Union Theater books music by the masters
 La Bottine Souriante, appearing in October, has a distinctive sound that combines traditional Irish dance music with jazz, salsa and pure folk.
Details: Series subscriptions are available with discounts for Wisconsin Union members and UW–Madison students. Full-price tickets for individual events go on sale Aug. 28. Information: Union Theater Box Office, 262-2201, or visit: http://www.wisc.edu/ union/theater. |
The Wisconsin Union Theater‘s 2000-01 season line-up will range from chamber works to foot-stomping Celtic fiddling.
From the sublime expressivity of the human voice to the poetic phrasings of the cello, from ancient to modern, from pianissimo to fortissimo – it’s music of and by the masters. Here’s an overview:
Concert Series
The Theater’s 81st annual Concert Series opens in October with a return visit by Garrick Ohlsson, internationally renowned pianist whose enormous repertoire encompasses virtually the entire piano literature.
Next will be cellist Janos Starker, making his seventh appearance at the Union Theater. A great virtuoso and distinguished teacher, Starker is recognized as one of the supreme musicians of our time.
In November, the Union Theater welcomes the Brentano String Quartet, renowned for technical brilliance, musical insight and stylistic elegance.
January 2001 brings the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center to the Theater for the fifth time to perform Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet and other works.
Opera star Barbara Bonney, a recital and concert artist, makes her Madison debut in February. In March, pianist Wu Han, who last appeared at the Union Theater with Emerson Quartet cellist David Finckel in 1998, returns for a solo recital, followed the next night by a concert with the University Orchestra.
Finally, brother and sister Gil and Orli Shaham conclude the Concert Series in April with a violin/piano recital.
Performance Series
The Performance Series kicks off in September with Zap Mama, the popular quintet of female vocalists whose technique borders on miraculous. They mix Pygmy music, Central and Arabic pop tunes and AfroCuban rhythms with a touch of soul and Gospel.
La Bottine Souriante has crossed borders the world over, and in October the group will visit Madison to deliver a distinctive sound that combines traditional Irish dance music with jazz, salsa and pure folk.
In February, jazz violinist Regina Carter expects to explore the violin’s musical limits with her improvisational gifts and fresh, aggressive style.
In March, Taraf da Haidouks performs at the Union Theater, revealing the richness of Romanian Gypsy music. When these young and old brigands make music together, it is a poignant, exhilarating and very special experience.
Closing out the Performance Series in April is Chucho Valdes, a piano virtuoso and composer.
Other events
The Union Theater will present Steven Mackey’s acclaimed music drama, the solo opera, “Ravenshead,” in March 2001. Hailed as the “best new opera of 1998” (USA Today), this sea tale combines the music theater talents of writer Rinde Eckert, composer Mackey, director Tony Taccone, and performers including Eckert and the Paul Dresher Ensemble. “Ravenshead” is a journey into the heart and mind of an eccentric hero in an unheroic age.
Finally, the Travel Adventure Film Series, in its 41st season, features award-winning filmmakers showing a host of sights from England, Peru, Iceland, Yellowstone, Slovakia and Virginia.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate Performing Arts Committee presents these events with promotional support from Wisconsin Public Radio and WORT-FM.