ums 09|10
University of Michigan | Ann Arbor
Winter | Spring
131st Season
www.ums.org | 734-764-2538
January Canceled 22-23 Fri-Sat 27 Wed
31 Sun
Souad Massi Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company: Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Pierre Boulez conductor Mathieu Dufour flute | Michelle DeYoung mezzo-soprano Falk Struckmann bass-baritone
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
February 4 Thu The Bad Plus 6 Sat Sō Percussion 7 Sun NT Live: Nation — Added Event! 10 Wed Angela Hewitt piano 11 Thu Luciana Souza Trio with Romero Lubambo and Cyro Baptista 14 Sun Schubert Piano Trios David Finckel | Wu Han | Philip Setzer 17 Wed Béla Fleck: The Africa Project featuring
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Bassekou Kouyate And Ngoni Ba (Mali) John Kitime guitar (Tanzania) Anania Ngoliga multi-instrumentalist (Tanzania)
Swedish Radio Choir
Ragnar Bohlin conductor
March 13 Sat 15 Mon 17 Wed 19 Fri 20 Sat
Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey Family Performances Takács Quartet Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis San Francisco Symphony Michael Tilson Thomas conductor Christian Tetzlaff violin
San Francisco Symphony: 15th Ford Honors Program Mahler’s Symphony No. 2
Michael Tilson Thomas conductor UMS Choral Union
24-25 Wed-Thu Julia Fischer violin J.S. Bach Solo Violin Works 24-28 Wed-Sun Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg: Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya April 7 Wed Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra with Lang Lang piano Christoph Eschenbach conductor 8 Thu Danilo Perez: 21st-Century Dizzy 10 Sat Baaba Maal with NOMO 12 Mon Michigan Chamber Players (free admission) 20 Tue Trio Mediæval 22-24 Thu-Sat Hubbard Street Dance Chicago The Rest is Noise in Performance: 25 Sun Alex Ross and Ethan Iverson piano May 9 15
Sun NT Live: The Habit of Art — Added Event! Sat Breakin’ Curfew
ums winter | spring 09|10 season
UMS Africa Festival
A Four-Concert Series featuring Ambassadors of African Culture Welcome to UMS’s second Africa Festival, focused on the artists and artistry from this culturally rich continent. While by no means comprehensive, this series takes a closer look at both established and emerging musicians from Algeria, South Africa, Mali, Tanzania, and Senegal. Join us in celebrating the richness of African music!
Africa Series Events: Souad Massi
Tour Canceled
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Sun, Jan 31
BĂŠla Fleck: The Africa Project
Wed, Feb 17
Baaba Maal with NOMO
Sat, Apr 10
The Africa Series is funded in part by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the National Endowment for the Arts. MEDIA PARTNERS
Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray
BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE DANCE COMPANY Bill T. Jones artistic director
Fri-Sat, Jan 22-23 8 pm Power Center “Jones creates rich, stylistically hybrid theater experiences, often with complicated narratives. Clarity isn’t his goal so much as an absorbing emotional experience.” (The Washington Post) Recognized as a cultural trailblazer, Bill T. Jones has crafted his life, philosophy, and art-making by asking questions that resist definitive answers. He commemorates the Abraham Lincoln bicentennial by exploring the life and legacy of this complex figure. The dance-theater evening features the sophisticated movement of his diverse dancers, accompanied by a pulsating, contemporary original score inflected by folk and rock; film; and a striking, modern stage design. The uplifting libretto is drawn from Shakespeare, the Old Testament, the poems of Walt Whitman, and Lincoln’s own words. The phrase taken from Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address to title the work, Fondly Do We Hope…Fervently Do We Pray, captures the vision of the piece: an examination of what Lincoln’s work means today, and our hopes for the future. Main Floor Balcony
$44 / $40 / $28 / $22 $40 / $36 / $28 / $18
FUNDED IN PART BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AS PART OF AMERICAN MASTERPIECES: THREE CENTURIES OF ARTISTIC GENIUS; arts midwest’s performing arts fund; and the metlife community connections fund of the national Dance Project, a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts. MEDia partners between the lines, metro times, michigan radio 91.7 fm, Ann arbor’s 107one and michigan chronicle.
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UMS’s history with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra dates back to 1892, when the orchestra was in its second season and UMS in its 14th. Now, some 107 years and more than 200 performances later, the relationship continues to grow. The CSO’s emeritus conductor, Pierre Boulez, returns to Ann Arbor for the first time since 1972 as part of the CSO’s month-long celebration of his 85th birthday. Boulez, a composer, conductor, tireless advocate for new music, and one of the most important musical and intellectual figures of our time, was invited to the US by George Szell and subsequently held posts with The Cleveland Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, where he succeeded Leonard Bernstein. The founder of one of the world’s finest contemporary music ensembles, Ensemble Intercontemporain, Boulez conducts a stunning program that includes a rare concert performance of Béla Bartók’s one-act opera, Bluebeard’s Castle, in which the lovely Judith opens the seven doors in her new husband’s castle, discovering something horrible and terrifying behind each. The opera will be performed with simultaneous projected translations. Pierre Boulez will participate in a public interview the day after the concert; see page 31 for details. Program
Ravel Dalbavie Bartók
Le Tombeau de Couperin (1914-17) Flute Concerto (2006) Bluebeard’s Castle (1911)
Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
$100 / $90 / $76 / $48 $80 / $70 / $10 $56 / $48 / $30 / $10
Sponsored by THE LINDA AND MAURICE BINKOW PHILANTHROPIC FUND, THE CHARLES H. GERSHENSON TRUST, AND AN ANONYMOUS DONOR. Hosted by Sesi Motors. MEDIA PARTNER WGTE 91.3 FM.
A Prelude Dinner precedes the performance.
Opera in Concert: Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle
CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Pierre Boulez conductor Mathieu Dufour flute Michelle DeYoung mezzo-soprano Falk Struckmann bass-baritone
Wed, Jan 27 8 pm Hill Auditorium
Since Paul Simon’s Graceland catapulted Ladysmith Black Mambazo to worldwide fame in 1986, the vocal group has remained true to the idea of opening doors to South African culture through music, dance, and singing. For more than 30 years, the eight-member group has married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience representing every corner of the religious, cultural, and ethnic landscape. Assembled in the early 1960s in South Africa by Joseph Shabalala, a young farm boy turned factory worker, the group took the name Ladysmith Black Mambazo — Ladysmith being the name of Shabalala’s hometown; Black a reference to oxen, the strongest of all farm animals; and Mambazo the Zulu word for ax, a symbol of the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them. The traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is called isicathamiya (is-cot-a-ME-ya), a style that developed in the mines of South Africa, where black workers toiled far from their homes and their families. “It isn’t merely the grace and power of their dancing or the beauty of their singing that rivets the attention, but the sheer joy and love that emanates from their being.” (Paul Simon) A UMS debut! Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
$44 / $40 / $36 / $22 $40 / $32 / $10 $26 / $22 / $18 / $10
sponsored by
Funded in part by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the National Endowment for the Arts. Media Partners WEMU 89.1 FM, Ann Arbor’s 107one, WRCJ 90.9 FM, Metro Times, Michigan Chronicle, and Between the Lines.
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO Sun, Jan 31 4 pm Hill Auditorium 6
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THE BAD PLUS
Reid Anderson bass | Ethan Iverson piano | David King drums
Thu, Feb 4 7 pm & 9:30 pm Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre “The Bad Plus are the Coen Brothers of jazz: Midwesterners, both ironic and dead earnest, technically brilliant, beyond versatile, a little chilly sometimes, but funny, surprising, and pretty hard to pin down.” (The New Yorker) Forget categories and catch phrases — the sound of The Bad Plus is distinctive, eclectic, and formidable. The group dug its roots in the wood-paneled, sump-pumped basements of the Midwest: drummer David King and bassist Reid Anderson hooked up as teens in their native Minnesota, bouncing between junior high rock bands and long nights listening to John Coltrane and The Police. Soon after, Anderson met Wisconsin-reared pianist Ethan Iverson. The threesome played for the first time in 1990, then went their separate ways for the better part of the decade. Thrilled by the instant chemistry from a one-off club date when they reunited in Minneapolis in 2000, the group decided to make a recording, which was hailed by The New York Times as one the best releases of the 2001. Ever since, The Bad Plus has expelled all notions of what a jazz piano trio should sound like, proudly recognizing and respecting the rules while ripping them to shreds. “It’s about as badass as highbrow gets,” says Rolling Stone. Main Floor Balcony
$40 / $30 $40 / $30
MEDIA PARTNERs Wemu 89.1 FM, METRO TIMES, AND ANN ARBOR’S 107ONE.
