Cultural Events: Cultural Events

Classical Up Close is a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony and friends to bring great classical music to the Portland metro community. We want as many people as possible to have access to this beautiful music, so we travel to neighborhoods and workplaces in order to perform outside of the usual downtown concert hall — and every event is free!​

May 17, 3-3:45 pm
The Forum at Town Center Senior Residence (outdoor concert which will be moved indoors in the case of inclement weather)
8709 SE Causey Avenue, Happy Valley, OR 97086
Peter Frajola and Ainur Zabenova, violin duos

The PSU Vocal Collective is a vocal quintet and rhythm section made up of students from the Jazz program at Portland State University. Under the direction of Sherry Alves, the group performs incredible vocal arrangements of jazz and popular music that are reminiscent of groups like Groove for Thought, the New York Voices, and Lambert, Hendricks and Ross. This set includes music by Esperanza Spalding, Vince Mendoza, Kurt Elling, Count Basie, Elton John, and more.

Audiences may recognize group members as regulars at the 1905 jam sessions and events. Vocalists Hannah DiMo, Raine Welterlen, Emma Rosenberg, Sam McGehee, and Zach Connolly are rich in blend and poised with style. The rhythm section includes pianist Marvin Madarang, Marshall Peterson on bass, and Carlos Moreno on drums.

Free Admission
Reservations Recommended

Proof of Vax required for indoor seating.

Raised on a grape farm in Fredonia, New York, singer/songwriter Ruthie Collins had already sharpened her craft in Boston and Texas before relocating to Nashville. Those diverse experiences are mirrored in her own music, whose blend of country, folk, and Americana is glued together by autobiographical lyrics and an achingly emotive voice. Collins introduced that sound with her self-titled, six-song EP in 2014, then expanded it with 2017’s Get Drunk and Cry and 2020’s Cold Comfort. When the Covid-19 pandemic brought her touring plans to a halt, she funneled her creativity into new recordings like “Hypocrite.” Packaged alongside homemade acoustic renditions of crowd favorites like “Joshua Tree” and “Hey Little Girl,” “Hypocrite” appeared on 2022’s Cold Comfort +, a deluxe reissue that added new layers to an already multi-dimensional album. Meanwhile, LA Times praised Collins’ “sunny demeanor,” Rolling Stone raved that “Collins’ voice has the fluttery nuances more common in Seventies Laurel Canyon than in modern country,” and Billboard praised her music’s “ethereal vocals alongside soaring string features, minimal piano parts, and delicate percussion.”

Come and hear Ruthie share some of her favorite songs on her Wish You Were Here Tour!

FRANCESCO LECCE-CHONG, conductor
JOSHUA ROMAN, cello

R. Strauss: Don Quixote
Elgar: “Enigma” Variations
Ravel: Bolero

To continue our C3 exploration of how music inspires creativity, connection, and community, we hear two depictions of true friendship — first, in Richard Strauss’s setting of Cervantes’ epic tale of an errant knight and his trusty sidekick, and then in Edward Elgar’s inspiring series of musical portraits honoring his family and friends. Then, we end with one of music’s most enduring and beguiling melodies, Maurice Ravel’s Bolero, complete with a video of our own Eugene Symphony musicians playing their instruments all across our beloved hometown.

Since 2016, The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra has been delighting audiences with the music of the roaring 20s and Depression era 30s.
Under the leadership of master showman Sammuel Murry-Hawkins, the ensemble transports audiences to the golden age of Hot Jazz and Sweet Dance Music, specializing in the tunes of Cab Calloway, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin.

Guaranteed to delight and put a pep in your step!

Come to dance or just to listen at the historic Village Ballroom, every third Friday of the month!

More information at historicmusic.org.
To make the event accessible to all,
ticket prices are set at $10, with $5 Arts For All tickets available at the door day of show with Quest/Oregon Trail card.
(Additional $0.50 service charge for CC payments at the door.)

Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling 360-989-6517 ($1 additional service charge for advance tickets).

• Symphony No. 4, op. 36 by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893). Working during the Romantic Period, Tchaikovsky brought Russian music to unprecedented international popularity. He dedicated his Symphony No. 4 to his patroness, Nadezhda von Meck, affirming her as an equal partner in its creation.
• World premiere of a collaborative work by The Authentic Voice composer Koharu Sakiyama and Nevaeh Bray, a student leader and writer from the I Am M.O.R.E program, the award-winning youth leadership development program founded by S. Renee Mitchell.
• A performance by MYS’ Concerto Competition winner.

