Thursday, September 26, 2013 Page B1
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WHAT’S ON? Q DINING GUIDE Q WHAT’S COOKING? Q REAL ESTATE Q CLASSIFIED Q SERVICE GUIDE Q BUSINESS CARD DIRECTORY
/HKPDQ &HQWHU·V QHZ VHDVRQ PHOTO COURTESY OF LEHMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
HAIFA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA of Israel will perform works by Beethoven and Weber on Feb. 6. By James Palmer
Eva Bornstein: the woman behind it all
jpalmer@riverdalepress.com
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By James Palmer jpalmer@riverdalepress.com
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Photo by Silentwings Photography
THE TONY Award-winning musical ‘Hair’ comes to the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 2, 2014.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28, 8PM
by popular demand and presenting his musical history covering 35 years in one night. Tickets: $50, $40, $30
EDDIE PALMIERI & FRIENDS Spend an evening with Grammy Awardwinner Eddie Palmieri, who will play alongside special guests Ronnie Cuber, Alfredo de la Fe, Donald Harrison and Joe Locke, Anthony Carrillo, Luques Curtis, Vicente “Little Johnny” Rivero and Camilo Molina. Tickets: $60, $55, $45
SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 8PM
JOSE ALBERTO “EL CANARIO” The showman is back at Lehman Center
SUNDAY, OCT. 13, 4PM
SHANGHAI BALLET: THE BUTTERFLY LOVERS For more than three decades, the prestigious Shanghai Ballet has dazzled audiences around the world with its unique repertoire of folk-infused Chinese ballet and classical Western masterworks. Tickets: $45, $40, $25 Children 12 and under, $10 any seat
SATURDAY, OCT. 19, 8PM
TANGO FIRE One of the most alluring and exciting dance forms, tango embodies sensuality, intrigue, and lust, all conveyed with raw energy and knife-edge precision. Tango is rightly considered Argentina’s cultural gift to the world. Tickets: $45, $40, $25
SATURDAY, OCT. 26, 8PM
PETER NERO Two-time Grammy Award-winning pianist, Peter Nero leads his unrivaled Pops orchestra, blending classical, swing, Broadway, blues and jazz — all performed with virtuosity, authenticity, and an inviting sense of humor in a oneof-a-kind concert. Mr. Nero, founding conductor of the Philly Pops, along with bassist Michael Barnett, brings a program drawn from George Gershwin’s iconic American songbook to Lehman Center. Tickets: $35, $30, $25
SATURDAY, NOV. 9, 8PM
JEFF TRACTA TANGO FIRE lights up the Lehman Center stage on Oct. 19.
after impressionist in the world. With an array of more than 100 spot-on impressions, Mr. Tracta takes impressionism to an entirely new level. Cutting-edge technology allows him to transform into a galaxy of stars right in front of you. His multi-media experience is wowing audiences around the world. Tickets: $45, $40, $25
SUNDAY, NOV. 17, 8PM
HUNGARIAN STATE FOLK ENSEMBLE The Hungarian State Folk Ensemble is regarded as one of the top touring groups in the world for its incredible authenticity, strong emotion and aweinspiring technique. The ensemble has performed in 44 countries across four continents, and won the admiration of more than 7.5 million people. Tickets: $35, $30, $25 Children 12 and under, $10 any seat
SATURDAY, NOV. 23, 8PM
DEANA MARTIN and CHRIS GILLESPIE TRIO Deana Martin is an influential American singer, actress and best-selling author, as well as the very proud daughter of iconic entertainer Dean Martin. Ms. Martin has become an instantly recognizable voice and figure in pantheon of The Great American Songbook. Her 2006 debut CD release Memories Are Made of This stayed in the top ten for 40 consecutive weeks.
Tickets: $40, $35, $25
SATURDAY, NOV. 30, 8PM
FESTIVAL DEL HUMOR Festival Del Humor promises to offer the Lehman Center audience a night of laughter they won’t soon forget. The group features Paul Rodriguez, Ruperto Vanderpool, Cuquín Victoria and Jochy Santos, as well as special guest, Anthony Ríos. Tickets: $50, $45, $35
Jeff Tracta has become the most sought-
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n her ninth season as executive director of the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts Eva Bornstein said she approaches her job with a fervent sense of accountability. “I select the acts and I hope to some degree people will trust my judgment and support me by purchasing tickets and attending the shows,” said Ms. Bornstein, who introduces the performers before every event. Scheduling performances to both match the diverse population of the Bronx and to bring those people together is a driving force behind Ms. Bornstein’s selections. “We have salsa and tango dancers for the Hispanic and Latin members of the community, but they can also enjoy watching a Russian ballet company dance,” Ms. Bornstein said. “Our Russian and European neighbors will look forward to the ballet but they can experience and learn about salsa and tango dancing.” Ms. Bornstein says her artistic philosophy is to not simply provide a varied selection of acts, but to present the highest quality performers. “Whatever kind of performing art we decide to present, I want the best — ballet, salsa, tango, folk dance, gospel,” Ms. Bornstein said, listing a small sampling of Lehman’s Photo by Marisol Díaz offerings this EVA BORNSTEIN season. Ms. Bornstein said she begins to schedule performances at least two years in advance. “Some of these groups are traveling thousands of miles with a 100 or more performers,” Ms. Bornstein said. “To work the logistics out in detail can take years.” The Performing Arts Center is located on the campus of Lehman College. The school owns the building but charges no rent, while providing salaries to three full-time secretaries to the center. The operating cost of the performing arts center is primarily publicly funded with the addition of grants and ticket sales. Last year the Bronx Borough President’s Office of Ruben Diaz Jr. earmarked $1 million to help the center install a new video system for use in its multimedia performances, which this season includes a Nov. 9 appearance by the impressionist Jeff Tracta. Meanwhile, the center strives to offer top-tier performers at modest prices to attract families and residents of all ages from a range of income levels. “You don’t have to go to Manhattan to view world-class cultural entertainment,” Ms. Borstein says. “We are the Lincoln Center of the Bronx and we are much more affordable.” Ms. Bornstein says she continues to reach out to Bronxites and hopes that all in the borough feel welcome to attend performances at Lehman this season. “I aim high to please and educate,” she said. “This season, there is something here for everyone.”
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hen Eva Bornstein, the executive director of the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts, began planning the 2013-14 season more than 36 months ago, she aimed to attract an array of acts as diverse and sophisticated as the population inhabiting the Bronx. “I wanted our shows to mirror the people who live and work here,” Ms. Bornstein said. But she did not limit herself to variety — Ms. Bornstein wanted only the best performers. “I worked very hard to make this season memorable,” Ms. Bornstein said. “I want to make sure that we make a strong and positive impression on all of our guests who attend our performances this year.” The schedule is robust and sundry from start to finish. The Lehman Center opens its 33rd season on Sept. 28, with pianist and Latin Jazz bandleader Eddie Palmieri — a nine-time Grammy Award winner — and closes on May 10, with a performance by guirarist and vocalist Jose Feliciano. Other highlights include the Moscow Classical Ballet’s performance of Peter Ilyitch Tschaikovsky’s Christmas tale The Nutcracker, The Bronx debut of the Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel, who will play Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 7,” the return by popular demand of the Soweto Gospel Choir and the Tango Fire Company of Buenos Aires. Ticket prices for selected shows are as low as $10 for children 12-yearsold and younger and $25 for adults. Students, senior citizens, Lehman alumni and CUNY faculty and staff receive a $5 markdown for some events. Discount ticket packages are available for the purchase of three or more performances. The Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is located on the campus of Lehman College at 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W.