videos with such titles as “The Unlikely Tale of a Tenacious Snail” and “Your Very Special Microbial Cloud” as well as original web articles covering everything from octopus camouflage to cooking on Mars. Experience a live taping of a show its creators describe as “ brain fun, for curious people.”
Where No Story Has Gone Before
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
Speakers Sponsored by
Speakers Series $188/$148/$108 Jackson Hall Speakers Seating
With a career spanning five decades, George Takei is known around the world for his founding role in the acclaimed television series Star Trek, in which he played Hikaru Sulu, helmsman of the Starship Enterprise. But Takei’s story goes where few stories have gone before. With an uncanny eloquence and signature wit, Takei shares his poignant story: his childhood spent during his family’s forced internment as Japanese Americans during WWII; his rise to celebrity as a sci-fi icon; his remarkable journey as social media mega-power; and his passionate fight for LGBTQ rights and marriage equality in America—empowering others to beat the odds and make a difference.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2016 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $47 $38 $30
Subscription Package of 5 events includes: Science Friday SAT, SEP 24
An Evening with George Takei SAT, OCT 15
mondaviarts.org
Host and Co-Executive Producer of the International Telly and Emmy awardwinning talk show, Studio Sacramento, a weekly series produced at KVIE focusing on the people and issues that make our part of California what it is today and what it will be tomorrow. Syphax is the President and CEO of The Nehemiah Companies, a Sacramento, CA based social enterprise and development corporation.
OCT
16–17 Speakers Series
SATURDAY
Bassem Youssef WED, FEB 1
47 Dr. Raj Patel MON, MAR 13
Jodi Cobb WED, APR 26
16–17 Speakers Series
WEDNESDAY
MONDAY
1
13
FEB
MAR
Bassem Youssef
Dr. Raj Patel
The Joke is Mightier than the Sword From a makeshift studio in a Cairo laundry room to the halls of Harvard, Egyptian surgeon-turned-satirist Bassem Youssef has charted the tumultuous political path of his homeland through humor. In response to the Egyptian Revolution in the spring of 2011, Youssef posted his first satirical show on YouTube. After just three months—and 5 million views—he debuted al Bernameg (“The Show”) on Egyptian television. Due to lawsuits, threats, and governmental pressure, “The Show” was stopped after three seasons and Youssef, who had become known as “the Jon Stewart of Egypt,” was banished. He has since transformed his satirical news format into a lecture at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. The Joke is Mightier than the Sword is an off-the-cuff discourse about comedy, freedom of the press, and the state of the region. In partnership with
Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System Raj Patel is an award-winning writer, activist and academic. His first book Stuffed and Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System, is the featured read in this year’s Campus Community Book Project. In the book, and in this talk, Patel explains the steps to regain control of the global food economy, stop the exploitation of farmers and consumers and rebalance global sustenance. Patel has degrees from the University of Oxford, the London School of Economics and Cornell University, has worked for the World Bank and WTO, and protested against them around the world. He is currently a fellow at The Institute for Food and Development Policy, also known as Food First, and has testified about the causes of the global food crisis to the U.S. House Financial Services Committee.
“ONE OF THE MOST DAZZLING BOOKS I HAVE READ IN A VERY LONG TIME. THE PRODUCT OF A BRILLIANT MIND AND A GIFT TO A WORLD HUNGERING FOR JUSTICE.”
MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2017 8PM
—– Naomi Klein, author of No Logo and The Shock Doctrine
HUMANITIES INSTITUTE
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
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CAMPUS COMMUNITY BOOK PROJECT
The Best Seats at the Best Prices.
Renew Today!
ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
Speakers Series $188/$148/$108 Jackson Hall Speakers Seating
Subscription Package of 5 events includes: Science Friday SAT, SEP 24
An Evening with George Takei SAT, OCT 15
Bassem Youssef WED. FEB 1
Dr. Raj Patel MON, MAR 13
Jodi Cobb WED, APR 26
David Sedaris
WEDNESDAY
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2016 8PM JH
APR
26
ADD-ON & CYO $43 $33 $23
This event is not part of a series, but may be added on to any CYO or Series Subscription package at the Add-On discount.