Friday, May 20 | 7:30 pm | $12 advance/$15 day of show
Classical Indian Dance

Described by The Oregonian as an “unforgettable night of visual splendor,” this troupe of Indian classical dancers is bound to amaze with an exceptional evening of the authentic cultural experience of this ancient land. From traditional costuming and music, along with Sanskrit chants and English poetry, the full-length production appeals to all ages and showcases the entire repertoire of Indian classical dance. All proceeds from the performance go to benefit this cultural and educational Hillsboro-based nonprofit with mission of promoting the performing arts of India locally.

Two of opera’s best-known stories come to life through their greatest orchestral selections. Following music from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, the joy of the Viennese waltz comes alive in Richard Strauss’ exuberant Rosenkavalier Suite. Plus, Gabriella Smith’s mini-concerto for marimba, Riprap, featuring new Principal Percussionist, Michael Roberts. 

Program:
Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
Schumann: Violin Concerto
Gabriella Smith: Riprap
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Suite

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Stefan Jackiw, Violin
Michael Roberts, Marimba

This concert is part of Classical Series A

Classical Up Close is a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony and friends to bring great classical music to the Portland metro community. We want as many people as possible to have access to this beautiful music, so we travel to neighborhoods and workplaces in order to perform outside of the usual downtown concert hall — and every event is free!​

No matter which of our performances you attend, you can expect an informal tone where you are free to do the things you would not normally do at a classical concert: take photos, tweet (#upclosepdx), text, clap between movements, sit onstage with the musicians, and ask them questions during the Question and Answer time. We look forward to getting up close with you!

May 21, 2:00 pm
Lake Music Store Parking Lot
15560 Boones Ferry Rd, Lake Oswego, 97035
   Rain date: May 27, 5 pm
Jeff Garza, Joe Berger, Graham Kingsbury, Alicia Waite, Matt Berliner, horn quintet

This is the chorus’s 26th Festival, featuring classics of sacred music and one song that is particularly appropriate for these times called “Prayer For Ukraine.” During the chorus’s tour of Eastern Ukraine in 2017 many friendships were formed. For that reason this year’s Festival is a benefit concert for aid efforts in Ukraine.

Tickets are free but required for seating purposes (simply go to OAMC‘s website)

Two programs are at 3:30 and 7:00 pm.

This is the chorus’s 26th Festival, featuring classics of sacred music and one song that is particularly appropriate for these times called “Prayer For Ukraine.” During the chorus’s tour of Eastern Ukraine in 2017 many friendships were formed. For that reason this year’s Festival is a benefit concert for aid efforts in Ukraine.

Tickets are free but required for seating purposes (simply go to OAMC‘s website)

Two programs are at 3:30 and 7:00 pm.

Two of opera’s best-known stories come to life through their greatest orchestral selections. Following music from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, the joy of the Viennese waltz comes alive in Richard Strauss’ exuberant Rosenkavalier Suite. Plus, Gabriella Smith’s mini-concerto for marimba, Riprap, featuring new Principal Percussionist, Michael Roberts. 

Program:
Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
Schumann: Violin Concerto
Gabriella Smith: Riprap
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Suite

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Stefan Jackiw, Violin
Michael Roberts, Marimba

This concert is part of Classical Series A

Two of opera’s best-known stories come to life through their greatest orchestral selections. Following music from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, the joy of the Viennese waltz comes alive in Richard Strauss’ exuberant Rosenkavalier Suite. Plus, Gabriella Smith’s mini-concerto for marimba, Riprap, featuring new Principal Percussionist, Michael Roberts. 

Program:
Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
Schumann: Violin Concerto
Gabriella Smith: Riprap
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Suite

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Stefan Jackiw, Violin
Michael Roberts, Marimba

This concert is part of Classical Series A

A CONCERT OF JOY – Bravo! Concerts Northwest is presenting our first live concert since the mask mandates and COVID restrictions have finally been lifted in Oregon and Washington after two years of restrictions. HOORAY!

THE MUSIC – is about joy, love, and life. The concert includes a silent film with live orchestra, Broadway classics, and American love songs including:

A Dog’s Life – Charlie Chaplin’s 1918 silent film comedy with LIVE music performed by the Northwest Chamber Orchestra. A Dog’s Life blended comedy, drama, and loneliness into a brilliant film and launched Charlie Chaplin to international stardom.

The Music Man – songs from Meredith Wilson’s romantic Broadway show.

The Pirates Of Penzance – songs from this classic Gilbert and Sullivan musical.

George Gershwin – love songs by one of America’s greatest composers.

THE MUSICIANS – This concert features the Bravo! Northwest Chorale and Northwest Chamber Orchestra, pianist and conductor Maria Manzo, conductor Michael Kissinger, and soloists.

ADMISSION IS FREE! Lockdowns, closures, and cancellations have destroyed the sense of “community” shared by us all. So, we are turning the concept of a concert upside down! Rather than charging admission, we want to fill the concert space with great music and people of good will who value community and invite them to support the show.

