The blog for the Celebrity Series of Boston- a Boston based arts organization which presents an annual concert series. Here you can find news about our season, local and international arts, and much more! www.celebrityseries.org
Find a piano, upload and image or a movie, read about Play Me, I'm Yours: www.streetpianosboston.com
Check out our 75th Anniversary Season: www.celebrityseries.org.
Gustavo Dudamel of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, March 23, 2014
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Check out our complete 13-14 Calendar!
"This will be our reply to violence: to make music more intensely, more
beautifully, more devotedly than ever before." —Leonard Bernstein
L to R: Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan
Tonight's two Celebrity Series performances by Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer, Stuart Duncan and Chris Thile, at The House of Blues are being cinecast live and recorded for later broadcast on PBS. Yo-Yo Ma talks with MSN Entertainment about performing live and live for cinecast, plus the genesis of The Goat Rodeo Sessions. Yo-Yo Ma's 'Goat Rodeo': Ready for Their Close-Up.
This just in from colleague Adam Roberts of Arts in America (ok, I added the bird):
"Tweet This?"
At select theatres and concert halls around the country you can now tweet from your seat as Carmen belts out an aria or Macbeth sees a dagger before him. Join us for an interactive community forum exploring the question of whether social media should have a seat at our performances or if it should exit stage left. Featuring a lively panel, audience Q&A (in-person and via skype), and a performance of the event's tweets by the Twitter Theatre Troupe.
Monday, January 30, 7:30pm
Admission is free but seating is limited. RSVP at http://kwiksurveys.com/?u=TweetThis .
Central Square Theater
450 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge
Host: Adam Roberts
Panelists:
Julie Hennrikus (StageSource)
Robin Abrahams (Boston Globe's "Miss Conduct")
Matt Heck (Boston Symphony Orchestra)
Nick Peterson (Central Square Theater)
Art Hennessey (The Mirror Up to Nature)
Join us in-person or call in via skype (id: artsinamerica) to participate in the conversation. The forum will be recorded and broadcast on Livestream.
Arts in America is an arts media company moving the needle forward on how America makes, produces, consumes, and talks about the arts.
Adam Roberts
Founder/Executive Producer
Arts in America
aroberts@artsinamerica.org
http://artsinamerica.org/
http://facebook.com/artsinamerica
twitter: @artsinamerica
skype: artsinamerica
Lang Lang Master Class
Pianist Lang Lang will present a masterclass in association with the Celebrity Series of Boston and Harvard University Office of the Arts, Learning From Performers, on Saturday, October 29 at 3pm at Sanders Theatre. Admission free and open to the public, tickets required.
Tickets will be distributed to Harvard affiliates from Tuesday, October 18 through Thursday, October 20 in person only at the Harvard Box Office (1350 Massachusetts Ave. at Holyoke Center, Harvard Square). Limit two per person with valid Harvard ID.
All remaining tickets, limit two per person, will be available beginning Friday, October 21. Remaining tickets available by phone and online (service fees apply) as well as in person: 617.496.2222 (TTY 617. 495.1642), www.boxoffice.harvard.edu
Celebrity Series of Boston will present Lang Lang at Symphony Hall, Sunday, October 30 at 3pm.
Check out the new online classical music entry Boston Classical Review. It's already helped readers keep up with the music scene's in Chicago and South Florida, now it's Beantown's turn:
The MLK Summer Scholars
L to R: Aidan Dunbar, Boston Globe Publisher Christopher Mayer, Yadarys Familia, Garrecia Powell
L to R: Aidan Dunbar, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Garrecia Powell, Yadarys Familia
L to R: Aidan Dunbar, Garrecia Powell, Yadarys Familia
AileyCamp Boston 2011 started yesterday at Orchard Gardens K-8 school in Roxbury. AileyCamp Boston is a tuition-free summer camp designed for Boston-area middle school students. Running July 5 through August 11, the program is operated by the Celebrity Series of Boston Arts, Education and Community Program. A full scholarship summer day camp for 11-14 year olds, the program uses dance as a vehicle for developing self-esteem, self-discipline, creative expression and critical thinking skills. Eighty students have been selected to attend this this summer, and prior dance training is not a consideration for admission.
In addition to the AileyCamp Boston staff, four group leaders who are standout high school students have been chosen from the MLK Summer Scholars program. MLK Summer Scholars works in close partnership with the Boston Globe, Boston University, Partners HealthCare and the City of Boston, and addresses what was deemed a critical need by Mayor Thomas M. Menino—summer jobs for city youth. AileyCamp Boston is proud to work with these students to help further their personal and professional goals.
Yesterday, the MLK Scholars had an opportunity to attend a meeting with Mayor Menino; Christopher Mayer, Publisher of the Boston Globe; Dr. Gary Gottlieb, CEO of Partners Healthcare; Carol Fulp, VP of Community Relations at John Hancock; James R. Boyle, President of John Hancock Financial Services; Edward Davis, Boston Police Commissioner; and Robert A. Brown, President of Boston University. They spoke about the importance of youth leadership in Boston communities and the impact that jobs play in the lives of teens.
