In the over 80 years that Middlebury College has supported arts and cultural performances, hundreds of world-class performers have graced College Hill. Once called the "Entertainment Program," the offerings evolved into the Middlebury College Concert Series, and then in 2001, the program was again renamed the Performing Arts Series. This name reflects the rich, multi-disciplinary character of the Series.
This year's Performing Arts Series is listed below. For a full calendar of events, including departmental events and offerings from other areas, click here.
Browse the Archives 1919-present
2007-2008 Performing Arts Series
September 15, Saturday
Cyrus Chestnut Trio
8:00 p.m., Mead Memorial Chapel
Jazz pianist Cyrus Chestnut has played a number of times at Middlebury, always in the Center for the Arts Concert Hall. This time he’ll play in Mead Chapel, where jazz greats Oscar Peterson, Abdullah Ibrahim, Marian McPartland, Dick Hyman, Jay McShann, and Dave McKenna have performed in the past. Chestnut’s preparation included playing in the Mount Calvary Star Baptist Church in Baltimore, and study at both Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Critic Lloyd Sachs writes of the “soulful thrusts, balletic flourishes, and unabashedly warm-spirited playing” of the Cyrus Chestnut Trio. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Tickets: $15/12/5, on sale September 10 to the College community; on sale September 12 for the general public.
For more information, please click here.
October 8, Monday
Behind-the-Scenes Lunch and Discussion: Horizon
12:15 p.m., Wright Memorial Theatre
Creator/Writer/Composer Rinde Eckert introduces Horizon and leads a discussion about the evening production, along with members of the cast (including Middlebury alumnus David Barlow ’95) who share insights on their work. Lunch is provided. Free
October 8, Monday
Horizon
8:00 p.m., Wright Memorial Theatre
Obie award winner and 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Drama Rinde Eckert returns to campus in Horizon, a tale of one theologian’s crisis of faith. Loosely based on the teachings of theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, Eckert’s character is Reinhart Poole, an unconventional theologian and teacher of ethics at a seminary. Pressured to resign by dogmatic powers within his church, he works all night on his last lecture. He talks with his wife, argues with the ghost of his brother, remembers conversations, and indulges his hobby: writing a comic allegory about two ageless masons who’ve been building the same church foundation for over a thousand years. This work for three actors (Eckert, Howard Swain, and Middlebury alumnus David Barlow ’95) creates a visually brilliant landscape in story, song, and movement. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series and the Department of Theatre and Dance. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
October 13, Saturday
Christian Gerhaher, baritone
Gerold Huber, piano
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Internationally-renowned baritone Christian Gerhaher has performed with some of classical music’s greatest orchestras: Simon Rattle and the Berlin Philharmonic, Mstislav Rostropovich and the Vienna Philharmonic, Andras Schiff and the Philharmonia, Franz Welzer-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra, and Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. Gerhaher sang the role of Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte in the Salzburg Festival’s celebration of Mozart’s 250th birthday. But he is equally heralded as a recitalist, having sung repeatedly at London’s Wigmore Hall, as well as at the Konzerthaus and Musikverein in Vienna, and Carnegie Hall in New York. He has made extraordinary recordings of all of Schubert’s great song cycles, and of many of Robert Schumann’s songs. At Middlebury he sings a program devoted to Robert Schumann. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
October 26, Friday
Polina Leschenko, piano
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
A native of St. Petersburg, pianist Polina Leschenko began a successful career in Europe when her playing drew the attention and admiration of Martha Argerich, herself one of the finest pianists of the modern age, and known for spotting young artists on the rise. Argerich isn’t alone in recognizing this talent: Leschenko’s debut disc was praised by Gramophone magazine. Her Middlebury program includes works by Bach, Bach-Busoni, Chopin, and Liszt. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
Pre-performance dinner: Rehearsals Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15
For more information, please click here.