DONATIONS: Please consider making a SUGGESTED DONATION of $30, $50, $100, or more online or at the concert. Your donation will help pay for this concert and support the music and education programs of Bravo! Concerts Northwest as we rebuild from the lockdowns and cancellations. Bravo! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Donations are tax deductible.

The award-winning Oregon Sinfonietta, now in its 49th season and conducted by Dr. Donald L. Appert, is a full symphony orchestra of roughly 70 members that draws together community musicians from the greater Portland metro area. The Sinfonietta offers four free concerts per season. On Sunday, May 22, 2022, the orchestra performs Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man and Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration. In addition, one of this season’s young Concerto Competition winners, Steven Wu, will perform Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The concert begins at 3:00 at the Sunnyside Seventh-day Adventist Church in Portland. Although donations are always welcome, there is no charge to attend.

Two of opera’s best-known stories come to life through their greatest orchestral selections. Following music from Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde, the joy of the Viennese waltz comes alive in Richard Strauss’ exuberant Rosenkavalier Suite. Plus, Gabriella Smith’s mini-concerto for marimba, Riprap, featuring new Principal Percussionist, Michael Roberts. 

Program:
Wagner: Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan and Isolde
Schumann: Violin Concerto
Gabriella Smith: Riprap
R. Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier Suite

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Stefan Jackiw, Violin
Michael Roberts, Marimba

This concert is part of Classical Series A

Classical Up Close is a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony and friends to bring great classical music to the Portland metro community. We want as many people as possible to have access to this beautiful music, so we travel to neighborhoods and workplaces in order to perform outside of the usual downtown concert hall — and every event is free!​

No matter which of our performances you attend, you can expect an informal tone where you are free to do the things you would not normally do at a classical concert: take photos, tweet (#upclosepdx), text, clap between movements, sit onstage with the musicians, and ask them questions during the Question and Answer time. We look forward to getting up close with you!

May 24, 5:00 pm
Concert in the yard of one of our musicians
9516 SE Winsor Dr., Milwaukie 97222
   Rain date: May 25, 5 pm
Shin-young Kwon, Greg Ewer, Charles Noble, Trevor Fitzpatrick, string quartet

• Mahler Symphony #10

We are excited to present the 2021-2022 Concert Season, and we are committed to safeguarding the well-being of our musicians and audience members. Because of this, our concerts for the new season are subject to change based on the status of allowable group gatherings, which impacts our rehearsals as well as the concerts. As state requirements change and Oregon State University determines its policies, we will be re-evaluating the schedule for the current concert season and post updates as we have more information. Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Classical Up Close is a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony and friends to bring great classical music to the Portland metro community. We want as many people as possible to have access to this beautiful music, so we travel to neighborhoods and workplaces in order to perform outside of the usual downtown concert hall — and every event is free!​

No matter which of our performances you attend, you can expect an informal tone where you are free to do the things you would not normally do at a classical concert: take photos, tweet (#upclosepdx), text, clap between movements, sit onstage with the musicians, and ask them questions during the Question and Answer time. We look forward to getting up close with you!

May 25, 5:00 pm
Concert in the yard of one of our musicians
4037 SW Iowa St, Portland, 97221
   Rain date: May 27, 5 pm
Rose City Brass Quintet

OREGON SYMPHONY JOINS ROSE FESTIVAL FOR A MEMORABLE EVENING

To launch the return of Portland’s Official Festival, Bank of America presents the Rose City Reunion Concert featuring the Oregon Symphony led by Associate Conductor Norman Huynh, Thursday, May 26 at 6:00 PM in the RoZone at CityFair. The Oregon Symphony, the oldest orchestra in the Western United States, celebrates its 125th anniversary in the 2021-22 season and joins forces with the Rose Festival for the first time since 2001.

The concert will feature the world premiere of “From One Rose,” an original song written by Rose Festival Board Member Ron Carr and arranged by Emmy Award-winning and Academy Award nominee composer Bruce Broughton.

The 2022 Rose Festival runs from May 27 through June 12. For more information, go to RoseFestival.org.

Our season finale continues Delgani’s partnership with Boston composer Elena Ruehr, whose seventh quartet was commissioned and premiered by Delgani in 2020. In this program we feature Ruehr’s vibrant third quartet, which boasts an eclectic array of influences, from Hildegard von Bingen to African dance rhythms. Celebrated quartets by Haydn and Brahms open and close the program, concluding our season with joy in a post-pandemic world!