Since coming together at the Yale School of Music in 1999, Sō Percussion has been creating music that is by turns raucous and touching, barbarous and heartfelt. Realizing that percussion instruments can communicate all the extremes of emotion and musical possibility, it has not been easy music to define. Called “astonishing and entrancing” by Billboard and “brilliant” by The New York Times, the Brooklyn-based quartet’s innovative work with today’s most exciting composers and their own original music has quickly helped them forge a unique career. With an audience comprised of “both kinds of blue hair...elderly matron here, arty punk there” (as The Boston Globe described it), Sō Percussion makes a rare, wonderful breed of music that both compels instantly and offers vast rewards for engaged listening. Edgy (at least in the sense that little other music sounds like this) and ancient (in that people have been hitting objects for eons), perhaps it doesn’t need to be defined after all.
SŌ PERCUSSION Sat, Feb 6 7:30 pm & 10 pm [Just added!] U-M Museum of Art The 7:30 performance features music by Steve Reich (Music for Pieces of Wood, Nagoya Marimba, Four Organs, Mallet Quartet, and Drumming, Part 1) and will be performed in the Museum Apse. The 10 pm concert will begin in the Apse and move to several locations throughout the Museum. Limited availability! $40 general admission
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NT Live: Nation
High-definition broadcast by London’s National Theatre, presented in partnership with UMS and the Michigan Theater based on a novel by Terry Pratchett adapted to the stage by Mark Ravenhill
Sun, Feb 7 5 pm Michigan Theater Discover a breathtaking new adventure of a boy whose journey to manhood requires the strength to defy expectations and the courage to forge new beliefs. Following His Dark Materials, Coram Boy, and War Horse, the National stages Mark Ravenhill’s exhilarating adaptation of Terry Pratchett’s latest witty and challenging adventure story, suitable for ages 10 and up. Set in a parallel world, not dissimilar to our own, in 1860, Nation tells the story of two teenagers from different sides of the globe who are thrown together by a tsunami: Mau, returning to his South Pacific Island tribe after a rites of passage ritual, and Daphne, traveling from her aristocratic life in Victorian England to meet her father, governor of south seas. Despite not speaking the same language and now totally alone in the world, they have to learn to survive and face the challenges of rebuilding Mau’s nation. However, as more survivors gather, their world is threatened by invading Raiders. UMS and the Michigan Theater have joined forces to bring high definition screenings of live theater broadcasts by London’s National Theatre to Ann Arbor. NT Live broadcasts performances of plays produced by London’s National Theatre onto cinema screens worldwide. In the US, these screenings are delayed broadcasts to accommodate the time difference. Broadcasts will also feature behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with actors. $22 adults $18 Michigan Theater members/UMS subscribers and donors $12 students
ANGELA HEWITT piano Wed, Feb 10 8 pm Hill Auditorium “The Canadian pianist is one of the reliably mesmerizing musicians of the day. You sit entranced…it would have been more accurate to say I was floating just below the ceiling.” (The Times, London) Angela Hewitt is a phenomenal artist who has established herself at the highest level over the last few years, not least through her superb, award-winning recordings. Her 11-year project to record all the major keyboard works of Bach, completed in 2005, won her a huge following and has been described as “one of the record glories of our age.” (The Times) She has been hailed as “the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time,” (The Guardian) and “nothing less than the pianist who will define Bach performance on the piano for years to come.” (Stereophile) Hewitt was named Gramophone’s “Artist of the Year” in 2006. Program
J.S. Bach Italian Concerto, BWV 971 (1735) Beethoven Sonata in D Major, Op. 10, No. 3 (1798) Brahms Sonata No. 3 in f minor, Op. 5 (1853) Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
$50 / $44 / $36 / $22 $40 / $34 / $10 $28 / $22 / $18 / $10
A Prelude Dinner precedes the performance. Co-sponsored by Robert and marina Whitman and Clayton and Ann Wilhite. MEDIA PARTNER WGTE 91.3 FM.
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LUCIANA SOUZA TRIO Luciana Souza vocals | Romero Lubambo guitar | Cyro Baptista percussion
Thu, Feb 11 8 pm Rackham Auditorium Luciana Souza’s music soulfully reflects, wistfully regrets, romantically woos, and joyfully celebrates. Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, Souza grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators and is now one of jazz’s leading singers and interpreters. She transcends traditional boundaries around musical styles, offering solid roots in jazz, a sophisticated lineage in world music, and an enlightened approach to classical repertoire and new music. “Souza phrases with the wisdom of an old soul. With a refined, fluid voice, she’s a master of rhythm and pitch and knows how to get to the core of a melody — her interpretive sensibility projects clarity, emotional openness, and almost detached, self-knowledge.” (Downbeat) Souza is joined by the impeccable Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo, who made a stunning appearance earlier this season with Brazilian singer Gal Costa and who has also appeared in Ann Arbor with the Assad Brothers and twice with Dianne Reeves in recent years. Rounding out the trio is the great Brazilian percussionist Cyro Baptista, who also performs with his ensemble in March. Souza’s latest recording received a 2010 Grammy nomination in the Best Vocal Jazz category. $42 / $36 / $28 / $20 MEDIA PARTNER WEMU 89.1 FM.
It’s a true Valentine’s Day love-fest when two members of the Emerson String Quartet — cellist David Finckel and violinist Philip Setzer — join forces with Finckel’s wife and artistic collabortor , pianist Wu Han, for a glorious performance of Schubert’s two piano trios. Schubert’s output during his final year was staggeringly productive, with the two piano trios plus dozens of other masterpieces, an output not equaled by many composers during entire lifetimes. Schubert was particularly proud of the E-flat trio, including it in a program of his own music in 1828 that commemorated the first anniversary of Beethoven’s death. David Finckel says, “This project is the result of long-standing relationships between the three of us and the music of Schubert. Long before I became a member of the Emerson String Quartet, Phil and I played the Schubert Trios together. Phil’s performances of Schubert, as natural and heartfelt as one could imagine, have been musical highpoints of our lives...we pay tribute to the genius of Schubert, and share with listeners our joy in making music together.” Program
Schubert Schubert
Piano Trio in B-flat Major, Op. 99, D. 898 (1828) Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Op. 100, D. 929 (1827)
$48 / $40 / $32 / $24 sponsored by Gilbert Omenn and Martha Darling. MEDIA PARTNER WGTE 91.3 FM.
SCHUBERT PIANO TRIOS Wu Han piano | Philip Setzer violin | David Finckel cello
Sun, Feb 14 4 pm Rackham Auditorium
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BÉLA FLECK: THE AFRICA PROJECT Bela Fleck banjo
featuring Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba (Mali) John Kitime guitar (Tanzania) Anania NgoLiga multi-instrumentalist (Tanzania)
Wed, Feb 17 8 pm Hill Auditorium
In his most ambitious project to date, renowned musician Béla Fleck explores the origins of the banjo. During his travels to Africa, Fleck discovered that while the banjo is often considered an American instrument that conjures feelings of the South, its origins lie far from her shores. Throw Down Your Heart, the award-winning film, documents Fleck’s travels and explorations of music in Uganda, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Mali. With The Africa Project, Fleck brings to the stage his collaborations with some of Africa’s most talented musicians who were also featured in the film. Bassekou Kouyate is one of the true masters of the ngoni, the ancient forerunner of the banjo found throughout West Africa. His stellar band performs music that is as close to the blues as one finds in Africa. Anania Ngoliga is a blind instrumentalist and singer who plays the Wagogo thumb piano, a deep-toned instrument called the ilimba. Wagogo music has a distinctively mysterious scale, and Afropop Worldwide called Ngoliga’s performance “the spiritual high point of the program.” Guitarist John Kitime has led the acclaimed Kilimanjaro band for over 30 years and has a deep knowledge of the history of Tanzanian music. This boundary-breaking musical adventure celebrates the beauty and complexity of Africa. Main Floor Mezzanine
$50 / $46 / $42 / $28 $44 / $36 / $10
Co-sponsored by Dennis and Ellie Serras. Funded in part by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the National Endowment for the Arts. MEDIA PARTNERs Metro Times, Michigan Chronicle, Ann Arbor’s 107one, and WEMU 89.1 FM.