Jodi Cobb Stranger in a Strange Land National Geographic Live
mondaviarts.org
Join veteran photographer Jodi Cobb on a whirlwind retrospective of a distinguished career that has spanned four decades. Known for breaking through barriers (she was one of National Geographic’s first female photographers) and going undercover to reveal hidden societies, Cobb has captured fascinating glimpses of worlds such as Japan’s secret Geisha culture, and the cloistered lives of Saudi Arabian women. Her landmark story “21st Century Slavery” exposed a wide range of human trafficking, generating more reader accolades than any other story up to that point in the Geographic’s history. Travel with this inspiring woman as she chronicles her public—and private—path from young photojournalist to world-renowned photographer.
16–17 Speakers Series + Add-On
On the heels of three sold-out—and side-splittingly funny— performances at the Mondavi Center, David Sedaris, one of America’s preeminent humor writers, makes a welcome return to Jackson Hall. Whether he is reading from one of his many best-selling essay collections, recommending a must-read book or answering questions from the audience, Sedaris remains a master of satire and one of the most observant writers addressing the human condition today. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker and the BBC, Sedaris has also been nominated for three Grammy Awards and his original radio pieces can often be heard on This American Life. His next book will be a collection of his diaries, entitled Theft By Finding (summer 2017).
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2017 8PM ADD-ON & CYO $38 $30 $21
FRIDAY
Sponsored by
Explore the season!
Add-On
Take advantage of your season-long subscriber discount to try something new.
NOV
11
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ASQ
The Alexander String Quartet is a major artistic presence in its home base of San Francisco, but is equally beloved in its second home: the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. The group returns for its 15th consecutive year on the Mondavi Center season.
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ASQ Series 1
World War II, which in Europe began in 1939 and ended in 1945, was the single most devastating event of the 20th century. Framed by the string quartets of Benjamin Britten, whose centennial was celebrated in 2013, this series will explore works that reflect the broader European experience of the war years, as well as the period immediately before the war (Concert One) and after the war (Concert Four). Along with Britten’s superb quartets, the series will feature some of the most important string quartets composed during the 20th century, including quartets by the Czech composer Pavel Haas (who perished in AuschwitzBirkenau in 1944), Béla Bartók, William Walton and Dmitri Shostakovich.
ADD-ON & CYO $64
—Robert Greenberg, Ph.D.
ASQ
Renowned musicologist, author and composer Robert Greenberg provides commentary throughout the concert.
2PM VST
ASQ Series 2
The quartet performs this program without intermission, then remains for a Q&A session with the audience.
7PM VST ADD-ON & CYO $47
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2016 “The Gathering Storm” Britten Haas
SUNDAY, MARCH 19, 2017 “Their Finest Hour” Bartók Britten
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 2017 “The Hinge of Fate”
(2PM performances only)
Robert Greenberg is music historian-in-residence with San Francisco Performances. A graduate of Princeton University, Greenberg holds a Ph.D. in music composition from the University of California, Berkeley and has seen his compositions—which include more than 45 works for a wide variety of instrumental and vocal ensembles— performed all over the world.
ASQ Series
$240/$176 Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Thrust Seating
Subscription Package of 4 events includes: Concert One SUN, NOV 6
Concert Two SUN, MAR 19
SUN, NOV 1
String Quartet No. 6 (1939) String Quartet No. 1 (1941)
Concert Three SUN, APR 23
Concert Four SUN, MAY 21
Britten Walton
String Quartet No. 2 (1945) String Quartet No. 2 in A Minor (1946)
mondaviarts.org
Robert Greenberg
Three Divertimenti for String Quartet (1933, rev. 1936) String Quartet No. 3 (1938)
16–17 Alexander String Quartet Series
The String Quartet in a Time of War: Benjamin Britten and His Contemporaries
SUNDAY, MAY 21, 2017 “Triumph and Tragedy” Britten String Quartet No. 3 (1975) Shostakovich String Quartet No. 8 (1960)
High Demand Series Because of heavy subscription renewals, both ASQ Series 1 and Series 2 are currently at capacity. To be added to the waitlist, please call the ticket office at 530-754-2787.