Franz Joseph Haydn String Quartet in G Major, Op. 76/1
Elena Ruehr String Quartet No. 3 (2001)
Johannes Brahms String Quartet in Bb Major, Op. 67

FRANCESCO LECCE-CHONG, conductor
DANIEL HSU, piano

Tan Dun: Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds
Matthew Browne: Symphony No. 1, “The Course of Empire” (Pacific Northwest Premiere, Eugene Symphony Co-Commission)
Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18

Join us for the first our C3 Series: three interlinked concerts that highlight how individual creativity creates connections between us, which then help forge a community. We open with audience participation during Chinese master Tan Dun’s short work that includes sounds of wind and birdsong that you’re invited to play from your phone while the orchestra plays onstage! Then, we debut our four-year “First Symphony Project” with the new work by Composer-in-Residence Matt Browne. As the grand finale, we hear Sergei Rachmaninov’s epic Second Piano Concerto, which brought him back from the brink of writer’s block that threatened his career.

The Tree People are celebrating the release of their 4th album, “The Return of The Tree People“, and a hardcover book of photos, drawings, lyrics, written music, and stories about the songs and The Tree People, with an album and book release concert, featuring a wonderful cast of musicians, including Stephen Cohen– voice, acoustic, cigar box and miniature guitar, a homemade ‘1 string thing” instrument and a 3-string musical sculpture; Rich Hinrichsen- double bass and voice; Maeve Stier- voice, accordion and kazoo; John Savage- flute and saxophone; Jen Harrison (of the Oregon Symphony)- French horn; and Ron Tuttle- drums.

Friday, May 27 | 7:30 pm | $18 advance/$22 day of show
Singer + Songwriter

A Walters’ favorite with a loyal Northwest following, Craig Carothers began his career in Portland before relocating to Nashville where he performs on such famous stages as the Bluebird Cafe and writes for artists such as Trisha Yearwood, Lorrie Morgan, Kathy Mattea, and Peter, Paul & Mary. This talented singer-songwriter delivers original music that is both heartbreakingly beautiful and scathingly funny, performed with a lively deadpan smile and a soulful, rich voice that’s downright swoony. His newly released album, 39 Pink Flamingos is his response to, “What did you do during the pandemic?” Discover why his performances have been described as “truly magical,” and experience the moving compositions of this home-grown talent with national appeal.

The Southwest Washington Center for the Arts will be presenting “Liberace & Liza: A Tribute” live at Kiggins Theatre on Wednesday, June 1st at 7 PM.

David Saffert & Jillian Snow Harris share the stage as Liberace & Liza Minnelli, creating an exhilarating night of musical and comical fireworks. Delighting in the costumes, music, and glamour of show business’s wildest entertainers, the audience will be smiling and clapping along to such hits as Chopsticks, Gershwin Medley, Cabaret, & New York, New York. Conducting the entire show is Bo Ayars who toured with Liberace for 13 years as his arranger and Music Director.

The 90-minute PNW-based production brings the spectacle and musicality of Liberace’s Las Vegas productions to venues across the United States. The 5-person ensemble is headed by concert pianist David Saffert (Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, Portland Opera, Interlochen Music Camp), PNW performer Jillian Snow Harris, and Liberace’s musical director Bo Ayars. The show has delighted audiences national-wide, leading to multiple sold out engagements at Michael Feinstein’s clubs in San Francisco and Carmel, Indiana, and an upcoming date at Feinstein’s 54 Below in Manhattan.

Tickets are $25, General Admission and are available at Kigginstheatre.com. For more information, email info@centerforartswwa.or

The Southwest Washington Center for the Arts is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to establishing a performing arts center in Vancouver, WA. The state-of-the-art facility is slated to serve as the heart of our region’s cultural community. When completed the center’s aims are to educate and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds, while contributing strongly to the local and regional economy. The Center for the Arts’ plans include two flexible theater spaces: a main auditorium seating up to 1,250 – 1,300 and an intimate recital hall or studio theater seating 200 – 300.

The Asociación Hispana de la Industria del Vino en Oregon y Comunidad (AHIVOY) will be hosting a fundraiser on Thursday, June 2, 2022 from 6 to 8 pm at Lolo Pass, 616 E Burnside St., Portland, OR 97214. It’s a Rosé rooftop celebration showcasing some of the valley’s favorite summertime sippers! This event is aimed at creating Portland awareness of the work of AHIVOY. The evening will begin with a 30 minute panel discussion about diversity in wine followed by rosé sampling and sipping on the Lolo Pass rooftop overlooking the beautiful Portland skyline. Taste and enjoy rosé by the glass, passed appetizers, and sweet beats provided by Portland’s DJ Manny Fresco. Among the wineries providing their rosés are Alumbra Cellars, Arlyn, Argyle Winery, Björnson Vineyard, Cramoisi Vineyard, Domaine Divio, Guillén Family Wines, Maysara Winery, Parra Wine Co., and White Rose Estate. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/roseon-the-rooftop-at-lolo-pass-tickets-295422856717. Each ticket includes your first glass and three samples of rosé and passed appetizers. Additional glasses will be available for $10.