SWEDISH RADIO CHOIR Ragnar Bohlin conductor
Sun, Feb 21 4 pm Hill Auditorium Who does the Berlin Philharmonic turn to when it wants to do something really special and no ordinary choir will do? The Swedish Radio Choir, of course. The renown of this extraordinary vocal group is the stuff of legends. Comprised of 32 professional singers, the Swedish Radio Choir is recognized as one of the world’s leading a cappella choirs performing the full spectrum of choral repertoire. The group was founded some 80 years ago and has served under the leadership of famed choral conductors Eric Ericson and Tõnu Kaljuste, among others. This tour is led by conductor Ragnar Bohlin, a Stockholm native who also serves as choral director for the San Francisco Symphony. Come hear the world’s greatest orchestra of voices. They return for the first time after a stunning 2001 Verdi Requiem, performed with the Swedish Radio Orchestra. Program
Hugo Alfvén Rorem Mahler Sven-David Sandström J.S. Bach Anders Hillborg Frank Martin Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
Eve In Time of Pestilence (1973) Ich bin der Welt abhanden gekommen (1901-02) Lobet den Herrn Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied, BWV 225 (1726-27) Mouyiyuom (1983-85) Mass for Double Chorus (1922-26)
$50 / $44 / $36 / $22 $40 / $34 / $10 $28 / $22 / $18 / $10
co-sponsored by MEDIA PARTNERs WGTE 91.3 FM AND WRCJ 90.9 FM.
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There is an undeniable aura of fun and humor whenever Cyro Baptista takes the stage, and this is particularly true with Beat The Donkey, his eightperson band that takes rhythms beyond their natural frontiers to create an innovative brand of music. The group’s name comes from the Brazilian expression “Pau Na Mula,” which means “Let’s go! Let’s do it!” It is a wild, unstoppable and torrid world-beat ensemble that blends a bewitching brew of untamed percussion, tap dance, martial arts, samba, jazz, rock, and funk. The group accomplishes this by mixing instruments from all over the globe with unusual percussion inventions of Cyro’s own creation. The musicians wear wild, elaborate costumes and frequently leave their instruments to break into spontaneous dance, making the group fun to watch as well as listen to. Cyro himself roams the stage, conducting his troupe with fiendish glee and captivating the audience. As someone who has both composed music for Nickelodeon and become the “go-to” person for Yo-Yo Ma, Cassandra Wilson, Kathleen Battle, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, The Chieftains, and a host of other stars looking to add a Brazilian beat and an otherworldly mix to their projects, Cyro Baptista delivers performances that people talk about for years to come. UMS audiences have two chances to hear this amazing artist this season; Baptista is also a member of the Luciana Souza Trio. $16 adults / $8 children The 09/10 Family Series is sponsored by MEDIA PARTNER WEMU 89.1 FM.
One-Hour Family Performances!
CYRO BAPTISTA’S BEAT THE DONKEY Sat, Mar 13 1 pm & 4 pm Power Center
TAKÁCS QUARTET Mon, Mar 15 8 pm Rackham Auditorium One of the highlights of UMS’s Chamber Arts Series over the past decade is the near-annual visit by the Takács Quartet, whose dazzling performances never cease to amaze. The ensemble returns with two Beethoven quartets bookending a brief new work by New Zealand composer John Psathas. London critics are raving about the Takács’ Beethoven cycle, which is being performed in several concerts throughout this city this year. The Guardian says, “The Takács Quartet’s Beethoven cycle will, in due course, surely be counted as one of the highlights of the group’s career, and to be present at any of its performances will doubtless count as one of the highlights in a lifetime’s listening.” Another reviewer from The Guardian concurred: “each performance became a journey of exploration for the audience…There’s simply no other quartet around today that comes within touching distance of the Takács.” Program
Beethoven Psathas Beethoven
String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 18, No. 6 (1798-1800) A Cool Wind (2008) String Quartet in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1 (1806)
$46 / $38 / $30 / $22 Sponsored by
MEDIA PARTNER WGTE 91.3 FM.
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A St. Patrick’s Day treat for fans of this incredible ensemble! The 15-member Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra is comprised of the finest jazz players on the scene, and their vast repertory — ranging from rare, historic compositions to newly commissioned works to new takes on old classics — makes them a veritable repository of jazz history. Led by the incomparable Wynton Marsalis, who conceived and built this ensemble into the irresistible force it is today, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra returns for another stunning concert. Despite one of the most aggressive touring schedules in the business, they make each concert seem fresh, drawing in audiences who are continually energized and amazed by the group’s depth of outrageous talent. “[The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra] is not just a band on tour, but a religious congregation, spreading the word of jazz.” (Downbeat) Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
$54 / $46 / $40 / $26 $44 / $38 / $10 $32 / $26 / $20 / $10
co-sponsored by Rachel Bendit and Mark Bernstein and Media Partners wemu 89.1 fm, Metro Times, ann Arbor’s 107one, and Michigan Chronicle.
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA with WYNTON MARSALIS Wed, Mar 17 8 pm
Hill Auditorium
The San Francisco Symphony and music director Michael Tilson Thomas kick off their two-day educational and performance residency with a concert that features violinist Christian Tetzlaff. Tetzlaff, who performed a Hill Auditorium recital of solo violin works in 2008, is internationally recognized as one of the most important violinists of his generation. His musical integrity, technical assurance, and intelligent, compelling interpretations have set the standards by which violin performances are measured. The Symphony gave its first concerts in 1911, the same year that Mahler died. Ever since, the orchestra has been known as a vibrant ensemble that offers a kaleidoscope of classics and new music. Leonard Bernstein protégé Michael Tilson Thomas has a relationship with the orchestra that dates back to 1974, when he led the ensemble in Mahler’s Symphony No. 9. Long regarded as an important interpreter of Mahler’s works, MTT conducts the San Francisco Symphony in Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, featuring Ann Arbor’s own Grammy Award-winning UMS Choral Union. The San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas have been named recipients of the 2010 UMS Distinguished Artist Award. The Saturday concert has been designated the 2010 Ford Honors Program. Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
$75 / $68 / $60 / $34 $60 / $50 / $10 $40 / $34 / $22 / $10
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY Michael Tilson Thomas conductor
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Concert No. 1
with Christian Tetzlaff violin
Fri, Mar 19 8 pm hill Auditorium Program
Kissine New Work Commissioned by SFS (2009) Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 (1878) Ravel Valses nobles et sentimentales (1912) Liszt Symphonic Poem No. 2: Tasso — Lament and Triumph, S. 96 (1849) Sponsored by Co-sponsored by the Catherine S. Arcure and Herbert E. Sloan Endowment Fund, James and Nancy Stanley, and Jay and Mary Kate Zelenock. Funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts as part of American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius. MEDIA PARTNERS WGTE 91.3 FM AND WRCJ 90.9 FM.
Concert No. 2— Ford Honors Program
with UMS Choral Union Laura Claycomb soprano Katarina Karnéus mezzo-soprano
Sat, Mar 20 8 pm hill Auditorium Program
Mahler Symphony No. 2 in c minor (“Resurrection”) (1888-94) MADE POSSIBLE in part by
15th Ford Honors Program On March 20, UMS will present its Distinguished Artist Award to both the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas in a brief ceremony before the concert. The evening will also include a Gala Dinner before the concert and a post-concert Champagne Afterglow, organized by UMS’s Advisory Committee and held at the Michigan League. The Ford Honors Program raises funds for UMS education programs and recognizes Ford Motor Company’s longtime and generous support of UMS. At the gala dinner, UMS also recognizes the recipients of its Educator of the Year and School of the Year awards. Tickets for the concert are available now; information about purchasing tickets for the dinner and afterglow will be available in January at www.ums.org.
Additional support provided by the mosaic Foundation (of R. & P. Heydon) MEDIA PARTNER WGTE 91.3 FM.
MADE POSSIBLE in part by
Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya
MALY DRAMA THEATER OF ST. PETERSBURG Lev Dodin artistic director
Wed, Mar 24 8 pm [special performance for students] Thu-Sat, Mar 25-27 8 pm Sun, Mar 28 2 pm Power Center The legendary Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg, which Peter Brook has described as “the finest ensemble theater in Europe,” was created in 1944 and has become one of the great theaters of the world under artistic director Lev Dodin. Dodin has led the company since 1983 and directs this definitive interpretation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play. With costumes inspired by the very first production of Uncle Vanya by the Moscow Arts Theatre in 1899, the Maly Drama Theater of St. Petersburg captures the very essence of Chekhov, born 150 years ago in 1860.
