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WELCOME BACK TO SPAC

The region’s beloved and beautiful outdoor amphitheater reinvigorated by the full return of its resident companies, as it anticipates an inspiring summer season for first-time visitors and long-time patrons

SPAC

SPAC Lawn. Photo by Francesco D'Amico

NYCB Evolution, July 14 at 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. "In Creases" by Justin Peck. Photo by Paul Kolnik.

The beauty and inspiration discovered among nature, music, and the arts returns in full force this summer at Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Nestled among lofty pines, springs, geysers, reflecting pools and architectural treasures, SPAC once again welcomes home its summer resident companies, the New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. More than just a performance, a visit to SPAC is an immersive experience combining its natural setting – the perfect confluence of man-made and natural beauty – with world-class artistry. “Saratoga has long been a place of inspiration and refuge where people can connect with each other and become immersed in incomparable arts and cultural experiences,” said Elizabeth Sobol, president and CEO of Saratoga Performing Arts Center. “We move forward this year with ambitious and artistically inspiring programming, continuing our effort to bring significant contemporary works and iconic classics that have never been performed at SPAC to our stage, while also presenting a record number of works by BIPOC and female composers throughout the season.” The arts and cultural events are a premier attraction for tourists and an economic engine for Saratoga. This year’s classical season builds on the momentum of June’s “All Together Now: Arts Celebration Weekend” which brought renewed excitement into the community. SPAC and its resident companies plan to deliver an inspiring season as the iconic amphitheater returns to full capacity again. “As we remember what we’ve overcome, we look ahead with great anticipation and abundant hope,” Sobol said. “We can’t wait to see the gates at SPAC swinging wide open to welcome thousands of our neighbors, long-time patrons, and new visitors to our illustrious classical season. The energy in Saratoga is electric as our region’s cultural institutions come back in full force.”

HIGHLIGHTS

NEW YORK CITY BALLET

New York City Ballet returns with the full company from July 12-16 with its roster of more than 90 dancers under the direction of Artistic Director Jonathan Stafford and Associate Artistic Director Wendy Whelan. NYCB is accompanied by the New York City Ballet Orchestra, led by Music Director Andrew Litton.

NYCB ON AND OFF STAGE July 12, 7:30 p.m.

Back by popular demand, the New York City Ballet’s fullcompany residency begins with this presentation designed to introduce the season with an intimate, up-close look at selected excerpts from the Company’s repertory of ballets that will be featured during the residency.

20th Century Masters Program, July 13 & July 16 at 7:30 p.m. "Glass Pieces" by Robbins

Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Music Director – conducting Aug 10-13 Todd Rosenberg Photography

Premiere at SPAC in 2012.

20TH CENTURY MASTERS

July 13, 7:30 p.m. July 16, 7:30 p.m.

The 2022 program will pay homage to iconic choreographers Merce Cunningham, Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine. Cunningham’s “Summerspace,” returns for the first time since 1967, after being originally planned for SPAC’s 2020 season.

THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA

One of the world’s greatest orchestras comes home to Saratoga for its three-week residency this summer. Philadelphia Orchestra Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin will lead four programs Aug. 10-13 including a finale featuring Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

EVOLUTION July 14, 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m.

See photo pg. 40

Showcasing works by contemporary choreographers, the program includes new pieces by Jamar Roberts and Pam Tanowitz, and the return of Justin Peck’s “In Creases,” gracing the SPAC stage for the first time since its World

FESTIVE FIREWORKS July 27, 7:30 p.m.

Philadelphia’s premier contemporary ballet company, BalletX will perform a new work choreographed by New York City Ballet’s Tiler Peck, with the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Erina Yashima.

NEW WORLDS July 28, 7:30 p.m.

Featured among the SPAC premieres this summer will be the East Coast Premiere of “Contact” by Pulitzer Prizewinning composer Kevin Puts, composed for the genrecrossing ensemble Time for Three.

VOICE AND THE VIOLIN

July 29, 7:30 p.m.

Violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Larisa Martinez come together with The Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor Michael Stern to present an evening of beloved romantic arias and modern classics from Mendelssohn’s “Infelice” to Bernstein’s “West Side Story.”

Yo-Yo Ma, Aug 5 The Princess Bride in Concert, Aug 6 Angel Blue, Aug 12 & 13

MOVIE NIGHTS

SPAC’s popular film nights will also return to delight audiences of all ages as the Orchestra accompanies, live to picture, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in Concert on July 30 and The Princess Bride in Concert on Aug. 6.

SPAC, Family Night showing of the film "UP." Photo by Shawn LaChapelle Photography

LEDISI SINGS NINA Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m.

2021 Grammy winner and 14-time Grammy-nominated powerhouse vocalist Ledisi will capture the spirit of singer, pianist and activist Nina Simone in this special program. Performing alongside The Philadelphia Orchestra, Ledisi will take on the legendary musician’s emotionally searing and socially conscious songs.

LARA DOWNES PLAYS PRICE Aug. 4, 7:30 p.m.

Pianist and NPR host Lara Downes will perform two SPAC premieres: A Lovesome Thing: Billy Strayhorn Suite, co-commissioned by SPAC, Downes and the Boston Symphony and featuring three selections from the music of Billy Strayhorn, as well as Florence Price’s Piano Concerto in One Movement, which evokes Price’s experiences as a Black woman raised in the postCivil War South as she continues to help audiences rediscover the works the great American composer.

YO-YO MA RETURNS Aug. 5, 7:30 p.m.

World renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma makes his return to SPAC for the first time since 2017 with a program that includes Saint-Saëns’s sparkling First Cello Concerto, one of the greatest and most technically challenging cello pieces ever written, in the masterful hands of Yo-Yo Ma.

ANGEL BLUE SINGS COLEMAN & BARBER Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m.

The soprano Angel Blue will perform Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” and the SPAC premier of Coleman’s “New Work for Voice and Orchestra.”

BEETHOVEN’S NINTH Aug. 13, 7:30 p.m.

The orchestra season fittingly concludes with an Ode to Joy with Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducting, Angel Blue performing along with mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano, tenor Russell Thomas, bass-baritone Ryan McKinny, and Albany Pro Musica.

CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF LINCOLN CENTER June 12 – Aug. 21

At Pitney Meadows Community Farm Exquisite music in the pastoral setting of Pitney Meadows Community Farm includes masterpieces from Beethoven’s “Archduke” Trio to Dvořák’s “American” Quintet, alongside the return of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Co-Artistic Directors David Finckel and Wu Han and the acclaimed Escher String Quartet. Also highlighting the season will be a special Juneteenth concert featuring SPAC debuts by unique and diverse voices such as Jessie Montgomery, Florence Price and William Grant Still. Want to get our publications delivered to your inbox?

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