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Music @ UC Davis
Save the Dates! The UC Davis Symphony, led by Christian Baldini, the University Chorus, led by Jeffrey Thomas, and the Concert Band, led by Pete Nowlen, are all proud to call Jackson Hall at the Mondavi Center their home. Please consider saving the following dates in your Mondavi Center calendar for 2016–17. Tickets go on sale August 15. Visit MUSIC.UCDAVIS.EDU on April 15 for a complete listing of concert details, including those taking place in the new Ann E. Pitzer Center, near the intersection of Hutchison and Old Davis Road. Contact Phil Daley, event manager, with questions: pedaley@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-7896.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2016 • 7PM
Rising Stars of Opera UC Davis Symphony Orchestra
Christian Baldini, music director and conductor San Francisco Opera’s Adler Fellows Mark Morash, director and pianist See page 42. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016 • 1PM
California Orchestra Director’s Association (CODA) and the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2016 • 7PM
Exciting Worlds
Brahms: Academic Festival Overture Dutilleux: Cello Concerto—Tout un monde lointain (A Whole Distant World) with Leighton Fong, cello Lutosławski: Concerto for Orchestra FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2016 • 7PM
University Chorus with the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2017 • 7PM
Nocturnes and Dreams
Dallapiccola: Piccola musica notturna (Little Night Music) Ravel: Alborada del gracioso Sciarrino: Introduzione all’oscuro (Introduction to Darkness) Ravel: Rapsodie espagnole SUNDAY, MARCH 12, 2017 • 7PM
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem
Alumni and University Choruses, and the UC Davis Symphony Orchestra with Mary Wilson, soprano, and Jeffrey Thomas, conducting SATURDAY, MAY 13, 2017 • 7PM
Heavenly Life
Dvořák: Carnival Overture Schumann: Cello Concerto with Richard Andaya, cello Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major with Lucy Fitz Gibbon, soprano SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 2017 • 7PM
Heroism and Twilight Serenity Elgar: Serenade for Strings Varèse: Octandre Brahms: Symphony No. 3 in F Major FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2017 • 7PM
University Chorus
Department of Music, UC Davis (530) 752-7896
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1.
Engagement and Education Great performance is often just the beginning of a connection with the creative souls that cross our stage. At the Mondavi Center, we seek out opportunities for our audience to deepen its connection to the arts.
2.
At the Mondavi Center Pre-Performance Talks
Context and conversation from UC Davis faculty, guest artists and local experts. These popular half-hour talks are free to all ticket holders.
Question & Answer Sessions
A unique opportunity to share reactions and insights following select performances, Q&A sessions feature artists on stage taking questions from the audience.
School Matinees
These hour-long performances serve as an introduction to the variety of art forms presented at the Mondavi Center. Curriculum based, the School Matinees support K–12 California Common Core State Standards.
Workshops
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1: Academy of St Martin in the Fields RESIDENCY at Davis High School; 2: Yamato SCHOOL MATINEE; 3: Q&A SESSION with Ryan Truesdell and Jeremy Ganter; 4: Company Wayne McGregor DANCE MASTERCLASS; 5: MUSIC MASTERCLASS with The Matt Wilson Trio at Rio Americano High School; 6: Globe Academy theater STUDENT WORKSHOP at Mondavi Center; 7: Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge MUSIC MASTERCLASS at Pioneer High School, Woodland. Photos courtesy of Jim Coulter, Ruth Rosenberg and Chloe Fox
Our technical workshops allow students the chance to see some of the best lighting, sound and stage technicians at work.
4.
