APPLETON, WIS. — Lawrence University will celebrate a musical milestone in the coming year — the 100th anniversary of its Artists Series concert program.
First staged in 1908, the Artist Series has brought a litany of luminaries to the stage of the Lawrence Memorial Chapel, including violinist Isaac Stern, pianist Vladimir Horowitz and cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The 2008-09 line-up promises to kick-off the series’ second century in similar style.
The Guarneri String Quartet opens the season Friday, Oct. 24 in one of its final performances. Founded in 1964, the acclaimed quartet is retiring at the end of the upcoming season. One of the world’s most revered string ensembles, the Guarneri Quartet is noted for its interpretations of 18th- and 19th-century standards and award-winning recordings of Beethoven’s middle-period quartets.
Grammy Award-winning baritone Dale Duesing performs Saturday, Feb. 7. A 1967 Lawrence graduate, Duesing’s international career spans five decades of performances with the New York Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the BBC Symphony Orchestra, among others. Opernwelt magazine named Duesing its “Singer of the Year” in 1994 and Le Monde de la Musique magazine called him “a singer who changed opera in the 20th century.”
The Percussion Group Cincinnati showcases its talents Friday, March 6. Formed in 1979, the trio of University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music professors has attracted new works from composers worldwide and is best known for its expertise in the music of John Cage. Recent performances include a world premiere with the Singapore Chinese Instrument Orchestra and a tour of Japan,
Edgar Meyer, described by one music critic as “quite simply, the best bassist alive,” closes the series Friday, April 17. Meyer’s unique blend of classical and folk music have earned him a loyal following and three Grammy awards, including two in 2002 as producer and performer for “Perpetual Motion,” which was named best classical crossover album. His collaborations range from violinist Joshua Bell to the bluegrass and folk groups Bela Fleck and Nickel Creek.
Innovators Ingrid Jensen and Brad Mehldau headline the younger Jazz Series side of Lawrence’s performing arts program.
The Grammy award-winning vocal quartet New York Voices flash Brazilian, R & B, classical and pop influences in their jazz-rooted vocals Friday, Nov. 7 in the first of two Jazz Celebration Weekend concerts.
Jensen melds her fiery trumpet with the Lawrence Faculty Jazz Trio and the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble Saturday, Nov. 8 in the second half of Jazz Celebration Weekend. Jensen received the “Best Newcomer Award” at the 1995 Cork Jazz Festival in Ireland and won the Carmine Caruso International Jazz Solo Trumpet competition that same year.
Jazz-pop crossover singer Jackie Allen and her quintet perform “A Starry Night” with the Lawrence University Chamber Orchestra Saturday, Feb. 21. Allen’s versatility, range and infectious enthusiasm have made her a fan favorite around the world. Recent appearances include the Beijing International Music Festival, where she was the only jazz headliner.
The Brad Mehldau Trio brings its adventurous, expressive style to the Lawrence Chapel in a series-ending concert Saturday, May 2. A pianist and composer, Mehldau has released more than a dozen recordings and has collaborated with such jazz greats as Joshua Redman, Michael Brecker and Pat Metheny. In 2006, he was named the 13th recipient of the prestigious Miles Davis Award, which recognizes artists whose body of work has contributed significantly to the renewal of the genre.
Season subscriptions to either the artist, jazz or a “favorite 4” series that allows subscribers to select any combination of four concerts from either series, are available through August 25, with discounts available to senior citizens and students. Contact the Lawrence Box Office at 920-832-6749. Single-concert tickets go on sale Sept. 29.
Additional information, including ticket prices, seating charts and ways to order is available at www.lawrence.edu/news/performingartsseries/.
