Groups celebrate spring through performances

Performing arts groups across campus are blooming in the new season, offering presentations to cap off the semester. Embedded in each event is an opportunity for audiences and performers alike to scale new educational and personal horizons.

East campus reverberates with all manner of music

Bach’s “St. John Passion” will bring together the UW–Madison Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, in Mills Hall of the Mosse Humanities Building. The Chamber Orchestra often plays with the 150-member Choral Union, but “St. John Passion” is more suited to a smaller group, such as the Concert Choir’s 50 vocalists. The score has been adapted from its handful of soloists to include a chorus.

The work, savored for its intensity and four-part chorales, is part of Bach’s “Passion” trilogy, which also includes “St. Matthew Passion” and “Mass in B minor.” “It’s considered one of Bach’s master works,” says director Beverly Taylor. The piece involves a lute and a viola da gamba, a cello-like instrument that is held in the legs rather than on a stand. Music faculty Paul Rowe, James Doing and Mimmi Fulmer and others will sing the featured roles, including a narration of John’s testament to Christ. The work will be presented in German, with English texts available.

Tickets, $12 general/$6 students and seniors, are available in advance at the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, (608) 262-2201. Remaining tickets will be sold in the lobby before the performance.
More choral music is available in the “Northern Lights” concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, in Mills Hall. A highlight will be the premiere of “Dona nobis pacem” by Royden Tull IV. The concert is free, and all are welcome.
The UW–Madison Women’s Chorus will take the stage on Friday, April 22, with a program of Bach, South American and South African music, and American spirituals. The recital begins at 7:30 p.m. in Mills Hall. Free and open to the public.
Choral music from the south of India will be offered on Sunday, April 24. “A Carnac Vocal Concert” will feature the stars of Indian classical music at 6:30 p.m. in Mills Hall. For more information, call (608) 238-3684 or e-mail ganesan@wisc.edu.
For those in search of instrumental music, the School of Music’s Western Percussion Ensemble will debut “What Clarity,” Dave Hollinden’s concerto, with soloist Cindy Terhune. The program also will include “First Construction in Metal” by John Cage and “Padma in Meditation” by Akira Nishimura. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m. in Mills Hall. Free and open to the public.
UW–Madison piano professor Christopher Taylor will perform at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 23, in Mills Hall. On Friday, April 29, Taylor will join School of Music colleagues Uri Vardi, violin and cello; David Perry and Isabella Lippi, violin; Sally Chisholm, viola and Amital Vardi, clarinet in concert at 8 p.m. in Mills Hall. Tickets are $9 general/$7 students and seniors.
Across Library Mall, Sunday Afternoon Live from the Elvehjem also features UW–Madison performers. The Wisconsin Brass Quintet will play on Sunday, April 17, in conjunction with the UW–Madison Future of Folk Humanities Biennial. Vartan Manoogian, violin, and Avedis Manoogian, piano, will be the guests on Sunday, April 24. Both concerts are at 12:30 p.m. in the museum’s Gallery III.
South African musician Vusi Mahlasela, known as the Bob Dylan of South Africa, will perform a free concert at 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, at the Wisconsin Union Theater. Mahlasela has sung against apartheid and performed at the inauguration of Nelson Mandela. The show will be followed by a free dance party in the Union’s Terrace (weather permitting) or Rathskeller. This performance replaces a concert by Dianne Reeves, which has been cancelled.
Jazz Jam offers a chance to sit in with the Luke Palmer Quartet on Tuesday, April 26. Sign-up begins at 8:30 p.m. in the Memorial Union (check Today in the Union for room).

Dance Program to display its prowess at spring concert

The Dance Program’s annual spring concert will feature artist-in-residence Rosalind Newman and visiting lecturers Cynthia Adams and Ken James. Newman, a UW–Madison alumna, studied with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. She has danced in the companies of Dan Wagoner and Viola Farber, and formed her own in 1977. Adams and James combine dance, film, video and storytelling to offer a unique style of dance theater. They will join Dance Program faculty, staff and students for the concert, Thursday-Saturday, April 21-23. Performances begin at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, with a Saturday matinee only at 1:30 p.m. All performances will be in Lathrop Hall’s Margaret H’Doubler Performance Space. Tickets, $12 general/$8 students, are available at the door. On Thursday night, students will be admitted for $5.

UW Theatre stages fun for spring

The University Theatre will round out its performance schedule for the academic year with “Zastrozzi” by George F. Walker. Based on an early 19th century work by Shelley, the play buckles some swashes in the name of revenge. It will be presented on at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, April 14-16 and April 21-23, in Vilas Hall’s Mitchell Theatre. Tickets, $16 general/$14 UW–Madison students, are available through the Vilas Hall Box Office, (608) 262-1500.

Waisman Center Children’s Theatre reconfigures a classic favorite

Cinderella gets a makeover – all in fun, of course – in “If the Shoe Fits … A Cinderella Story.” The fairy tale you remember is brought to life by an all-children cast at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 16, and at 1 and 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, in the Waisman Center auditorium. Tickets, available at the door, are $2 adults/$1 children.