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Chekhov’s tragicomic masterpiece of dashed dreams, thwarted love, and eternal longing begins as Professor Serebryakov and his young wife, Elena, arrive at the family’s remote country estate that has been looked after by Sonya (the Professor’s daughter from his first marriage) and her Uncle Vanya, the Professor’s brother-in-law. Vanya has sacrificed his life managing the estate for the Professor, whom he once revered, but is now filled with regret for lost time, a pain made worse by the arousing presence
of Elena. An acutely observed study of humanity, Uncle Vanya remains a classic of Russian theater, a play of tragic and tangled love combining comic scenes of the everyday with a scathing attack on the idle provincial life of the upper classes. Performed in Russian with projected English translations. Wednesday (Students Only) $15 center / $10 sides Thursday/Sunday Main Floor $50 / $44 / $32 / $26 Balcony $44 / $40 / $32 / $18 Friday/Saturday Main Floor $56 / $48 / $36 / $28 Balcony $48 / $42 / $36 / $20 a prelude dinner precedes the thursday performance. The UMS Presentation of the Maly Drama Theater is Sponsored by the Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation. The Saturday performance is supported by The Medical Community Endowment Fund. The Sunday performance is supported by Participants of the 2002 shakespeare Birthday Celebration Trip. MEDIA PARTNERs BETWEEN THE LINES AND MICHIGAN RADIO 91.7 FM.
The 26-year-old German violinist Julia Fischer is recognized for her uncommon talent and exceptional performances in effusive reviews throughout the world. Winning the Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition at age 11 catapulted her into the spotlight, and she now holds the distinction of being Germany’s youngest professor (at the Academy for Music and the Performing Arts in Frankfurt). She made her UMS debut in November 2007 with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, then returned in April 2009 for her UMS recital debut. BBC Music Magazine describes her as a “soulful musician who doesn’t let an ounce of ego come between the music and the listener.” Her recording of Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin earned worldwide critical praise, including the rare distinction of winning three of France’s most prestigious awards, as well as the BBC Music Magazine’s “Best Newcomer” Award in 2006. These two concerts feature Fischer in the complete solo violin works of J.S. Bach. Program (Wed 3/24)
J.S. Bach J.S. Bach J.S. Bach
Sonata No. 1 in g minor, BWV 1001 (1720) Sonata No. 2 in a minor, BWV 1003 (1720) Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005 (1720)
Program (Thu 3/25)
J.S. Bach J.S. Bach J.S. Bach
Partita No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1006 (1720) Partita No. 1 in b minor, BWV 1002 (1720) Partita No. 2 in d minor, BWV 1004 (1720)
$42 / $36 / $28 / $20 MEDIA PARTNERs WGTE 91.3 FM AND WRCJ 90.9 FM.
Solo Violin Works of J.S. Bach
JULIA FISCHER violin Wed-Thu, Mar 24-25 8 pm Rackham Auditorium 22
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SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA with LANG LANG piano Christoph Eschenbach conductor
Wed, Apr 7 8 pm hill Auditorium With members selected from among the world’s finest musicians under the age of 27, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra has enjoyed a superb reputation worldwide. Imbued with the spirit of Leonard Bernstein’s founding precepts — mutual understanding, respect, tolerance, the universality of music, and a vital focus on their role as global citizens — these passionate and dedicated musicians work with experienced teachers and outstanding conductors from the Berlin Philharmonic, the Munich Philharmonic, and other notable ensembles. The charismatic 27-year-old pianist Lang Lang, heralded as the “biggest, most exciting keyboard talent encountered in many years” by The Chicago Tribune, appears as soloist alongside his longtime artistic collaborator Christoph Eschenbach, who conducts the inspiring program of Prokofiev and Brahms. Program
Prokofiev Prokofiev Brahms Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
Symphony No. 1 in D Major, Op. 25 (“Classical”) (1917) Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 (1917-21) Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73 (1877) $75 / $68 / $60 / $34 $60 / $50 / $10 $40 / $34 / $22 / $10
a prelude dinner precedes the performance. Co-sponsored by Dennis and Ellie Serras. MEDIA PARTNER WGTE 91.3 FM.
21st-Century Dizzy
Danilo Perez
featuring Danilo Perez piano | David Sanchez tenor saxophone Rudresh Mahanthappa alto saxophone Amir ElSaffar trumpet and vocals | Jamey Haddad percussion Ben Street bass | Adam Cruz drums
Thu, Apr 8 8 pm Hill Auditorium Panamanian jazz pianist Danilo Perez brings together a global, all-star band that celebrates the music and bountiful inspiration of his mentor, Dizzy Gillespie, the great jazz trumpeter who invented the modern jazz sounds of bebop was a major influence on the widespread acceptance of Afro-Cuban jazz. As the youngest member of Gillespie’s United Nation Orchestra, which featured some of the best and brightest young jazz musicians the world had to offer, Perez learned first-hand how Gillespie embraced musical and personal collaborations throughout the world. Perez’ new band performs arrangements of classic Gillespie tunes in addition to original group compositions. Dizzy’s bands were a constant melting pot of styles, genres, and pan-global collaborations. Danilo’s hand-picked band, with roots in Afro-Cuban, bebop, Indian, African, and Middle Eastern music, pays tribute to Dizzy’s legendary vision. “When the dust settles, the pianist Danilo Perez will be looking like one of the best things that happened to jazz around the turn of the millennium.” (The New York Times) Main Floor Mezzanine Balcony
$50 / $44 / $36 / $22 $38 / $32 / $10 $26 / $22 / $18 / $10
FUNDED IN PART BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AS PART OF AMERICAN MASTERPIECES: THREE CENTURIES OF ARTISTIC GENIUS. MEDIA PARTNERS WEMU 89.1 FM, METRO TIMES, AND MICHIGAN CHRONICLE.
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BAABA MAAL Opening Act: NOMO
Sat, Apr 10 8 pm Michigan Theater “Baaba Maal opened his mouth, and beautiful pearls and lilies and songbirds came flying out. It was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen.” (Michael Stipe, R.E.M.) One of the true stars to rise from the African continent, Senegalese master musician Baaba Maal has been making music for the world to enjoy for nearly two decades. With critically-acclaimed releases ranging from contemporary Afropop to expressions of traditional West African music, he is renowned for his fiery performances that fuse funk, rock, and blues with the beats and melodies of West Africa, continually reinforcing his role as a seminal artist in the world music arena. With nearly constant touring, he has honed and enriched an already phenomenal stage show into an explosion of sound, singing, and dancing. Aside from being a remarkable musician, he represents the United Nations Development Program as a spokesman on the issue of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Opening for Baaba Maal is NOMO, an Afropop, Fela Kuti-inspired nonet formed in Ann Arbor by graduates of the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Main Floor Balcony
$42 / $38 / $22 / $18 $42 / $30 / $22 / $18
Funded in part by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS. Media Partners WEMU 89.1 FM, Metro TImes, Michigan Chronicle and Ann Arbor’s 107one.
The mesmerizing voices of Oslo’s Trio Mediæval have captivated the concert world with their breathtaking performances and recordings. Their diverse polyphonic repertoire includes medieval music from England and France, contemporary works written for the ensemble, and traditional Norwegian ballads and songs. “Singing doesn’t get more unnervingly beautiful,” wrote The San Francisco Chronicle. “To hear the group’s note-perfect counterpoint — as pristine and inviting as clean, white linens — is to be astonished at what the human voice is capable of.” The New York Times added, “These three voices blended with a supernatural clarity and beauty that might cause even a confirmed agnostic to contemplate a spark of divinity in these centuries-old manuscripts.” Program
Musical fragments from the Benedictine cathedral at Worcester, combining plainchant and complex polyphonic works, as well as contemporary settings by Gavin Bryars. The program is a reconstruction of a Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin. $40 reserved seating / $30 general admission Sponsored by Carl and Charlene Herstein. MEDIA PARTNER WRCJ 90.9 FM.