We are looking forward to working with the AileyCampers and MLK Scholars this summer!
Congratulations to our friend Kathleen Fay. Early Music America has awarded Fay, the Executive Director of the Boston Early Music Festival, the Howard Mayer Brown award for lifetime achievement. The Boston Early Music Festival (BEMF) is considered one of the world's leading early music organizations and is a regular Celebrity Series presenting partner (including this season's presentation of The English Concert on October 23). Fay has been with BEMF since 1987.
Left to Right: Former Celebrity Series Executive Director Walter Pierce, incoming Executive Director Gary Dunning, outgoing Executive Director Marty Jones, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and Chairman of the Celebrity Series Board of Directors, Joshua Boger at the Mad About Marty gala, May 2, 2011.
The Celebrity Series of Boston has been in the news in the last few weeks, and this blog is bit behind in getting you the links you need (hey, we've been a little busy), so here's a make-up post:
First up, Lloyd Schwartz, of the Boston Phoenix and NPR's Fresh Air, gaves us his take on the St. Petersburg Philharmonic with Yuri Temirkanov on the podium and Boston native-wunderkind-cellist Alisa Weilerstein as soloist as well as longtime Boston favorite (his and ours) pianist Dubravka Tomsic.
Matthew Guerrieri gave us his review of the eminent Russian orchestra for The Boston Globe.
Northeastern University scholar and author (check out The Last Impresario sometime, if you haven't already) Harlow Robinson reviewed Dubravka Tomsic's recital for the Globe.
Matthew Guerrieri reviewed Dawn Upshaw's April 29 Jordan Hall recital, Cashman Kerr Prince did the same for The Boston Musical Intelligencer.
Mark Shanahan and Meredith Goldstein covered Mad About Marty, the star-studded retirement party for our fearless leader, Marty Jones for the Globe's Names column.
On the blogoshpere, Paul Levy gave us this post on the party on his Not Running a Hospital blog, as did Denise Korn on her K Blog.
Celebrity Series President and Executive Director Martha H. Jones with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick at last night's Paramount Theatre reception for Mad About Marty, honoring Jones' 25 years of service with the Celebrity Series of Boston. See the rest of Bill Brett's party photos.
Here are a couple of candid shots from tenor Matthew Polenzani and his accompanist Julius Drake's taping at WGBH radio last night. Their performance will air tonight (Wednesday) on 99.5 and will feature an interview with WGBH host Cathy Fuller (above, top, center) and the duo perform at Jordan Hall on Thursday evening at 8pm.
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jack Wright, (617) 598-3212, jw@celebrityseries.org
Stephanie Janes, (617) 598-3240, sj@celebrityseries.org
CELEBRITY SERIES OF BOSTON
ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF
GARY DUNNING
AS NEW PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
(Boston) Celebrity Series of Boston, New England’s leading performing arts presenter, is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Dunning as President and Executive Director. Mr. Dunning has been a senior executive in the performing arts for over 30 years, having served as executive director of the Houston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and most recently the Big Apple Circus, Ltd. in New York City. Mr. Dunning’s appointment is effective July 1, 2011.
Joshua Boger, Chair of the search committee and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Celebrity Series, expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Dunning’s selection, “On behalf of the Board of Directors, the search committee and staff I am delighted to welcome Gary as the next President and Executive Director of the Celebrity Series of Boston. He brings a truly impressive experience to the position, having successfully led several nationally prominent arts institutions over his career. He will be a stellar addition to a tradition of great Celebrity Series leadership and is an outstanding choice to lead the Series into its next era.”
“Gary will become only the fourth leader of the Celebrity Series over its 72-year history and the first appointed from outside the organization,” said retiring Series President, Martha H. Jones. “He is an excellent choice and his background in management, marketing, fundraising and education will serve him well as he takes the Celebrity Series to new heights. I was involved in the search process and am quite pleased to endorse Gary’s appointment.”
“It is an honor and privilege to join Celebrity Series and follow in the footsteps of Marty Jones,” said Dunning. “The organization has stood for excellence and diversity in celebrating the best in the performing arts. I look forward to working with my colleagues at Celebrity Series and throughout the Boston arts community to build a stronger organization and vibrant arts scene.”
Gary Dunning began his career as Assistant Company Manager at American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in 1978. He rose to Company Manager and General Manager at ABT before departing in 1986 to become Executive Director of the Houston Ballet. Dunning remained with the Houston Ballet until 1992, when he was recruited to return to ABT as Executive Director, where he launched that organization’s remarkable turnaround. In 1996, Dunning left ABT to assume the Executive Director position at Big Apple Circus, Ltd., a position he has held until this appointment. Mr. Dunning is a graduate of Princeton University and holds a masters degree from the London School of Economics.