October 31, Wednesday
Lecture/Demonstration: African Percussion and Dance by Alpha Yaya Diallo and the Bafing Riders
12:30 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Dance Theatre
In preparation for the following day’s performance, this percussion and dance demonstration includes Alpha Yaya Diallo’s discussion of African history, rhythm, and multicultural musical influences. Attendees are encouraged to visit the Museum exhibition, Resonance from the Past: African Sculpture from the New Orleans Museum of Art following the demonstration. Lunch is provided. Free
November 1, Thursday
Alpha Yaya Diallo and the Bafing Riders
7:30 p.m., McCullough Student Center
The music of highly acclaimed guitarist and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo, from Guinea in West Africa, rings out with an irrepressible enthusiasm that makes audiences want to move in response. Diallo has earned a matchless international reputation for the excellence of his musicianship and the excitement of his live shows—whether performing solo or with his band Bafing. “Whether in lead or finger-picking style, for his musical creativity as well as his expressive voice, Diallo ranks easily as among the most exciting and appealing African artists to ever hit the United States.”—Chris Rubin, Rhythm Magazine. Diallo’s residency is funded in part by the Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the national Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program, the six New England state arts agencies, and the Argosy Foundation Contemporary Music Fund. Middlebury College sponsors include the Department of Music, Performing Arts Series, Center for the Arts, and the Middlebury College Museum of Art. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
November 2, Friday
Emerson String Quartet
Eugene Drucker, violin
Philip Setzer, violin
Lawrence Dutton, viola
David Finckel, cello
8:00 p.m., Mead Memorial Chapel
Ever since Emory Fanning discerningly invited the young Emerson Quartet to play at Middlebury, over a quarter of a century ago, they have become frequent visitors and favorites on the Middlebury College arts scene. In fact, they helped inaugurate the Center for the Arts Concert Hall at the gala opening in 1992. But they made their first mark on Middlebury in Mead Chapel, so it is fitting that they play this special concert, a gift from generous donor and friend Bill Sunderman, in this original venue. Their glorious program includes Haydn, Shostakovich, and Beethoven (the first Razumovsky quartet). This free Performing Arts Series concert is made possible with generous support from the Institute for Clinical Science and Art, established by the late Dr. F. William Sunderman of Philadelphia. Free
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November 9-10, Friday-Saturday
Nugent+Matteson Dance
8:00 p.m. each evening, Mahaney Center for the Arts, Dance Theatre
Acclaimed dancers Jennifer Nugent and Paul Matteson ’00 present four precarious dances. Fare Well takes place within Edmund Mooney’s richly atmospheric sound score to create “…that rare work that lives up to its advance billing... a delight.”—Jennifer Dunning, The New York Times. Block Idol, a solo by Matteson with music by Michael Krassner, layers bittersweet, coming-of-age narratives with impossible physical challenges. Semi-Formal, a solo by Nugent with live music by violinist Heather Somerland, is a hip-circling ceremony of ballroom dance fantasies. Finally, Saints Smother Swans is an intricately technical new duet for Nugent and Matteson choreographed by Terry Creach, with lighting by Middlebury’s own Jennifer Ponder. Visit www.middlebury.edu/arts for details on residency activities and master classes. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series and the Dance Program. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
November 16, Friday*
Claremont Trio
Emily Bruskin, violin
Julia Bruskin, cello
Donna Kwong, piano
8:00 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
The award-winning Claremont Trio, whose playing has been called “positively spellbinding” (Palm Beach Daily News), offers a unique blend of soulful insight into works of the standard repertoire along with an enthusiastic appetite for performing the greatest 20th and 21st century works and commissioning new ones as well. Summer engagements included the Bard Music Festival, Mostly Mozart, and the Chappaquiddick Summer Music Festival, and debut appearances at the Saratoga Chamber Music Festival and the Rockport Chamber Music Festival. This young trio, first recipients of the Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson International Trio Award, will perform in major venues throughout the country in the 2007-08 season.
Twin sisters Emily Bruskin and Julia Bruskin formed the Trio with Donna Kwong in 1999 at The Juilliard School. After winning the 2001 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Claremont Trio launched their touring career with an acclaimed New York debut at the 92nd Street Y. The Claremonts are based in New York City near their namesake: Claremont Avenue. At Middlebury the trio will perform works by Claude Debussy, Frank Martin, and Anton Arensky. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
Pre-performance dinner at Rehearsals Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15
For more information, please click here.