Fragments: A Worcester Ladymass
TRIO MEDIÆVAL Tue, Apr 20 8 pm St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church 26
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HUBBARD STREET DANCE CHICAGO Glenn Edgerton artistic director
Thu-Sat, Apr 22-24 8 pm Power Center This innovative and exciting American dance company presents sophisticated work by both American and international choreographers with an energy that literally jumps off the stage and into the audience. The company’s unconventional and innovative repertory by choreographers such as Jírí Kylián, Nacho Duato, Lar Lubovitch, and William Forsythe breaks down preconceptions about dance by juxtaposing pieces based on a variety of dance traditions and genres. The result? An engaging, seductive, human, and often edgy performance that inspires audiences to think, but also to have fun — in short, a terrific introduction to dance. The company performs a variety of distinct repertory over the course of the three-night run, including dances by Alejandro Cerrudo, Jorma Elo, Jírí Kylián, and others. Program details will be posted at www.ums.org as soon as they are available. Main Floor Balcony
$48 / $44 / $32 / $26 $44 / $38 / $32 / $20
The Saturday performance is sponsored by
Funded in part by Arts Midwest’s performing arts fund. MEDIA PARTNERs Between the Lines, Metro Times, Michigan Radio 91.7 FM, and Ann Arbor’s 107one.
Two of today’s most interesting and respected cultural forces present a dynamic tour of the 20th century. Re-creating a show they developed for a sold-out performance at the Paris Bar in New York, The New Yorker writer Alex Ross and pianist Ethan Iverson join forces to present a unique exploration of 20th-century music. Ross reads vivid portraits of the 20th-century’s iconic composers from his universally acclaimed and best-selling book, The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century. After each selection, Iverson, the pianist in the postmodern jazz trio The Bad Plus and former musical director of Mark Morris Dance Group, performs a piano interlude related to the reading. The performance includes piano arrangements of Debussy, Schoenberg, Bartók, Jelly Roll Morton, Ives, Stravinsky, Gershwin, Webern, Charlie Parker, Shostakovich, Babbitt, and Ligeti. $44 / $40 / $32 / $24 Sponsored by
FUNDED IN PART BY THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AS PART OF AMERICAN MASTERPIECES: THREE CENTURIES OF ARTISTIC GENIUS. MEDIA PARTNERs WGTE 91.3 FM and WEMU 89.1 FM.
The Rest is Noise in Performance
ALEX ROSS & ETHAN IVERSON piano Sun, Apr 25 4 pm Rackham Auditorium
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NT Live: The Habit of Art High-definition broadcast by London’s National Theatre, presented in partnership with UMS and the Michigan Theater A new play by Alan Bennett Directed by Nicholas Hytner
Sun, May 9 7 pm Michigan Theater “I can think of few plays that combine wild laughter, deep emotion, and technical ingenuity with such bravura. The Habit of Art is a smash hit if I ever saw one.” (Daily Telegraph) Benjamin Britten, sailing uncomfortably close to the wind with his new opera, Death in Venice, seeks advice from his former collaborator and friend, W.H. Auden. During this imagined meeting, their first in 25 years, they are observed and interrupted by, amongst others, their future biographer and a young man from the local bus station. Alan Bennett’s new play is as much about the theater as it is about poetry or music. It looks at the unsettling desires of two difficult men, and at the ethics of biography. It reflects on growing old, on creativity and inspiration, and on persisting when all passion’s spent: ultimately, on the habit of art. Bennett is one of the UK’s most prolific and best-loved playwrights, whose work includes The Madness of King George and The History Boys, which both began as plays at the National Theatre and have been made into films. UMS and the Michigan Theater have joined forces to bring high definition screenings of live theater broadcasts by London’s National Theatre to Ann Arbor. In the US, these screenings are delayed broadcasts to accommodate the time difference. Broadcasts will also feature behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with actors.
The Habit of Art contains adult content and is not suitable for children under 15 years. $22 adults $18 Michigan Theater members/UMS subscribers and donors $12 students
The Neutral Zone and UMS present
Breakin’ Curfew Sat, May 15 8 pm Power Center
Ann Arbor area youth raise the curtain of the Power Center to offer a rare glimpse into the performance art they create in their basements, garages, and schools, and at Ann Arbor’s teen center, the Neutral Zone. Curated, produced, and marketed by local high school students, this annual event allows entrance into the lively and innovative minds of talented young performers. The ultimate reflection of the extraordinary artistic variety that thrives in our teen community, Breakin’ Curfew blends spoken word, dance, rock-and- roll, hip-hop, classical music, jazz, and much more for a single blow-out extravaganza of thoughtprovoking musical, lyrical, and visual art. This truly one-of-a-kind show exists only in Ann Arbor, and is a paramount exhibition of southeast Michigan’s most diverse teen talent. $16 adults $10 students in advance at the Netruel Zone/$12 at the door
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UMS Education and Community Program Highlights The richness of UMS education and community programs surrounding the mainstage continues this winter season, with opportunities for audiences to learn about art forms, talk with artists, and explore their own creativity, inspired by UMS artistic programs.
Artists in Conversation
Don’t miss these unique opportunities to exchange ideas directly with some of the world’s finest creative forces!
Other Educational Highlights
Please check www.ums.org/education for details on the following events:
American Orchestras Summit: Creating Partnerships in Research and Performance Artists in Conversation: Conductor, Composer, Writer Pierre Boulez Interviewed by U-M Professor Emeritus Glenn Watkins
Thu, Jan 28 | 12 noon Rackham Amphitheatre
The Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors Series: Bill T. Jones A question of strategy and objectives: Fondly do we hope, Fervently do we pray
Thu, Jan 21 | 5:10 pm Michigan Theater The Tony and MacArthur “Genius” Grant award-winning iconic American choreographer Bill T. Jones is renowned for taking risks and making bold statements in his distinguished dance pieces. The artistry we see on stage is rooted in a research-intensive and highly collaborative choreographic process; Bill T. Jones will share his thoughts on how a work is made and the process of understanding it. A collaboration with the Penny W. Stamps Distinguished Visitors series.
No longer the enfant terrible of his youth, Pierre Boulez reigns in his Late Style as one of the few dominant figures in the world of the performing arts: more than a conductor, more than a composer, he virtually defines the intellectual epicenter of 20th-century music. Boulez and Watkins will discuss the past, present, and future of orchestras, live performance, artistic choices, and contemporary composition. Lev Dodin’s Journey without End: Stories from a Lifetime in Theatre
Fri, Mar 26 | 6:30 pm Alumni Center Lev Dodin, artistic director of the Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, will discuss his current production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, and the renowned artistic process that has turned the Maly into one of the world’s premiere theater companies. A collaboration with the U-M Center for Russian and East European Studies.
Tue-Thu | Jan 26-28 Rackham Amphitheater This landmark conference will discuss the wide-reaching cultural impact that the orchestra has had in America. Includes participants from the NEA; Mellon Foundation; and the Detroit, Louisville, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestras. A collaboration with the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance and Arts Enterprise.
San Francisco Symphony Residency Sat, Mar 20 U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance
San Francisco Orchestra members will participate in over 20 residency events (master classes, Q/A sessions, artist workshops) for U-M students and the general public. A collaboration with the U-M School of Music, Theatre & Dance.
UMS Global Focus: Africa January-April
As part of the UMS global focus on the music of Africa, UMS educational opportunities include an African Performance Traditions film series, a residency with musicologist Leo Sarkasian (who owns thousands of primary source recordings of African music), and community receptions/dance parties following performances. A collaboration with the United African Community Organization, Arts at Michigan, the U-M Institute for the Humanities, the U-M African Studies Center, the U-M Center for Afroamerican and African Studies, and the U-M Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies.
UMS is counting on your contribution to help present this exciting season. Ticket revenues cover only half of our program costs. Your generosity makes it possible for UMS to bring the world’s greatest music, dance and theater to Ann Arbor.