Classical Up Close is a collective effort by members of the Oregon Symphony and friends to bring great classical music to the Portland metro community. We want as many people as possible to have access to this beautiful music, so we travel to neighborhoods and workplaces in order to perform outside of the usual downtown concert hall — and every event is free!​

No matter which of our performances you attend, you can expect an informal tone where you are free to do the things you would not normally do at a classical concert: take photos, tweet (#upclosepdx), text, clap between movements, sit onstage with the musicians, and ask them questions during the Question and Answer time. We look forward to getting up close with you!

WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERY CONCERT
June 3, 7:00 pm – RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Andante Vineyard
3855 Morris Rd., Dallas, OR 97338
For reservations go to: https://bit.ly/3qkhIl1

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

Composer, musician and Oregon Symphony Creative Alliance member Nathalie Joachim joins renowned violinist Pekka Kuusisto on stage at the Alberta Rose Theatre. Joachim’s exquisite, deeply moving album Fanm D’ayiti (Women of Haiti) recently earned a Grammy nomination, and Kuusisto’s fresh approach to repertoire brings joy and beauty to everything he touches: whether it’s his idiosyncratic take on the Beethoven Violin Concerto or an improvisation on a Finnish folk-tune.

“To close the season, we have two of my favorite musicians and humans on the planet… Between the two of them, this concert just might make the Alberta Rose Theatre levitate.” – Gabriel Kahane

Artists:
Gabriel Kahane, Host
Nathalie Joachim, Composer
Pekka Kuusisto, Violinist

PATRON SAFETY GUIDELINES:
The Alberta Rose Theatre requires all patrons to provide proof of a full course of vaccination. Additionally, all patrons are required to wear marks.

Click here for more about COVID policies for this venue.

WORLD PREMIERE! Comedic, provocative, an eyeful and a brain twist.

Imago‘s Julia’s Place is a riff off Ionesco’s absurd classic Rhinoceros, with a cast of five
comedic Imago knockabouts, puppetry, song and extreme zaniness.

Imago’s writer/director Jerry Mouawad entered the world of Beckett when he opened To
Fly Again (2018), creating a Mad Max world infused with clown and dance theatre. With
Julia’s Place, Mouawad pays homage to Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. Here’s how it works…

His wife turned into a rhino. Her girlfriend turned into a rhino, too. We’ve seen this
dehumanizing insanity before. But with Julia’s Place, Imago Theatre riffs on Ionesco’s
freakish scenario – of a populace devolving into horned beasts – to deliver a freshly
philosophical farce. One part existentialism, two parts slapstick, this zany social satire
incorporates shadow puppetry and pure buffoonery as its two lead characters –
Porkchop (Josh Edward) and Ralph (Noel Olken) – figure out a way to survive the
stampeding apocalypse with a trio of fellow misfits or, at least, get a plate of spaghetti
from the kooky cafe owner (Carol Triffle) before the world ends.

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome never fails to astonish with its vibrant portrayal of the city of Rome through music. Equally astonishing will be two of today’s most innovative soloists: Grammy-nominated flutist, vocalist, and composer Nathalie Joachim, performing songs that explore her own Haitian heritage, and Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

Program:
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Nathalie Joachim: Suite from Fanm d’Ayiti (World premiere arrangement)
Nico Muhly: Shrink (Violin Concerto No. 2)
Respighi: Pines of Rome

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Nathalie Joachim, Vocals
Pekka Kuusisto, Violin

This concert is part of Classical Series C

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

“Celilo Falls: We Were There” is a large-scale work for chamber orchestra by Nancy Ives with text and story-telling by Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock) and projected photographic images by Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) which explores the geologic and human history of Celilo Falls, portraying the experience of the Native Americans who lost not only their livelihoods but their cultural home for millennia when the Dalles Dam flooded the Falls in 1957. Ed Edmo is a renowned poet and Traditional Storyteller, and will tell this story as only he can, incorporating Native legends and personal recollections. Images by photographer Joe Cantrell will add an immersive element, conveying a sense of Native peoples’ long presence there and the universality of the power of place.

The June 11th performance of “Celilo Falls: We Were There“ will take place in The Dalles, with free admission for Tribal members, providing meaningful access for the Native community for whom this story is so important.

Oregon Contemporary Theatre
Linda Prefontaine, Creative Consultant

Bernstein: Overture to Candide
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
David Schiff: Prefontaine (World Premiere)

As the world track and field championships come to Eugene, we honor one of Oregon’s greatest champions, Steve Prefontaine. Before his untimely death in 1975, he set 14 American records in distance running and legends of his accomplishments still resonate across the world today. Featuring original music by Oregon’s best-known composer, David Schiff, this stirring multi-media project will be enhanced with imagery projected on a screen above the stage and punctuated with spoken accounts of Steve’s life performed by Oregon Contemporary Theatre actors. Join us to celebrate Pre’s legacy!