On Campus Curriculum Connections
UC Davis students have access to $5 tickets when their professor assigns a Mondavi Center event.
Aggie Arts Student Advisory Board The Aggie Arts Student Advisory Board’s goal is to connect and engage UC Davis students with performing arts organizations on campus.
Student Housing Partnership
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In-dormitory artist appearances and Resident Advisor-led field trips to Mondavi Center performances serve as an easy way to introduce UC Davis students to the performing arts.
Classroom Visits and Workshops
UC Davis students learn from our visiting artists in classroom discussions, workshops, post-performance discussions and rehearsals.
In the Community Residencies
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Many artists appearing at the Mondavi Center offer advanced classroom opportunities for aspiring artists at UC Davis and throughout the region.
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What your donation means.
Thank you to our sponsors Season Sponsor
You have heard it before: ticket sales only cover a portion of the real cost of presenting performances; your support enables us to provide valuable service to the community; there are tax advantages to your gift. This is all true, but it misses a very important point. Donating helps you become more than just an audience member. When you make a gift to the Mondavi Center, you enhance your experience both in and out of the theater. You are suddenly a member of a large and caring family. You meet people. You notice more things and you feel like you belong in a new and wonderful way. You have increased access to artists, events and information.
Mondavi Center Corporate Partners
So we encourage you to keep the arts alive and to make sure there is a welcoming home and a promising future for the arts and artists. But we also encourage you to donate for yourself. We can’t possibly name all of the benefits for your support, but here are some you can consider: • • • • • •
Opportunity to buy single tickets before the general public ($100+) Invitation backstage to meet a featured artist ($300+) Invitations to “Uncorked” events, special wine experiences throughout the season ($1,500+) Licensed seats ($3,500+) Invitation to an artistic event in a private home ($7,000 +) Recognition as a performance sponsor ($10,000+)
Mondavi Center Grantors and Arts Education Sponsors The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
For a more complete list of benefits, visit mondaviarts.org.
1: Clairelee Buckley, donor, and Susan Graham, artist; 2: Julie Adams, Edward Nelson, Leah Crocetto, artists and Barbara Jackson, donor; 3: Angelo Moreno, Davis High School, and donors; 4: Julie Fowlis, artist; 5: Professor Chuck Walker, Department of History, UC Davis, Vince Gilligan, artist, and Sam Walker; 6 : Members of The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain; 7: Angelo Moreno, Davis High School, Elliott Mozée, Janine Mozée, and David Rocke, donors; 8: Nicholas McGegan, artist. Photos courtesy of Jim Coulter
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Accommodations for Patrons with Disabilities The Mondavi Center is proud to be a fully accessible state-of-the-art public facility that meets or exceeds all state and federal ADA requirements. Patrons with accessible seating needs should notify the Mondavi Center Ticket Office at the time of ticket purchase to receive reasonable accommodation. Accessibility needs should be stated in writing on subscription order forms. Seating spaces for wheelchair users and their companions are located at all levels and prices for all performances. Ushers are available at the doors to Jackson Hall and the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre to answer questions and seat patrons. The Mondavi Center may relocate a ticket holder to a different seat in order to give an accessible seating location to a person requiring accommodation.
Accessibility & Policies
Requests for sign language interpreting, real-time captioning, Braille programs and other reasonable accommodations should be made with at least two weeks’ notice. The Mondavi Center may not be able to accommodate last-minute requests. Requests for these accommodations may be made when purchasing tickets at 530.754.2787 or TDD 530.754.5402.
Listening Enhancement Devices Assistive Listening Devices are installed in both Jackson Hall and the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. Receivers that can be used with or without hearing aids are available for patrons who have difficulty understanding the dialogue or song lyrics. They may be checked out at no charge from the Patron Services Desk near the lobby elevators. The Mondavi Center requires an ID to be held at the Patron Services Desk until the device is returned.