You Make It Happen UMS provides priority to donors in purchasing tickets to individual performances. Donors of $250 or more are able to purchase tickets one week before tickets go on sale to the general public. In addition, UMS donors enjoy:
Discounted tickets to select performances Acknowledgement in UMS program books and donor listings (annual gifts of $250 or more) Advance notice of performances and advance purchasing privileges Invitations to special events
Sponsoring a Concert Many donors have inquired about increasing their support to honor a family member or colleague, or to commemorate a milestone event in their lives. You can support UMS while celebrating your special occasion and receive the benefits of sponsorship at the same time. UMS staff will work with you to create a package of benefits that meets your individual needs. To discuss sponsorship and related benefits, please call Susan McClanahan, Director of Development, at 734-764-8489. 32
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Ford Honors Program Gala Dinner and Champagne Afterglow Including presentation of the UMS Educator and School of the Year Awards The 15th Annual Ford Honors Program pays tribute to the San Francisco Symphony and music director Michael Tilson Thomas on Saturday, March 20, 2010. A Gala Dinner will precede the performance, and a Champagne Afterglow will follow the concert. The proceeds of the event benefit the UMS Education and Audience Development Program. A significant portion of each dinner/afterglow package is tax-deductible.
Gala packages include valet parking, a festive dinner, the champagne afterglow, and a memento. For information about gala packages, please call 734-764-8489.
Prelude Dinners Learn more about our presentations by attending Prelude Dinners before select performances. The dinners are held in convenient locations so you can park early, dine with friends, and learn from guest speakers who share their expertise about the artists, composers, and topics related to the programs. A complete listing of Prelude Dinners is posted at www.ums.org. Call the UMS Development Office at 734-764-8489 for more information or to make a reservation.
The UMS Lobby In June 2009, UMS was one of four organizations awarded an “Innovation Lab” grant by EMCArts, with support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. The grants were awarded to allow organizations to develop an idea that could have a profound impact on how they do business. During the summer, a team of UMS staff members and volunteers researched new ideas related to social media. A week-long intensive retreat in October resulted in further development of this project, which will launch in a beta version in February. The UMS Lobby will expand and redefine what we mean by “the UMS experience.” By combining online and live components in everything UMS does, we will enable a wide range of participants to engage more continuously and more deeply with each other, with the extraordinary history of UMS, with the artists we now present, and with the life of UMS in Ann Arbor and throughout the region. The UMS Lobby is a place where people meet, exchange ideas, and build relationships — a bridge between daily life and the special places we devote to artistic experiences. UMS has many “lobbies,” and we will use these physical spaces in new ways to welcome our audiences and invite them to learn from us and from each other. At the same time, the UMS Lobby is a virtual space, accessible year-round, where we will offer multiple streams of activity to engage anyone interested in art and ideas, or in UMS specifically. Among the virtual offerings: A digitized historical archive that includes access to UMS’s extraordinary
131-year history, including the opportunity to submit your own comments, memories, and observations about events that you’ve attended A multimedia blog with text, video, audio, photos, and links Stories from patrons and others about the impact of UMS —in essence, a “living archive” that will grow with time and supplement the historical archive Conversation areas that include feeds from our facebook, twitter, and other networks, but that also provide a place to listen and to be heard
How Can You Get Involved? Whether you like to peruse the comments of others or actively participate in developing new conversations, the UMS Lobby is a place to meet. We’re also seeking beta testers who will help us evaluate platform design, ease of use, and the integration of virtual and in-person events and connections. Beta testers will be asked to fill out periodic online surveys and might be asked to join a focus group or two during the next four months. For more information, please contact Sara Billmann at sarabill@umich.edu. UMS already has an active presence in the social media world, and we invite you to join us:
search for University Musical Society and U40 – University Musical Society www.twitter.com/UMSNews www.youtube.com/UMSVideos
And starting in February, visit us at www.umsLobby.org!
Other Events of Interest The 13th Annual
Free Concert!
Sphinx Competition for Young Black and Latino String Players The Sphinx Competition showcases many of the best young Black and Latino string players in America. Each year, 18 semi-finalists come to southeastern Michigan to compete for cash prizes and scholarships totaling over $100,000. Both concerts are accompanied by the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Elliott. Presented by DTE Energy Foundation.
Junior Division Honors Concert Fri, Feb 5 12 noon
Rackham Auditorium
This free performance features the three Junior Division finalists (under age 18) competing for their final placement. This concert encourages participation by young audiences from around the state of Michigan. For tickets, contact the UMS Education Department at 734-615-0122 or umsyouth@umich.edu.
Sun, Feb 7 2 pm
Orchestra Hall, Detroit
This concert, which is broadcast nationally, features the three Senior Division Laureates (ages 18-26) competing for their final placement and the $10,000 first prize. The Junior Division Laureate also performs. For information on admission to the Finals Concert, please visit www.sphinxmusic.org or call the Max M. Fisher Music Center box office at 313-576-5111. |
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Mon, Apr 12 8 pm
Stamps Auditorium (in the Walgreen Drama Center on North Campus) Featuring William Campbell trumpet | Katherine Collier piano Paul Dwyer cello | Diana Gannett double bass Dan Gilbert clarinet | Joe Gramley percussion Phillip Kerr narrator | Nancy Ambrose King oboe Jeffrey Lyman bassoon | Joan Morris narrator Daniel Pesca harpsichord | Amy Porter flute/piccolo Steven Shipps violin | Donald Sinta alto saxophone Robert Swedberg director | Martin Torch-Ishii cello
Each semester, UMS hosts a free concert by the Michigan Chamber Players, showcasing the talents of faculty members of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater & Dance. Program
Dutilleux Les Citations (1991) Martinů La Revue de Cuisine (1927) Walton Façade (1922)
Senior Division Finals Concert
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Michigan Chamber Players Spring Concert
UMS Choral Union
UMS’s Grammy Award-winning chorus, the UMS Choral Union, is best known locally for its annual performances of Handel’s Messiah. The volunteer ensemble also performs throughout southeastern Michigan each year under the direction of Jerry Blackstone and other guest conductors. In addition to this year’s performance with the San Francisco Symphony (see page 19), the group performs with the Detroit Symphony. To audition for this celebrated ensemble, contact 734-763-8997 or choralunion@umich.edu.
Detroit Performances Tickets: 313-576-5111
Walton’s Henry V: Suite for Chorus and Orchestra Detroit Symphony Orchestra Neville Marriner conductor
Thu, Mar 4 8 pm Sat, Mar 6 8:30 pm
Orchestra Hall, Detroit
Mozart’s Requiem Detroit Symphony Orchestra Hans Graf conductor
Thu-Fri, Apr 22-23 8 pm Sat, Apr 24 8:30 pm Orchestra Hall, Detroit
Important Info for Families Family-Friendly UMS Events
Classical Kids Club
All Ages Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey
Designed to nurture and create the next generation of musicians and music lovers, the Classical Kids Club allows students in grades 1-9 and their parents to purchase tickets to all classical music concerts at significantly discounted prices.
Ages 9 and up (4th grade) Ladysmith Black Mambazo Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Ages 12 and up (middle school) Sō Percussion NT Live: Nation Angela Hewitt Béla Fleck: The Africa Project Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra San Francisco Symphony Julia Fischer Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra with Lang Lang Ages 14 and up (high school) Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Bad Plus Luciana Souza Trio Maly Drama Theater / Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya Danilo Perez: 21st-Century Dizzy Baaba Maal with NOMO
Two weeks before any UMS classical music performance (see listing at right), parents can purchase up to two kids’ (ages 5-14) tickets for $10 each with the purchase of an adult ticket for $20. Seating is subject to availability. UMS will reserve a limited number of Classical Kids Club tickets for each eligible performance — even those that sell out. Parents are encouraged to call the Ticket Office at 734-764-2538 with any questions. Membership is Free! There’s no membership fee and no need to register in advance. However, if you’d like to receive reminders about upcoming Classical Kids Club performances, join UMS E-News and check the box for Classical Kids Club.
Teen Rush Tickets Students over age 14 are welcome to purchase rush tickets to most UMS events for $10 the day of the performance (or the Friday before Saturday/Sunday performances) through UMS’s Teen Ticket Program. Tickets are $15 at the door, subject to availability.