During his 14-year tenure at Big Apple Circus, Mr. Dunning doubled the non-profit arts institution’s annual fund drive in the first four years and increased earned revenues by 18% per year for the first five years. He also completed a $6 million capital plan for a new rehearsal and production facility and developed and successfully executed a transition plan from the founding artistic director to new artistic leadership. The Big Apple Circus’ community outreach and education programs, which serve children and families across the nation in pediatric and nursing care facilities, community centers, schools and at Big Apple Circus performances, have undergone a significant expansion under Mr. Dunning’s leadership.
Celebrity Series of Boston will announce its 2011-2012 season, the first under the leadership of Mr. Dunning, in early April.
ABOUT CELEBRITY SERIES OF BOSTON
The Celebrity Series of Boston is New England’s leading presenter of music, dance and the performing arts from around the world. Now in its 72nd season, the Celebrity Series brings performances by instrumental and vocal soloists, orchestras and chamber ensembles, dance companies, jazz, folk and ethnic artists and ensembles to Boston’s major concert halls, reaching an audience of some 100,000 each year. Through the Arts, Education and Community Program, the Celebrity Series reaches thousands of youngsters annually with opportunities to experience and participate in the performing arts through concerts, workshops, and the award-winning AileyCamp Boston, an intensive six-week summer dance program for Boston middle school students. For more information on Celebrity Series of Boston, call (617) 482-2595 or visit us online at www.celebrityseries.org.
The Celebrity Series receives generous support from The Little Family Foundation, Tufts Health Plan, Foley & Lardner LLP, Charlesbank Capital Partners, Comcast, Parametric Technology Corporation, Massachusetts Cultural Council, New England Foundation for the Arts, and D.L. Saunders Companies and The Boston Park Plaza Hotel, LLC.
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Helen Traubel
Following Christine Brewer's recital last Saturday, Richard Dyer, the former classical music critic for the Boston Globe, made an apt comparison between Brewer and an earlier operatic denizen of St. Louis, Helen Traubel. Brewer herself mentioned Traubel, but it was Mr. Dyer who made the comparison and got this writer thinking...
I took a look in the Celebrity Series archives and sure enough Aaron Richmond had presented Ms. Traubel at Symphony Hall in 1942 with BSO cellist Jean Bedetti and two piano accompanists: Conrad V. Bos and Leonard Bernstein (you heard me). There were numerous overlaps between Ms. Traubel's 1942 program and Ms. Brewer's (at least as originally planned). Traubel also programmed Gluck's "Divinités du Styx" from Alceste, some of the same Wagner and Richard Strauss. Both singers closed their programs with Frank LaForge's "Hills." I wonder if Ms. Brewer conceived of her program as a kind of tribute.
I wasn't around in 1942, but I'm betting Ms. Traubel's recital was as musically wondrous as Ms. Brewer's. It's nice to know that our muse here at the Series has not drifted too far and that we are in some way representing quality performing in a continuum.
Here is the Boston Globe's review of Ms. Brewer's recital.
UPDATE: Please see Ms. Brewer's comment below (a first!) and note that Amazon.com is taking pre-orders for her CD, Echoes of Nightingales, and Hyperion, the label releasing the CD, is offering streaming excerpts.
Shirley Verrett
The great soprano Shirley Verrett died November 5 at her home in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to her local appearances with the Opera Company of Boston, Ms. Verrett appeared in recital 3 times for the Celebrity Series, first in 1979, and again in 1982 and 1991.
Below are some obituaries and videos of Ms. Verrett in performance.
The New York Times (Anthony Tommasini)
The Detroit Free Press
The Washington Post (Ronald Blum)
The Baltimore Sun (Tim Smith)
The Boston Globe (Associated Press)
Shirley Verrett sings Tosca at The Met
Shirley Verrett as Eboli "O don fatale" from Don Carlo
Shirley Verrett sings "Exultate jubilate" by Mozart
Laura Collins-Hughes spoke with choreographer Mark Morris for Boston Sunday Globe about his new Celebrity Series of Boston commission, Petrichor:
"I love making up titles. You know, it's interesting because it makes people tempted to think that something has a relevance that it either does or doesn't have. There's a dance we do called 'A Lake,' and I just called it 'A Lake' because it occurred to me that I should call a dance 'A Lake.' There’s no lake in the dance. But, you know, 'petrichor,' it's a fabulous word that I'd never heard before. The dance is, first of all, it's for all women. There's eight women in the dance, and it's this amazing piece of music that’s very under-known and a very tricky, beautiful piece of music. And, you know, Villa-Lobos was very devoted to his Brazilian heritage. He says that all of his music is Brazilian; it all contains the rain forest. I’m not Brazilian, the dance isn’t a rain forest, and the title seemed to work."
Read the complete article.
Mark Morris Dance Group dances October 14-17 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre. On October 14, Petrichor will receive its world premiere performance at the Cutler Majestic Theatre.
