The virtuoso UMD Chamber Singers perform a program that melds Hildegard of Bingen's Medieval aesthetic with Caroline Shaw's Post-modern sound alongside the eternal music of Johannes Brahms, J. S. Bach, and William Byrd.
Presented in the intimate Gildenhorn Recital Hall, this concert promises to offer a spellbinding artistic experience through the dual lenses of sacred and secular vocal chamber music.
Clad in ethereal white, dancers’ undulating arms and hips sway across a stark, enigmatic landscape. Hypnotic movements, athletic suspensions and gravity-challenging floor work mesmerize audiences. Brazilian dance troupe Grupo Corpo’s style has always been distinctive, and in this evening of contemporary dance, the company’s proud otherness and vivid imagination shine through. The performance is accompanied by original instrumental music by Samuel Rosa.
Sometimes, when you find a voice, your life is no longer your own. It belongs to those you speak to, speak for and speak of. Jaimeo Brown found his voice in struggle and hope. His work, grounded in jazz’s long tradition as a protest art form, features samples of historical work songs blended with contemporary jazz, blues and hip-hop. Sung with fire, healed with love, his notes are the echoes of protest and his rhythms are the universal beat of freedom and solidarity.
When Eurydice tragically perishes on her wedding day, her groom Orpheus will do anything to bring her back to life. He strikes a deal with the gods of the Underworld, but will he be able to fulfill its terms? This reimagining of the classic myth is told through Eurydice’s eyes, offering a fresh perspective on her journey. It’s one of love and loss, pleasure and pain. The play’s rhythmic language helps rebuild the memories of the characters and highlights the heroine’s impossible choice between life and death.
Encouraged to follow their intuition and nurture their authentic artistic voices, undergraduate dance students from the UMD School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies set new works of art into motion in this concert of original choreography. Paired with faculty and graduate student mentors and in collaboration with student designers in Lighting and Media Design, these short works span multiple dance styles and are as diverse as the students themselves.
Mozart’s masterful “Gran Partita” was described by his contemporaries as being of a “rare and special type.” In this concert, it is combined with chamber music by Steve Reich, Jean Sibelius and Giovanni Gabrieli.
Returning for its 16th season, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols tells the Christmas story through lively readings and music that epitomizes hope, goodwill and joy.
On the day of the performance, tickets will be available only at Memorial Chapel beginning at 7 PM.
The critically-acclaimed UMD Symphony Orchestra is a progressive ensemble that presents innovative classical music experiences rooted in the traditions of orchestral repertoire and performance. The final concert of the fall semester features:
Benjamin Britten - Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20
Sergei Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini with 2016 Concerto Competition Winner Shuai Wang, piano
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade, Op. 35
Rahim AlHaj is a globally recognized, Grammy-nominated master of the oud. The oud, a grandfather of all stringed instruments, is rooted in the ancient traditions of Middle East and North Africa. Iraqi-bornAlHaj’s compelling life story infuses his playing with a distinct gravity. A musician since the age of nine, AlHaj became involved in the revolutionary movement, writing protest songs opposing Saddam Hussein’s regime. After twice being imprisoned, he was forced to flee Iraq in 1991, ultimately finding a home in the United States as a political refugee.
MFA Dance candidates LaTefia Bradley and Jen Graham present their thesis concerts.
Note: There will be a post-performance discussion with the choreographers after the 7:30PM show on Friday, October 13.