WORLD PREMIERE! Comedic, provocative, an eyeful and a brain twist.

Imago‘s Julia’s Place is a riff off Ionesco’s absurd classic Rhinoceros, with a cast of five
comedic Imago knockabouts, puppetry, song and extreme zaniness.

Imago’s writer/director Jerry Mouawad entered the world of Beckett when he opened To
Fly Again (2018), creating a Mad Max world infused with clown and dance theatre. With
Julia’s Place, Mouawad pays homage to Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. Here’s how it works…

His wife turned into a rhino. Her girlfriend turned into a rhino, too. We’ve seen this
dehumanizing insanity before. But with Julia’s Place, Imago Theatre riffs on Ionesco’s
freakish scenario – of a populace devolving into horned beasts – to deliver a freshly
philosophical farce. One part existentialism, two parts slapstick, this zany social satire
incorporates shadow puppetry and pure buffoonery as its two lead characters –
Porkchop (Josh Edward) and Ralph (Noel Olken) – figure out a way to survive the
stampeding apocalypse with a trio of fellow misfits or, at least, get a plate of spaghetti
from the kooky cafe owner (Carol Triffle) before the world ends.

Byzantine Chant and Polyphony
Choral works by Michael Adamis (1929–2013), Theodore Bogdanos (1932–2019), Steven  Cardiasmenos (b. 1958), Frank Desby (1922–92), Peter Michaelides (1930–2017), and Tikey Zes (b. 1927)

Follow a 1000-year journey of Byzantine music, from medieval Constantinople to the Greek communities of California. Infused with 19th-century Italian, Russian, and Viennese choral traditions, the musical seeds carried by Greek immigrants to the New World blossomed in the next generation with soaring Renaissance style and Hollywood flair.

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome never fails to astonish with its vibrant portrayal of the city of Rome through music. Equally astonishing will be two of today’s most innovative soloists: Grammy-nominated flutist, vocalist, and composer Nathalie Joachim, performing songs that explore her own Haitian heritage, and Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

Program:
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Nathalie Joachim: Suite from Fanm d’Ayiti (World premiere arrangement)
Nico Muhly: Shrink (Violin Concerto No. 2)
Respighi: Pines of Rome

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Nathalie Joachim, Vocals
Pekka Kuusisto, Violin

This concert is part of Classical Series C

“Celilo Falls: We Were There” is a large-scale work for chamber orchestra by Nancy Ives with text and story-telling by Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock) and projected photographic images by Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) which explores the geologic and human history of Celilo Falls, portraying the experience of the Native Americans who lost not only their livelihoods but their cultural home for millennia when the Dalles Dam flooded the Falls in 1957. Ed Edmo is a renowned poet and Traditional Storyteller, and will tell this story as only he can, incorporating Native legends and personal recollections. Images by photographer Joe Cantrell will add an immersive element, conveying a sense of Native peoples’ long presence there and the universality of the power of place.

The June 11th performance of “Celilo Falls: We Were There“ will take place in The Dalles, with free admission for Tribal members, providing meaningful access for the Native community for whom this story is so important.

WORLD PREMIERE! Comedic, provocative, an eyeful and a brain twist.

Imago‘s Julia’s Place is a riff off Ionesco’s absurd classic Rhinoceros, with a cast of five
comedic Imago knockabouts, puppetry, song and extreme zaniness.

Imago’s writer/director Jerry Mouawad entered the world of Beckett when he opened To
Fly Again (2018), creating a Mad Max world infused with clown and dance theatre. With
Julia’s Place, Mouawad pays homage to Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. Here’s how it works…

His wife turned into a rhino. Her girlfriend turned into a rhino, too. We’ve seen this
dehumanizing insanity before. But with Julia’s Place, Imago Theatre riffs on Ionesco’s
freakish scenario – of a populace devolving into horned beasts – to deliver a freshly
philosophical farce. One part existentialism, two parts slapstick, this zany social satire
incorporates shadow puppetry and pure buffoonery as its two lead characters –
Porkchop (Josh Edward) and Ralph (Noel Olken) – figure out a way to survive the
stampeding apocalypse with a trio of fellow misfits or, at least, get a plate of spaghetti
from the kooky cafe owner (Carol Triffle) before the world ends.

Byzantine Chant and Polyphony
Choral works by Michael Adamis (1929–2013), Theodore Bogdanos (1932–2019), Steven  Cardiasmenos (b. 1958), Frank Desby (1922–92), Peter Michaelides (1930–2017), and Tikey Zes (b. 1927)

Follow a 1000-year journey of Byzantine music, from medieval Constantinople to the Greek communities of California. Infused with 19th-century Italian, Russian, and Viennese choral traditions, the musical seeds carried by Greek immigrants to the New World blossomed in the next generation with soaring Renaissance style and Hollywood flair.

