Too late to subscribe to Celebrity Series? Are you kidding?

Someone recently asked if it is too late to subscribe to the Celebrity Series for the 2012-13 season. Nothing could be further from the truth. Call it subscribing or call it getting good seats at a great price, if you buy 3 events or more before August 10 you can get an especially good value: the perfect blend of quality seats to great performances and great savings - THE SWEET SPOT!

Sweet Spot Pricing is available until August 10, 2012, so order today!
It only takes 3 events to get great seats at great savings and get great value!

Choose from 60 great performances! Visit Celebrityseries.org to purchase your seats.

You must order tickets to a minimum of 3 events to get Sweet Spot Pricing. Sweet Spot tickets will be assigned in sections 2-3 based on availability. Child tickets do not count toward 3 event total. Tickets sales to the general public for single events begin September 10.

Fran Lebowitz on Jane Austen

Author and social critic Fran Lebowitz on how Jane Austen is misunderstood and famous for all the wrong reasons. Lebowitz will appear on the Celebrity Series with columnist Frank Rich at Sanders Theatre on October 10: www.celebrityseries.org.

Frank Rich on Negative Campaigning: Nuke 'em

LBJ "Daisy" ad clip from 1964

New York Magazine's Writer-at-Large, Frank Rich, hurls another molotov of political commentary this week, taking a look at negative campaigning in the upcoming presidential election and its recent predecessors: Frank Rich. Read Nuke 'Em.


Frank Rich appears with Fran Lebowitz on Wednesday, October 10 at Sanders Theatre in Cambridge.

Terry Gross interviews Jack Black

Terry Gross

Terry Gross interviews actor Jack Black on NPR's Fresh Air. Black tells Terry about his latest film, Bernie, his band Tenacious D and his obsession with vocalist Bobby McFerrin. Listen to the interview here.

Terry Gross returns to the Celebrity Series on Friday, May 10, 2013 at Sanders Theatre. Subscription tickets are on sale now.

Walter Pierce on Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Walter Pierce

People recall times when they were fortunate to attend events that became cherished memories and of near folk-legend status. Such were the lieder recitals of Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, the German baritone, for cognoscenti who flocked to his concerts filling venues like Symphony Hall to capacity. In the years that Fischer-Dieskau performed in the Celebrity Series, his partner of choice was the distinguished pianist Jorg Demus; together they thrilled audiences with recitals of works by Schubert, Schumann, Wolf, Brahms and others.

Much has been written about his towering genius and contributions to the craft, but I was especially taken by the quotation in the New York Times of a review by the British music critic John Amis: "Providence gives to some singers a beautiful voice, to some musical artistry... but to Fischer-Dieskau Providence has given both. The result is a miracle, and that is about all there is to be said about it... Having used a few superlatives and describing the program, there is nothing else to do but write 'finis,' go home, and thank one's stars for having the good luck to be present."

I, too, feel lucky to have been present.

Walter Pierce

Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau (1925-2012)

The great German baritone Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau has died at age 86. He performed a total of 6 Celebrity Series recitals between 1962 and 1978. Greatly admired and loved by legions of fans, he enjoyed an unusually long singing career. Richard Cattani, reviewing Fischer-Dieskau's 1968 Symphony Hall recital for The Christian Science Monitor, wrote, "If Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau were to give only one more concert, it would be worth crossing a continent or an ocean to hear him."

New York Times

The Guardian

The Washington Post

The Baltimore Sun (TIm Smith's Clef Notes)

The Telegraph

BBC News

BloombergBusinessWeek

Ailey in the news and at Citi Wang this weekend

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater begins its 5 performance run at Citi Performing Arts Center tonight at 7:30pm. Media coverage of the company's 42nd Celebrity Series appearance has been copious. Here are a few samples:

Robert Battle looks within to lead Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Boston Globe)

Alvin Ailey troupe wants to bring everyone to their feet (Boston Herald)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater: Leaping to an opportunity (Metro Boston)

Tickets are available at www.celebrityseries.org.

Welcome back Ailey!