*This concert is presented in lieu of the formerly scheduled performance on the same date/time by Baiba Skride, violin, and Lauma Skride, piano. Tickets sold for the previously announced concert will be honored normally for this updated performance. There is no need to exchange previously-purchased tickets.
***CANCELLED--SEE ABOVE***
November 16, Friday
Baiba Skride, violin
Lauma Skride, piano
8:00 P.M., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
The concert appearance by Baiba and Lauma Skride will not take place due to artist health concerns. A new concert event has been scheduled for this date and time-- see above for details.
December 2, Sunday
Paul Jacobs, organist
3:00 p.m., Mead Memorial Chapel
Before his recital here one year ago, Middlebury concertgoers overheard rumors that Paul Jacobs might very well be the world’s greatest living organist. That recital proved the rumors to be well-founded. Jacobs brings Mead Chapel’s powerful Gress-Miles organ to life again this year, with a program of works by Felix Mendelssohn, Maurice Duruflé, Louis Vierne, and Julius Reubke. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
January 11, Friday
Takács Quartet
Edward Dusinberre, violin
Károly Schranz, violin
Geraldine Walther, viola
András Fejér, cello
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Simply one of the very top world string quartets of our time, the Takács Quartet graces the Concert Hall stage for another much-anticipated concert. Since the mid 90s, they have performed much of the great quartet literature here at Middlebury: Beethoven, Schubert, Brahms, Bartók, Debussy, and finally, in their most recent concert, Shostakovich. This season’s program consists of works by Haydn, Bartók, and Beethoven (the third of the Razumovsky quartets). Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
Pre-performance dinner: Rehearsals Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15
For more information, please click here.
February 14, Thursday
Xuefei Yang, guitar
7:30 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Classical guitarist Xuefei Yang was the first guitarist in China to enter a music school, the first guitarist from her country to study classical guitar in the West, and the first guitarist and first Chinese student to receive an international scholarship for her post-graduate studies at the Royal Academy of Music, where she received the highest performance award. She gave her concert debut in Madrid at age 14. She has played acclaimed recitals at Wigmore Hall, the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Herbst Hall in San Francisco. Here at Middlebury, this young virtuoso plays works by J. S. Bach, Tarrega, Goff, Paganini, Barrios, and Brouwer. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series.
Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
March 1, Saturday
Tallis Scholars
Peter Phillips, director
8:00 p.m., Mead Memorial Chapel
The legendary Tallis Scholars have specialized in performing sacred choral music since their founding in 1973, though they are known for commissioning new work as well. They have created a long shelf’s worth of definitive recordings, including the only early music album to win Gramaphone’s Record of the Year award. Their Middlebury program features the work that conductor Peter Phillips (knighted in 2005 by the French Ministry of Culture) calls the greatest choral work of the Renaissance: Tomas Luis de Victoria’s Requiem. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
March 4, Tuesday
Behind-the-Scenes Lunch and Discussion:
Leyya Tawil and Dance Elixir
12:30 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Dance Theatre
Artist in Residence Leyya Tawil introduces CAPITAL LIFE TRIPTYCH and leads a discussion about the work’s choreography and outlook on contemporary culture, along with members of her company who share their insights. Lunch is provided. Free
For more information, please click here.
March 7, Friday
Albers Trio
with Pei Yao Wang, piano
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
All accomplished soloists, the three Albers sisters have flourishing careers as string players. Violist Rebecca Albers played on the Middlebury series last season in a program of chamber music with pianist Pei Yao Wang. Laura Albers (violin) and Julie Albers (cello), who complete the trio, first perform works by Beethoven and Martinů. Then they join forces with Wang for the grand Piano Quartet in A Major by Johannes Brahms. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
Pre-performance dinner: Rehearsals Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15
For more information, please click here.