Service Animals Mondavi Center welcomes working service animals that are assisting patrons with disabilities. Service animals must be on a leash or harness and remain under control at all times. Please contact the Mondavi Center Ticket Office if you intend to bring a service animal to an event so that appropriate seating can be reserved for you.
Parking You may purchase parking passes for individual Mondavi Center events for $9 per event at the parking lot or with your ticket order. Rates are subject to change. Parking passes that have been lost or stolen will not be replaced. Parking passes exchanged must be redeemed.
Privacy Policy The Mondavi Center collects information from patrons solely for the purpose of gaining necessary information to conduct business and serve our patrons efficiently. We sometimes share names and addresses with other not-for-profit arts organizations. If you do not wish to be included in our email communications or postal mailings, or if you do not want us to share your name, please notify us via email, U.S. Mail or telephone. Full Privacy Policy at mondaviarts.org.
Smoking For a healthier community and cleaner environment, UC Davis is 100% smoke and tobacco free.
Late Seating All events start promptly at the time printed on the ticket. Latecomers will not be seated until the first appropriate pause in the program, as determined by theater management. Thank you for your cooperation.
58 Backstage donor event. Photo by Jim Coulter.
Special Savings and Discounts
How to Renew
UC Davis Faculty and Staff*
This season we will be focusing exclusively on you, our renewing subscribers, during this first subscription period. This will allow us to get you the best available seats, help you with any specific seating issues and get your tickets in the mail almost a month earlier.
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UC Davis faculty and staff save at least 10% on all Mondavi Center Presenting Program purchases. Series Subscription discounts are listed on the Renewal Form.
Remember to renew by April 30, 2016!
* Current and retired UC Davis faculty and staff are eligible. * To qualify for the discount, a UC Davis email address must be provided on the order form. * Limit two per event or series.
Some helpful tips:
• Fill out the Renewal Form and have it ready before you call or visit. • If you need assistance completing the Renewal Form, contact the ticket office: 866.754.2787. • Event credits cannot be redeemed online. • All subscription renewals will be acknowledged with a postcard.
Student Tickets
UC Davis Students 50% off the regular single ticket price throughout the year. Sign up at mondaviarts/students.
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Non-UC Davis Students 50% off the regular single ticket price through July 10, 2016. 25% off the regular single ticket price once single tickets go on sale July 11, 2016.
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Full-time students age 18 and over, currently enrolled for the current academic year at an accredited institution and matriculating toward a diploma or a degree (continuing education enrollees are not eligible). Proof Requirements: School ID showing validity for the current academic year or copy of your transcript and tuition bill receipt for the current academic year.
By Mail
Fill out the attached Renewal Form, and return along with payment (check or credit card number) to the Ticket Office—see address below.
•
By Phone
Call our toll-free number to speak to a ticket agent: 866.754.2787.
Youth Tickets (age 17 and under)
In Person
• • •
ticket agent on your request—see map on page 60 for location.
50% off the regular single ticket price throughout the year. A ticket is required for admission of all children regardless of age. Any child attending a performance should be able to sit quietly throughout the performance. For events other than the Children’s Stage Series, it is recommended for the enjoyment of all patrons that children under the age of 5 not be brought to performances. Student and children discounts cannot be combined. All prices include $2 per ticket restoration fee.
w: to Rene e n i l d a De , 2016 April 30
Visit the Mondavi Center Ticket Office and work directly with a Please note that subscriptions will not be available for purchase online until May 16, 2016.