The final concert of the 2021-22 Evensong Concert Series will feature soprano soloist Kurleen George Laplanche. A specialist in African-American Spiritual interpretation, Kurleen will be assisted by the St. Paul’s Chamber Singers and Debra Huddleston. She and the singers will offer spirituals by Moses Hogan, Damon Dandridge and Nathaniel Dett.

The concert scheduled for June 5, 2022 at 4:00 pm, will be live in person at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In keeping with best practice to protect the vulnerable in our community, we ask that all wear a mask while in attendance until further notice. Proof of vaccination and registration is no longer required. The concert will also be live-streamed on the St. Paul’s YouTube channel.

Go to stpaulsoregon.org and select the “Music Guild Concerts” from the upper menu bar. The event is open to the public with freewill donations at the door or online at the church website.

Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome never fails to astonish with its vibrant portrayal of the city of Rome through music. Equally astonishing will be two of today’s most innovative soloists: Grammy-nominated flutist, vocalist, and composer Nathalie Joachim, performing songs that explore her own Haitian heritage, and Finnish violinist Pekka Kuusisto.

Program:
Respighi: Ancient Airs and Dances, Suite No. 3
Nathalie Joachim: Suite from Fanm d’Ayiti (World premiere arrangement)
Nico Muhly: Shrink (Violin Concerto No. 2)
Respighi: Pines of Rome

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Nathalie Joachim, Vocals
Pekka Kuusisto, Violin

This concert is part of Classical Series C

Praised for his “visceral and imaginative performances” by the Washington Post, top prize winning classical guitarist and recording artist Adam Levin has performed on four continents across the globe. Levin has performed extensively across the United States at renowned venues such as Chicago’s Pick Staiger, Nichols, and Mayne Stage concert halls as well as at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago; Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Jordan Hall; Spivey Hall in Atlanta; repeat appearances at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City; and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. In Europe, Levin has performed in some of the finest venues across Spain, and in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland.

Adam Levin Portland Concert
Thursday, June 9, 2022 at 7:00 PM

The Trinity Episcopal Cathedral is the newest Portland venue for U.S. Classic guitar and this versatile space has all of the ambience you want for a concert and has three different sized venues.

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

WORLD PREMIERE! Comedic, provocative, an eyeful and a brain twist.

Imago‘s Julia’s Place is a riff off Ionesco’s absurd classic Rhinoceros, with a cast of five
comedic Imago knockabouts, puppetry, song and extreme zaniness.

Imago’s writer/director Jerry Mouawad entered the world of Beckett when he opened To
Fly Again (2018), creating a Mad Max world infused with clown and dance theatre. With
Julia’s Place, Mouawad pays homage to Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. Here’s how it works…

His wife turned into a rhino. Her girlfriend turned into a rhino, too. We’ve seen this
dehumanizing insanity before. But with Julia’s Place, Imago Theatre riffs on Ionesco’s
freakish scenario – of a populace devolving into horned beasts – to deliver a freshly
philosophical farce. One part existentialism, two parts slapstick, this zany social satire
incorporates shadow puppetry and pure buffoonery as its two lead characters –
Porkchop (Josh Edward) and Ralph (Noel Olken) – figure out a way to survive the
stampeding apocalypse with a trio of fellow misfits or, at least, get a plate of spaghetti
from the kooky cafe owner (Carol Triffle) before the world ends.

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

WORLD PREMIERE! Comedic, provocative, an eyeful and a brain twist.

Imago‘s Julia’s Place is a riff off Ionesco’s absurd classic Rhinoceros, with a cast of five
comedic Imago knockabouts, puppetry, song and extreme zaniness.

Imago’s writer/director Jerry Mouawad entered the world of Beckett when he opened To
Fly Again (2018), creating a Mad Max world infused with clown and dance theatre. With
Julia’s Place, Mouawad pays homage to Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. Here’s how it works…

His wife turned into a rhino. Her girlfriend turned into a rhino, too. We’ve seen this
dehumanizing insanity before. But with Julia’s Place, Imago Theatre riffs on Ionesco’s
freakish scenario – of a populace devolving into horned beasts – to deliver a freshly
philosophical farce. One part existentialism, two parts slapstick, this zany social satire
incorporates shadow puppetry and pure buffoonery as its two lead characters –
Porkchop (Josh Edward) and Ralph (Noel Olken) – figure out a way to survive the
stampeding apocalypse with a trio of fellow misfits or, at least, get a plate of spaghetti
from the kooky cafe owner (Carol Triffle) before the world ends.

