Arts Preview
The coming week in arts and entertainment
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Lost Nation Theater's "It's a Wonderful Life" JIM LOWE/TIMES ARGUS FILE |
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Published: December 4, 2009
Nowell tonight
BURLINGTON – Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the UVM Lane Series presents an evening of music, "Nowell: Christmas Music Old and New," performed by Ensemble Liber (formerly Liber unUsualis). Since its founding in 1996, Liber has achieved prominence for its warm, compelling, and assured performances of Medieval and early-Renaissance music. The Boston Globe has praised Liber for its "deeply moving" performances" and its "hair-trigger sensitivity to what the words had to say." Their program for the Lane Series is a broad-ranging collection of pieces from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, combined with a few modern choral works based on ancient texts. The program intertwines carols, motets, and lullabies from across Europe and North America with modern works such as Hugo Distler's "Es ist ein Ros entsprungen" and John Harbison's "O magnum misterium."
For tickets, call the Flynn Box Office at (802) 86-FLYNN, or call the UVM Lane Series at (802) 656-4455, or order online at uvm.edu/laneseries.
'It's a Wonderful Life'
MONTPELIER – Lost Nation Theater will present a reprise of "It's a Wonderful Life," a live radio play, Tuesday-Thursday, Dec. 8-10, at 7 p.m., at City Hall Arts Center, 39 Main St. The theater is once again transformed into a 1940s broadcast studio as five actors and a busy sound effects person bring Frank Capra's classic to life in front of a live studio audience. The ensemble features Tim Tavcar (as radio host Freddie Filmore and the evil Mr. Potter), G. Richard Ames (George Bailey), Mike Manion (as Guardian Angel Clarence, among others), Cher Laston (as Mary Bailey), Judy Milstein (as all the other women from 5-year-old Zuzu to town siren Violet), and Kim Ward (as the stage manager and foley artist).
Tickets are $15, $10 in advance; call (802) 229-0492, or go online to www.lostnationtheater.org.
VSO this weekend
BURLINGTON – The Vermont Symphony Orchestra will present the second of its 75th Anniversary Masterworks Series concerts on Saturday, Dec. 5, at 8 p.m., the Flynn Center. Anthony Princiotti will conduct the VSO in Respighi's Trittico Botticelliano, Brahms's Symphony No. 3, and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 2, "Little Russian." A free pre-concert discussion at 7 p.m., "Musically Speaking," will be moderated by Brian Harwood and will feature Princiotti.
Pro-rated subscriptions for the four remaining Masterworks series concerts range from $55 to $215, and $32 for students. Single tickets start at $16; call the Flynn Regional Box Office at (802) 863-5966, the VSO office at 800-VSO-9293, ext. 10, or visit the VSO website at www.vso.org.
Randolph choruses
RANDOLPH – Randolph's two adult choruses – the 41-year-old Randolph Singers and the 25-year-old Sounding Joy! Singers – will combine this Sunday, Dec. 6, for an afternoon holiday concert. "Tapestry of Carols" will be performed at 4 p.m. at Chandler Music Hall, with much of the music from the rich English Christmas tradition. As if two adult choruses were not enough, the concert will also include two children's choirs, the Sounding Joy! Youth Chorus and the Bethany Church youth choir. The audience will be invited to sing along on a few traditional carols. The Randolph Singers are directed by Lindsey Warren, in her second year with the group. Sounding Joy! is conducted by its founder, Marjorie Drysdale. Marta Borgstrom is piano accompanist for both choruses and will conduct the Bethany Church youth choir. Each chorus will perform its own music, and all four of them will join in on some pieces. The English choral tradition has stimulated generations of fine composers who wrote music for the grand English cathedrals. In order to bring out a large attendance, and as a special holiday gift, both choruses agreed this year that admission will be by free-will offering. After paying for the Chandler space, the offering will go to support their expenses.
There is no admission charge, though donations will be welcome to pay expenses.
New Kevra CD
MONTPELIER – Petrichor Records announces the release of "Romantic Music for Flute and Piano" by Vermont flutist Karen Kevra and Washington, D.C., pianist Jeffrey Chappell. There will be a CD release celebration at the Black Door Bistro, 44 Main St., on Friday, Dec. 11, from 5 to 7 p.m. This eagerly awaited recording includes three large Romantic Works by Reinecke, Schubert, and Widor.
For information, go online to www.karenkevra.com.
Winter Tales 2009
BURLINGTON – Now in its fifth incarnation, "Winter Tales" has truly become a local holiday tradition. Vermont Stage Company, Burlington's professional theater at FlynnSpace, will present its annual offering of stories and songs celebrating the holiday season and Vermont winter in all its glory, Dec. 9-13. Performers, this year, include singer-songwriter Patti Casey, who will be sharing the musical duties with local musician Pete Sutherland. Accompanying themselves on fiddle, guitar, piano, flute and banjo, Patti and Pete will perform a wide variety of seasonal music, including a few of their own original compositions. Authors contributing new works this year include local writers Stephen Kiernan, Philip Baruth and Kathryn Blume. Joining the musicians to share the storytelling duties this year will be Ethan Bowen and Craig Maravich, most recently seen in "Opus," Heather Neilsen ("Doubt" and "King Lear"), Chris Caswell ("Well" and "Winter Tales '08") and Liz Gilbert ("Winter Tales '08").