Winter/Spring 2010 Classical Kids Club Performances Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Wed, Jan 27
Angela Hewitt
Wed, Feb 10
Schubert Piano Trios
Sun, Feb 14
Swedish Radio Choir
Sun, Feb 21
Takács Quartet
Mon, Mar 15
San Francisco Symphony
Fri-Sat, Mar 19-20
Julia Fischer
Wed-Thu, Mar 24-25
Schleswig-Holstein/Lang Lang
Wed, Apr 7
Trio Mediæval
Tue, Apr 20
The Rest is Noise in Performance
Sun, Apr 25
10 Things to Know About UMS 1. The University Musical Society is much more than U, M, or S. The name dates back to 1879 but isn’t necessarily reflective of the entire organization. While affiliated with the University of Michigan, UMS is a separate, independent 501(c)3 organization with its own board of directors. About 20 years ago, UMS expanded its musical programming scope to include significant dance and theater. As for society — well, let’s just say that the word “society” carries its own level of baggage, and you don’t need to “belong” to participate. The long and short of it is that UMS welcomes everyone to enjoy and participate in the transformative power of the live performing arts. 2. UMS ranks among the top performing arts presenters in the United States. UMS stands in good company, frequently partnering on international tours with Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Barbican, Théâtre du Châtelet, and other leading university presenters. Few communities of the size of Ann Arbor can support this breadth of programming, making our community a hub for international performing arts tours.
3. UMS is closely aligned with the University of Michigan. In recent seasons, our education department has worked with 57 academic units and 175 individual U-M faculty members. Through these collaborations, we present contextual programming that enriches audience engagement with the performances on our stages. In addition, the University of Michigan provides annual support through the President and Provost, the University of Michigan Health System, the Office of the Vice President for Research, and other units that support specific work. We are extraordinarily grateful and appreciative of this collaborative and mutually beneficial relationship. 4. UMS is committed to student participation in arts and culture. Each year, UMS offers discounted tickets to university and high school students for regular UMS performances through a variety of programs. In a typical year, more than 17,000 student tickets are sold, representing over 21% of the audience at UMS events. Through these discount programs, students save over $325,000 each season. In addition to the many students who attend our events, we work closely with a group of about 30 students each year who develop skills in arts management through jobs and internships in all departments of UMS, as well as a volunteer student committee. 5. Ticket revenues cover only half of our total costs. Twenty years ago, ticket revenues covered about 80% of our total costs. In the past two decades, however, touring has changed, and expenses have risen much faster than income, in part due to the expansion of our free educational offerings. We rely on generous support from individual donors, corporations, foundations, government grants, and the University of Michigan to continue to bring the finest performing artists in the world to Michigan. We know that people
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choose to donate for any number of reasons: engaging more deeply in the arts, networking with others, and providing memorable arts experiences for children are just a few of the frequently stated motivations. We’re grateful to all of our generous donors! 6. The UMS education program reaches the entire region. Since 1990, UMS has served 345 schools and over 200,000 students through our popular youth education program, which includes live performances, in-class visits, teacher workshops, and more. UMS recognizes outstanding programs with its Educator of the Year and School of the Year Awards. 7. Volunteers are central to everything we do. A 500person usher corps, a 175-voice chorus, a 90-member Advisory Committee, a 34-member Board of Directors, student interns, a Teacher Advisory Committee, and countless others help us with strategic planning, special event planning, project-based assistance, backstage support, promoting performances, and putting up posters around town. We simply couldn’t do business without the support of volunteers, who collectively offer over 45,000 hours each year volunteering for UMS programs. 8. UMS is committed to nurturing and developing artists. Over the past 20 years, UMS has committed funds to help keep creativity alive and well, with commissions of 25 new musical works, and funding to support the creation of new dance and theater productions. In all, more than 50 new works or productions have been supported by UMS, and many of these works have been seen in Ann Arbor. We believe that to create a healthy artistic ecology, we need to be patrons of the arts as well as programmers and give artists the resources to imagine and create.
Members of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet sign autographs in the lobby after a special Family Performance; schoolchildren arriving at Hill Auditorium for the youth performance by Keith Terry and the Slammin’ All-Body Band. More than 3,500 children enjoyed the performance.
9. UMS has been recognized by major national foundations for its distinctive programming. The Wallace Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation have given UMS major gifts for its distinctive programming and widely-emulated education and community engagement programs. These gifts include significant endowment support, which keeps on giving through annual allocations that continue to support these programs. 10. UMS is a key player in southeastern Michigan’s revitalization efforts. UMS representatives serve on economic development task forces throughout the region. With arts and culture as a key driver of quality of life, and thus a prime motivator for companies recruiting new talent, UMS is often a major draw for newcomers to the area.
UMS education programs provide engaging experiences with arts, culture, and creativity for the entire southeastern Michigan community. As part of UMS’s mission and core values, we are committed to sustaining these efforts for generations to come.
www.ums.org/education Youth, Teen, & Family Program 734-615-0122 umsyouth@umich.edu Each year, the UMS Youth Education Program serves nearly 25,000 schoolchildren, parents, and educators in southeastern Michigan, giving many students their first opportunities to experience the live performing arts. UMS is proud to have the largest series of diverse, artistically-driven youth performances in the state. The performances, extensive teacher training and curriculum development, a yearly teen-driven performance (Breakin’ Curfew), and specially designated family performances comprise the award-winning program, designated as a “Best Practice” in 2004 by ArtServe Michigan and the Dana Foundation. The UMS Youth Education Program is enhanced by official partnerships with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, Washtenaw Intermediate School District, the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Program, Neutral Zone, and many other area youth and family organizations.
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Adult & Community Engagement 734-615-4077 umsed@umich.edu The UMS Adult Education and Community Engagement Program enriches and contextualizes the arts, artists, cultures, and ideas presented on the UMS season. Numerous educational and social events provide points of entry for diverse audiences. Specifically, over 100 unique regional, local, and university-based partnerships each season have helped UMS launch initiatives for Arab American, African, Mexican/Latino, Asian, and African American audiences. UMS is proud of its educational and residency programs, created for general audiences to engage more deeply in the arts. Through artist interviews, panel discussions, symposiums, social receptions, workshops, and informal dialogues, UMS creates a rich assortment of value-added programs. Over 100 events each season inspire creativity, enhance knowledge, promote connections with friends and family, and inform each audience member’s individual experience with the arts.
Education Program Supporters Reflects gifts received from July 1, 2008 – November 1, 2009.
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs University of Michigan Dan Zanes & Friends visit children at Mott’s Children’s Hospital for a special performance, Clague Middle School students after a UMS youth performance.
Anonymous Arts at Michigan Arts Midwest’s Performing Arts Fund Bank of Ann Arbor Bustan al-Funun Foundation for Arab Arts The Dan Cameron Family Foundation/Alan and Swanna Saltiel Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art DTE Energy Foundation David and Phyllis Herzig Endowment Fund The Esperance Family Foundation Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP JazzNet Endowment W.K. Kellogg Foundation Masco Corporation Foundation Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. THE MOSAIC FOUNDATION (of R. and P. Heydon) The Mosaic Foundation [Washington, DC] National Dance Project of the New England Foundation for the Arts National Endowment for the Arts Prudence and Amnon Rosenthal K-12 Education Endowment Fund Rick and Sue Snyder Target TCF Bank UMS Advisory Committee University of Michigan Credit Union University of Michigan Health System U-M Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs U-M Office of the Vice President for Research Wallace Endowment Fund
Seat Maps Michigan Theater
Hill Auditorium
603 East Liberty Street
825 North University Avenue
Map 1 - Orchestras
Map 2 Classical Recitals & Jazz/World
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BALCONY Sec 9
Sec 10
MAIN FLOOR
Sec 1
Sec 2
Sec 3
Sec 2
Sec 3
Sec 4
Sec 5
MAIN FLOOR
Sec 4
STAGE Sec 1
Sec 2
Sec 3
Sec 4
Sec 5
Sec 1
Sec 2
Sec 3
Sec 4
Sec 5
BĂŠla Fleck: The Africa Project Sec 2
Sec 3
Sec 4
Sec 2
STAGE
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Wed Feb 17
Sec 4
STAGE
Hill Auditorium (H1) Chicago Symphony/Boulez Swedish Radio Choir San Francisco Symphony Lang Lang/Schleswig
Sec 3
A
Hill Auditorium (H3)
Hill Auditorium (H2) Wed Jan 27 Sun Feb 21 Fri-Sat Mar 19-20 Wed Apr 7
www.ums.org | 734-764-2538
Ladysmith Black Mambazo Sun Jan 31 Angela Hewitt Wed Feb 10 Jazz at Lincoln Center Orch Wed Mar 17 & Wynton Marsalis Danilo Perez: 21st-Century Dizzy Thu Apr 8
STAGE
Michigan Theater (MT) NT Live: Nation Baaba Maal with NOMO NT Live: The Habit of Art
Sun Feb 7 Sat Apr 10 Sun May9
Power Center 121 Fletcher Street BALCONY Sec 8
Sec 7 c6
Sec 9
911 North University Avenue
0
c1
Se
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre Se
MAIN FLOOR
Sec 4
Sec 1
St. Francis of Assisi (SF) 2250 East Stadium Boulevard Trio Mediæval Tue Apr 20
Sec 3 Sec 2
General Admission Venues
University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA)
Sec 5
525 South State Street Sō Percussion Sat Feb 6
STAGE
Power Center (P) Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Co. Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey Maly Drama Theater/Uncle Vanya Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Breakin Curfew
Fri-Sat Jan 22-23 Sat Mar 13 Wed-Sun Mar 24-28 Thu-Sat Apr 22-24 Sat May 15
Rackham Auditorium
Pricing
915 East Washington Street
Sec 7
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre (LMT)
Sec 6 MAIN FLOOR
Sec 8
The Bad Plus
Sec 5
Sec 2
Thu Feb 4 Price Level Gold
Sec 4
Price Level (A)
Sec 1
Sec 3
Pricing scheme applies to all venues.