“Celilo Falls: We Were There” is a large-scale work for chamber orchestra by Nancy Ives with text and story-telling by Ed Edmo (Shoshone-Bannock) and projected photographic images by Joe Cantrell (Cherokee) which explores the geologic and human history of Celilo Falls, portraying the experience of the Native Americans who lost not only their livelihoods but their cultural home for millennia when the Dalles Dam flooded the Falls in 1957. Ed Edmo is a renowned poet and Traditional Storyteller, and will tell this story as only he can, incorporating Native legends and personal recollections. Images by photographer Joe Cantrell will add an immersive element, conveying a sense of Native peoples’ long presence there and the universality of the power of place.

The June 11th performance of “Celilo Falls: We Were There“ will take place in The Dalles, with free admission for Tribal members, providing meaningful access for the Native community for whom this story is so important.

At last! The much anticipated second installment of our The Americans series celebrating the unique voices and rich history of American choreographers. In this program we feature an OBT first time commission from rising star Michelle Manzanales whose piece Con Brazos Abiertos for Ballet Hispánico was lauded by the LA Times as one of “heart tugging beauty.” In high demand, Ms. Manzanales will premiere work on both coasts next season with commissions from Paul Taylor Dance Company as well as OBT. Rounding out this innovative production we are delighted to bring back two audience favorites: Darrell Grand Moultrie’s whimsical Fluidity of Steel celebrating maleness without conformity; and Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton’s Big Shoes harkening back to that moment when we dressed in grown-ups’ clothes and imagined the vast road that stretched on ahead, forever beckoning, daring us.

The season concludes with a breathtaking finale: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Its profound musical statements about freedom, equality, and humanity resonate even more powerfully today than when the symphony premiered almost 200 years ago. A full chorus and four world-class soloists join the orchestra for a rousing celebration.

Program:
Gabriela Lena Frank: Pachamama Meets an Ode
Berg: Seven Early Songs
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral”

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Portland State Choirs and the Oregon Repertory Singers
Georgia Jarman, Soprano (in Berg and Beethoven)
TBA, Mezzo-Soprano
Kyle van Schoonhoven, Tenor
Reginald Smith, Jr., Baritone

This concert is part of Classical Series B

WORLD PREMIERE! Comedic, provocative, an eyeful and a brain twist.

Imago‘s Julia’s Place is a riff off Ionesco’s absurd classic Rhinoceros, with a cast of five
comedic Imago knockabouts, puppetry, song and extreme zaniness.

Imago’s writer/director Jerry Mouawad entered the world of Beckett when he opened To
Fly Again (2018), creating a Mad Max world infused with clown and dance theatre. With
Julia’s Place, Mouawad pays homage to Ionesco’s Rhinoceros. Here’s how it works…

His wife turned into a rhino. Her girlfriend turned into a rhino, too. We’ve seen this
dehumanizing insanity before. But with Julia’s Place, Imago Theatre riffs on Ionesco’s
freakish scenario – of a populace devolving into horned beasts – to deliver a freshly
philosophical farce. One part existentialism, two parts slapstick, this zany social satire
incorporates shadow puppetry and pure buffoonery as its two lead characters –
Porkchop (Josh Edward) and Ralph (Noel Olken) – figure out a way to survive the
stampeding apocalypse with a trio of fellow misfits or, at least, get a plate of spaghetti
from the kooky cafe owner (Carol Triffle) before the world ends.

The season concludes with a breathtaking finale: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Its profound musical statements about freedom, equality, and humanity resonate even more powerfully today than when the symphony premiered almost 200 years ago. A full chorus and four world-class soloists join the orchestra for a rousing celebration.

Program:
Gabriela Lena Frank: Pachamama Meets an Ode
Berg: Seven Early Songs
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral”

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Portland State Choirs and the Oregon Repertory Singers
Georgia Jarman, Soprano (in Berg and Beethoven)
TBA, Mezzo-Soprano
Kyle van Schoonhoven, Tenor
Reginald Smith, Jr., Baritone

This concert is part of Classical Series B

The season concludes with a breathtaking finale: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Its profound musical statements about freedom, equality, and humanity resonate even more powerfully today than when the symphony premiered almost 200 years ago. A full chorus and four world-class soloists join the orchestra for a rousing celebration.

Program:
Gabriela Lena Frank: Pachamama Meets an Ode
Berg: Seven Early Songs
Beethoven: Symphony No. 9, “Choral”

Artists:
David Danzmayr, Conductor
Portland State Choirs and the Oregon Repertory Singers
Georgia Jarman, Soprano (in Berg and Beethoven)
TBA, Mezzo-Soprano
Kyle van Schoonhoven, Tenor
Reginald Smith, Jr., Baritone

This concert is part of Classical Series B