Mondavi Center Ticket Office Mailing address:
Mondavi Center Ticket Office University of California, Davis One Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616
Hours of Operation: Toll-free:
Monday – Saturday, 12 noon to 6:00 p.m. (closed Sundays). 866.754.2787
mondaviarts.org
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Orchestra Seating
Jackson Hall
UPPER TIER
Standard Seating
Concert Seating
Speakers Seating
GRAND TIER
ORCHESTRA TERRACE
ORCHESTRA TERRACE
ORCHESTRA TERRACE
ORCHESTRA TERRACE
MAIN AISLE
MAIN AISLE
MAIN AISLE
MAIN AISLE
ORCHESTRA
ORCHESTRA
ORCHESTRA
ORCHESTRA
STAGE
STAGE
STAGE
STAGE
On Stage Seating
STAGE
Vanderhoef Studio Theatre Standard Seating
Thrust Seating
Cabaret Seating
PRICE LEVELS
P1 P2 P3
L Licensed Seats
STAGE
STAGE
STAGE
Getting Here
From I-80 East or West: • Take the UC Davis Exit #71. • Continue north on Old Davis Road. • Turn right onto Hilgard Lane. • Enter into the west side of the Parking Structure (on the left).
Parking
• • • •
Parking is $9* per vehicle for each event and can be paid in cash or with credit cards. Park at the east end of the Parking Structure for closest access to the Mondavi Center main entrance. For the quickest exit from the Parking Structure, we recommend parking on the upper two levels. If you purchased a parking pass with an online ticket order and selected Will Call delivery, please visit the Ticket Office before parking to pick up your pass.
Dropping off/Passenger Loading 60
Follow Old Davis Road past the Parking Structure and through the stop light, circling around to the front of the Mondavi Center. *Subject to change.
Visit campusmap.ucdavis.edu for a larger view of the UC Davis campus.
September
December
March
9/24 9/28 9/30
12/3 12/10 12/11 12/13
3/2 Dance Theatre of Harlem 3/4–5 Sikkil Gurucharan and Shujaat Khan 3/11 Brian Jagde, tenor with special guest Ailyn Pérez, soprano 3/13 Dr. Raj Patel 3/14 Jelly and George featuring Aaron Diehl and Cécile McLorin Salvant 3/16–18 Shane Koyczan 3/17 Dervish & Le Vent du Nord 3/18 St. Petersburg Philharmonic 3/19 Alexander String Quartet 3/21 The Real Nashville 3/22–25 Danilo Brito Trio 3/26 Diavolo
Science Friday Jazz at Lincoln Center with Wynton Marsalis Bickram Ghosh’s Drums of India
October 10/1 Rising Stars of Opera 10/5–8 Bumper Jacksons 10/8 ETHEL 10/14 SFJAZZ Collective 10/15 George Takei 10/16 The Passing Zone 10/19–22 Joey Alexander Trio 10/23–30 Cashore Marionettes 10/28 Maceo Parker with The Jones Family Singers 10/29 Lara Downes
November 11/1 11/2 11/5 11/6 11/6 11/11 11/12 11/29
Diego El Cigala Los Angeles Philharmonic Ronald K. Brown/ EVIDENCE, A Dance Company Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Alexander String Quartet David Sedaris Havana Cuba All-Stars Vienna Boys Choir
China Philharmonic Orchestra American Bach Soloists The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
January 1/14 1/21 1/26 1/28 1/29
Itzhak Perlman, violin Rohan De Silva, piano Curtis on Tour Curtis Chamber Orchestra Beijing Dance Theater PKF—Prague Philharmonia Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
February 2/1 Bassem Youssef 2/2 Joshua Bell, violin 2/8 Black Arm Band 2/10–11 Bruckner Orchester Linz 2/15–18 Edmar Castaneda Trio 2/19 The Chieftains 2/24 Sichuan Opera Theater 2/25 Venice Baroque Orchestra 2/25–26 Richter Uzur Duo 2/26 Lightwire
April 4/1 Mucca Pazza 4/5 Aziza: Dave Holland, Chris Potter, Lionel Loueke and Eric Harland 4/6 Michael Fabiano, tenor 4/8–9 Sound Maze by Paul Dresher 4/15 Arlo Guthrie 4/18 L.A. Theatre Works 4/23 Alexander String Quartet 4/26 Jodi Cobb 4/26–29 Etienne Charles 4/29 ODC/Dance
May 5/5–7 5/21
mondaviarts.org
Young Artists Competition Alexander String Quartet