by Mark G. Auerbach
Brian Lapis headlines The Big Broadcast! Photo by Dori Gavitt.
The Big Broadcast! Returns to South Hadley
The Jazz Ensembles of Mount Holyoke College present the 13th edition of The Big Broadcast! on Saturday, March 3 at 2PM & 7:30PM at Chapin Auditorium, Mount Holyoke College, in South Hadley, MA. Snow date is Sunday, March 4. Created and directed by Mark Gionfriddo, who is also onstage as “Matt Morgan”, The Big Broadcast! is a re-creation of a live 1940’s radio show featuring the Mount Holyoke College Big Band, Vocal Jazz, and Chamber Jazz Ensembles performing well-known tunes from the swing era and the American songbook. WWLP-TV meteorologist Brian Lapis is emcee “Fred Kelley” for his 11th consecutive season.
“This year, much of what we’re presenting is all new material to The Big Broadcast!,” says Gionfriddo. “We are celebrating the 100th anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald’s birth by performing “A Tisket, A Tasket,” her first big hit with the Chick Webb band. Brian and I will definitely perform a buddy song- that will be much fun. And of the things we’re bringing back, the most recognizable will be that iconic instrumental of the Swing Era, Benny Goodman’s “Sing Sing Sing.”
For details: 413-545-2511 or 800-999-UMASS or www.fineartscenter.com.
Maestro Kevin Rhodes Photo by John Robert Williams.
The Springfield Symphony Star Wars & Star Trek Sci-Fi Spectacular
Most orchestras search the planet for stars for pops concerts. Kevin Rhodes and the Springfield Symphony Orchestrea have searched the galaxy to present the first Star Wars & Star Trek Sci-Fi Spectacular, which blasts off for one performance only on March 3 at Springfield Symphony Hall. The Springfield Symphony Chorus will join the Orchestra for a pops program hand-crafted by Rhodes, who admits he’s a serious Star Wars and Star Trek fan.
It’s hard to believe that Star Trek first arrived on the scene in 1966, and the Star Wars franchise has been around since 1977. John Williams, Boston Pops laureate conductor, is the primary composer of the Star Wars music, and his scores were meant to be performed by large orchestras. Some themes are well-known; others are surprises. Maestro Rhodes has programmed a music mix from both, including well-known pieces like The Empire Strikes Back and The Force Awakens, plus music from the original film A New Hope, and the Battle of the Fates rom The Phantom Menace.
For details: 413-733-2291 or www.springfieldsymphony.org
Jacob’s Pillow Announces Festival 2018
Jacob’s Pillow, the longest-running dance festival in the United States, has announced its upcoming full season lineup for Festival 2018, including U.S. company debuts, world premieres, international artists, newly commissioned work, rich historic Festival connections, and the formal presentation of work developed through the organization’s growing residency program at the Pillow Lab. Festival 2018 runs June 20-August 26 in Becket, MA
Houston Ballet. Photo by Amitava Sarkar
“I am thrilled to share what we have in store for Festival 2018,” says Jacob’s Pillow Director Pamela Tatge. “This summer, we introduce new work through Pillow debuts and world premieres, welcome back fan favorites, and reconnect audiences with the work of companies that are returning to the Pillow for the first time in years, like PHILADANCO!, Houston Ballet, and ODC/Dance. Opening our season with The Royal Danish Ballet, one of the world’s most highly respected ballet companies, in the Ted Shawn Theatre, and ending with an artist-curated program by New York City Ballet’s Daniel Ulbricht, are just a few special highlights for me.”
For complete season details: www.jacobspillow.org.
Of Note…
Kevin Rhodes returns to the Vienna State Opera Ballet for his 23 rd season beginning in March. He will conduct four separate ballet programs during the Vienna State Opera Ballet’s 2017-18 Spring Season. In March and early April,Rhodes conducts a return engagement of the ballet Raymonda with its Glazunov score.In mid-April and May, he conducts a program that includes two ballets by New York City ballet legend, George Balanchine: Theme and Variations with music by Tchaikovsky and the Stravinsky Violin Concerto. The program also includes John Neumeier’s Bach Suite III, and Jerome Robbins’ comic ballet The Concert, with music by Chopin. The Maestro returns to Vienna in June to conduct a program of British choreography, which includes Conerto, with choreography by Kenneth MacMillan to music by Shostakovich; Eayne McGregor’s Eden with music by Steve Reich, and Frederick Ashton’s Marguerite and Armand, choreographed for Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn to the music of Lizst. On June 29, Maestro Rhodes conducts the annual Nureyev Gala, which will commemorate what would have been the international ballet dancer and choreographer’s 80th birthday. For details: http://kevinrhodesconductor.com/
Keep in Mind…
The Venice Baroque Orchestra
The Venice Baroque Orchestra showcase some the Baroquw classics by Vivaldi, Corelli, Cavalli and Falconieri, when they perform at the UMass Fine Arts Center Concert Hall on March 1. Featured soloist on the sopranino recorder will be Anna Fusek for Vivaldi’s “Concerto in C Major.” For details: 413-545-2511, 800-999-UMAS, or www.fineartscenter.com/venice
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra continues its Sunday Serenades Chamber Music Series with Shostakovich & Gorey on March 4, at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford. HSO Concertmaster Leonid Sigal will be joined by Heather Taylor on oboe, Karin Fagerburg on violin, Michael Wheeler on viola, Eric Dahlin on cello, and Margreet Francis on piano. For details: 860-987-5900 or www.hartfordsymphony.org.
Eugenie Carabatsos, playwright
When Colossus Falls, Eugenie Carabatsos’ new play, will get a staged reading on West Hartford’s .Playwrights on Park Reading Series on February 27. When Colossus Falls weaves a tale of mystery in a B&B, which hasn’t seen a guest in ages. When one finally arrives, the inhabitants’ lives are thrown into a tailspin. For details: 860-523-5900 x10 or www.playhouseonpark.org
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Mark G. Auerbach studied theatre at American University and the Yale School of Drama. He’s worked for arts organizations and reported on theatre for newspapers and radio. Mark produces and hosts ArtsBeat Radio for 89.5fm/WSKB.