March 8–9, Saturday–Sunday
Leyya Tawil and Dance Elixir
8:00 p.m. each evening, Mahaney Center for the Arts, Dance Theatre
Leyya Tawil’s company Dance Elixir presents CAPITAL LIFE TRIPTYCH, a powerful and insightful series that uses choreography grounded in the power, weight and speed of the human body to investigate three facets of contemporary culture: mass media, political landscaping, and individual stance. The work features original music by Dance Elixir’s resident composer Topher Keyes. The program also features their recent repertory work Raincoat Rebellion, performed with an original score by renowned composer Stephen Rush. Tawil’s kinetic, charged, and earthy dances have earned her a place among the San Francisco Bay Guardian’s “Top 10 Choreographers to Watch in 2006,” along with other critical accolades. Visit www.middlebury.edu/arts for information on residency activities and master classes. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
March 14, Friday
Florestan Trio
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
There are musicians whose performances one wants to hear at every opportunity, just because the playing is so thoughtfully prepared and exquisitely realized. The Florestan Trio (pianist Susan Tomes, violinist Anthony Marwood, cellist Richard Lester) has provided such performances, both live and on their many recordings of the major trio literature. Of their University of Chicago appearance a few years ago, Chicago Tribune music critic John von Rhein wrote, “The music spoke through them with all manner of tonal inflections, a quality that immediately set their readings apart.” Their Middlebury program consists of trios by Haydn, Ives, and Brahms (the B Major). Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
Pre-performance dinner: Rehearsals Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15
For more information, please click here.
April 1, Tuesday
Kate Royal, soprano
Roger Vignoles, piano
7:30 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Soprano Kate Royal is in the early stages of what seems likely to be a brilliant career. Winner of the Kathleen Ferrier Award and the 2007 Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artists’ award, she has sung with Sir Simon Rattle at the BBC Proms, at Glyndebourne, The Royal Opera House, and the Teatro Real in Madrid. Of part of her 2007 Wigmore Hall recital, Hilary Finch wrote in The Times of London: “Within the first seconds of Liszt’s setting of Heine’s Die Lorelei, Royal had brought a world of sorrow to the two words traurig bin—withdrawing breath from the second so we felt acutely the melancholy pastness of the misery. Then the evening sun radiated through the full glow of her soprano, before the horror of the fatally enchanted boatman gripped the throat, and it was all over.” Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
April 19, Saturday
Pavel Haas String Quartet
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
At a time when one can still hear live performances by the great string quartets of the age—the Emerson, Takács, and Tokyo Quartets, for example—there is also a wealth of fine musicianship among younger quartets. That would certainly include the Pavel Haas Quartet from Czechoslovakia (Veronika Jaruskova and Maria Fuxova, violin; Pavel Nikl, viola; Peter Jarusek, cello). Winners of the most important string quartet competition, the Paolo Borciani Competition, in 2005, they are among a small number of newer performers honored by the European Concert Hall Organization. In 2007-08, the quartet will play concerts in London’s Barbican Centre and Royal Festival Hall, Carnegie Hall, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the Philharmonie in Cologne, and many other venues. Their Middlebury program will consist of Janáček’s “Kreutzer Sonata,” Dvořák’s “American” Quartet, and Beethoven’s Opus 132. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
Pre-performance dinner: Rehearsals Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $15
For more information, please click here.
April 23, Wednesday
Dubravka Tomsic, piano
7:30 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
Pianist Dubravka Tomsic’s playing caught the attention of musical legends Claudio Arrau and Artur Rubinstein when she was only a child. After her Carnegie Hall debut, she did not play again in the United States for almost 30 years, but in 1989 she made a dramatic re-appearance on the American music scene at the Newport Music Festival. Boston Globe critic Richard Dyer heralded her return, and Rubinstein called her “a perfect and marvelous pianist.” Her Middlebury recital includes works by Mozart, Scarlatti, Beethoven (“Appassionata”), Brahms, and Prokofiev. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.
May 2, Friday
Paul Lewis, piano
8:00 p.m., Mahaney Center for the Arts, Concert Hall
A favorite of Middlebury audiences, this season pianist Paul Lewis should begin to make his mark in concert halls around the country: playing at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival; with the London Symphony Orchestra in New York and Chicago; and at the Gilmore Festival in Michigan. In a review of his 2005 Washington recital, Tim Page wrote that “Lewis seems incapable of playing anything in a bland or nerveless fashion. His sense of meter is infinitely elastic and yet the pieces hold together organically.” His Middlebury program consists of works by Mozart, Ligeti, and Schubert. Sponsored by the Middlebury College Performing Arts Series. Reserved Seating. Tickets: $15/12/5
For more information, please click here.