Price Level (B)
STAGE Price Level (C)
Rackham Auditorium (R) Luciana Souza Trio Schubert Piano Trios Takács Quartet Julia Fischer The Rest is Noise in Performance
Thu Feb 11 Sun Feb 14 Mon Mar 15 Wed-Thu Mar 24-25 Sun Apr 25
Price Level (D) Price Level (E)
TICKETS & INFO Refunds
Please Make Sure We Have Your E-mail Address on File! UMS regularly sends relevant, updated concert-related parking and late seating information via e-mail a couple of days before the event. Please be sure that the Ticket Office has your correct e-mail address on file.
Ticket Exchanges Subscribers may exchange tickets free of charge up until 48 hours prior to the performance. Non-subscribers may exchange tickets for a $6 per ticket exchange fee. Exchanged tickets must be received by the Ticket Office (by mail or in person) at least 48 hours prior to the performance. The value of the tickets may be applied to another performance or will be held as UMS Credit until the end of the season. You may also fax a copy of your torn tickets to 734-647-1171. Lost or misplaced tickets cannot be exchanged. UMS Credit must be redeemed by Sunday, April 25, 2010. NEW THIS YEAR! UMS will begin to accept ticket exchanges within 48 hours of the performance for a $10 per ticket exchange fee (applies to both subscribers and single ticket buyers). Tickets must be exchanged at least one hour before the published performance time. Tickets received less than one hour before the performance will be returned as a taxdeductible contribution.
Ticket Donations/Unused Tickets Unused tickets may be donated to UMS for a taxdeductible contribution until the published start time of the performance. Unused tickets that are returned after the performance begins are not eligible for UMS Credit or for a tax-deductible contribution.
Lost or Misplaced Tickets Call the Ticket Office at 734-764-2538 to have duplicate tickets waiting for you at Will-Call. Duplicate tickets cannot be mailed.
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www.ums.org | 734-764-2538
Due to the nature of the performing arts, programs are subject to change. Refunds are given only in the case of event cancellation or date change. Handling fees are not refundable.
Will-Call/Ticket Pick-Up All ticket orders received less than 10 days prior to the performance will be held at Will-Call, which opens in the performance venue 90 minutes prior to the published start time.
Access for Persons with Disabilities All UMS venues are accessible for persons with disabilities. Call 734-764-2538 for more information.
Start Time & Latecomers UMS makes every effort to begin concerts at the published time. Most of our events take place in the heart of central campus, which has limited parking and may have several events occurring simultaneously in different theaters. Please allow plenty of extra time to park and find your seats. Latecomers will be asked to wait in the lobby until seated by ushers. Most lobbies have been outfitted with monitors and/or speakers so that latecomers will not miss the performance entirely. The late seating break is determined by the artists and generally occurs during a suitable repertory break in the program. This could be as late as intermission or, for classical music concerts, after the first piece (not after individual movements). UMS makes every effort to alert patrons in advance when we know that there will be no late seating. UMS works closely with the artists to allow a more flexible late seating policy for family performances.
Notices about start times and late seating will be sent via e-mail. Please make sure that the UMS Ticket Office has your e-mail address on file.
Parking/Parking Tips Detailed directions and parking information will be mailed with your tickets and are also available at www.ums.org/ parking. Construction of the University of Michigan’s North Quad residence hall will increase traffic congestion and require occasional lane and street closures in the block surrounding the construction area, which may affect access to the performance venues. However, all parking structures will remain open during construction. To reduce the likelihood of congestion, we suggest that you consider accessing the Power Center structure from the Palmer Drive entrance. There’s a light at the intersection of Palmer and Washtenaw, making it easier to access the structure. You’ll save time both entering and exiting the structure and avoid sitting in traffic. UMS also recommends parking at the off-campus Liberty Square structure (entrance off of Washington Street, between Division and State), about a two-block walk from most performance venues. $2 after 3 pm weekdays and all day Saturday/Sunday.
Children and Families Children under the age of three will only be admitted to designated UMS Family Performances. This year’s remaining Family Performance is Cyro Baptista’s Beat the Donkey on Saturday, March 13. For the Cyro Baptista performances, please call the Ticket Office if you are bringing a child under the age of two. Children under two will be admitted at no charge, but do need to be assigned a seat due to fire marshall capacity limitations. All children attending UMS performances must be able to sit quietly in their own seats without disturbing other patrons. Children unable to do so, along with the adult accompanying them, may be asked by an usher to leave the auditorium. Please use discretion when choosing to bring a child. Remember, for regular UMS performances, everyone must have a ticket, regardless of age. For more information about the family-friendliness of specific UMS performances, please call the Ticket Office at 734-764-2538.
CREDITS Season Media Partner
Media Partners
Special thanks to the following supporters: Arts at Michigan. Arts at Michigan provides the programs and services that enable students to integrate arts and culture into their undergraduate experience at the University of Michigan. Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. The UMS Africa Festival, including performances by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Béla Fleck, and Baaba Maal, is funded in part by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Endowment Fund. Special project support for several components of the 2009/10 UMS season is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Endowment Fund, established with a challenge grant from the Leading College and University Presenters Program at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. National Dance Project. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company is funded in part by the MetLife Community Connections Fund of the National Dance Project (NDP), a program administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts. Major support for NDP is also provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation with additional support from the Ford Foundation and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. National Endowment for the Arts. Project support for several components of the 09/10 UMS season is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts through its American Masterpieces: Three Centuries of Artistic Genius and its Access to Artistic Excellence programs. Performing Arts Fund. Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago are funded in part by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, General Mills Foundation, and Land O’Lakes Foundation. University of Michigan. The University of Michigan provides special project support for many activities in the 2009/10 season through the U-M/UMS Partnership Program. Additional support is provided by the University of Michigan Health System, the U-M Office of the Vice President for Research, the U-M Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and many other individual academic units.
Photo Credits Cover/Back Cover: Ladysmith Black Mambazo by Robert Hoffman. Interior Pages: Baaba Maal by Tyrone Le Bon; Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company by Russell Jenkins; Pierre Boulez by Todd Rosenberg courtesy of Chicago Symphony Orchestra; Ladysmith Black Mambazo by Robert Hoffman; The Bad Plus by John Christenson; Sō Percussion by Janette Beckman; NT Live/Nation by Johan Persson; Angela Hewitt by James Cheadle; Luciana Souza and Romero Lubambo by Eleanora Alberto; Schubert Piano Trios by Tristan Cook; Béla Fleck in Africa (no credit provided); Swedish Radio Choir
UMS is a member of the University of Michigan Public Goods Council and the Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan.
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides programs and services without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability.
(no credit provided); Cyro Baptista by Eleanora Alberto; Takács Quartet by Peter Smith; Wynton Marsalis by Clay Patrick McBride; San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas (no credit provided); Maly Drama Theater/Uncle Vanya by Viktor Vassiliev; Julia Fischer (no credit provided); Lang Lang by Philip Glaser; Baaba Maal by Tyrone Le Bon; Dizzy Gillespie by Roland Godefroy; Trio Mediæval by Asa M. Mikkelsen; Hubbard Street Dance Chicago/Extremely Close by Todd Rosenberg; The Rest Is Noise book cover; NT Live/The Habit of Art by Johan Persson; Breakin’ Curfew 2009 by Allison Correll/Monica Cleary.
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