Performances are Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m., plus Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are $32.50, $27 for matinees and Wednesday evening; call (802) 86-FLYNN or visit www.flynntix.org. In addition, a special gala performance will include hors d'oeuvres, champagne and a silent auction at on Sunday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m.; tickets are $55 and benefit Vermont Stage Company.
Counterpoint celebrates
Counterpoint, Vermont's professional 12-voice ensemble, under the direction of Robert De Cormier, presents its 2009 holiday concert series, "Aurora Borealis: A Solstice Celebration," a program that mixes contemporary and little-heard works along with familiar tunes to celebrate the turning of the season. Following its mission to feature works not frequently heard and works by contemporary composers along with more familiar fare, Counterpoint's will feature a piece commissioned from Vermont composer Don Jamison, "Do You Remember Us," settings of two poems by Kathleen Raine; an Erik Ewazen song in Ukrainian; "Winter Solstice Moon" by David Frank Long, inspired by Hopi sources; Francis Poulenc's haunting "Un Soir de Neige" (A Night of Snow), and pieces with texts by William Shakespeare. Audiences will also be treated to De Cormier's own compositions and trademark arrangements of songs from the folk tradition, such as "Here We Come A Wassailing;" rollicking English wassail songs, and Counterpoint's traditional 'Deck the Halls" sing-along.
Thursday Dec. 10: Rutland – Joined by the Grace Church Festival Choir, led by Rip Jackson Grace, Church, 7:30 p.m.
Friday Dec. 11: Stowe – Community Church, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 12: St. Johnsbury – Joined by Hilltones from St. Johnsbury Academy, directed by Alan Rowe, North Congregational Church, 7:30 u Sunday, Dec. 13: Colchester – McCarthy Arts Center, Saint Michael's College, 7 p.m.
Admission is $20, $15 for seniors senior, $5 for students or financially challenged (under 5 free); call (802) 540-1784, or go online to www.counterpointchorus.com.
Vermont's own 'Nutcracker'
JOHNSON – Vermont Ballet Theater will present the fifth season of its production of the "The Nutcracker" ballet, this year featuring guest artists from New York City's American Ballet Theater, including VBT alumna Devon Teuscher as the Sugar Plum Fairy (at Flynn Center only). This lavish full-length production is fast becoming a Christmas tradition for Vermont families. Witness Tchaikovsky's classic score come to life through dance with beautiful choreography by company director Alexander Nagiba and performed by VBT's talented young dancers and ensemble cast.
Performances are on Dec. 12, at 2 and 7 p.m. at the Dibden Center for the Arts, Johnson State College in Johnson; for tickets call (802) 635-1476. On Dec. 19, at 2 and 7 p.m., and Dec. 20, at 1 p.m., at the Flynn Center in Burlington; for tickets call (802) 86-FLYNN, or go online to www.flynncenter.org. For more information, go online to www.vermontballettheater.org.
VYO Orchestrapalooza
BURLINGTON – The Vermont Youth Orchestra Association will present "Orchestrapalooza" on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m., at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts. The annual celebratory concert features performances by all of the orchestras in the VYOA instrumental continuum, including the Vermont Youth Strings, Sinfonia, Philharmonia, and the Vermont Youth Orchestra. Over 250 young musicians, ranging from grades 3 to 12 will participate. Orchestrapalooza provides many of these students, who hail from all corners of Vermont, with their first experience performing on the historic Flynn stage. The program features a blend of classical and seasonal favorites. The concert culminates with holiday selections performed by a combined orchestra of over one hundred students performing side-by-side. Led by conductor Anne Decker, this super-sized orchestra will present Martin and Blane's version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and the Russian Dance from Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."
Tickets are $10; $5 for students; call (802) 86-FLYNN, or visit www.flynntix.org. For more information visit www.vyo.org
Natalie MacMaster Christmas
LEBANON, N.H. – Lebanon Opera House welcomes back Cape Breton fiddler and local favorite Natalie MacMaster, performing on Tuesday, Dec. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Whether performing with her full band — featuring guitar, piano, bass, drums and percussion — or with a classical orchestra such as the Edinburgh Symphony, Natalie MacMaster has thrilled audiences with her exciting fiddling and dynamic stage persona. With electrifying performances and passionate proficiency, MacMaster has been able to create a signature sound that resonates through world audiences, 10 albums, multiple gold record sales and 27 years of experience. MacMaster has contributed her numerous talents to other great artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss, and Carlos Santana. Similarly MacMaster has performed at many music festivals worldwide, including the Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton, Celtic Connections in Scotland, and MerleFest in the United States. With so much talent under her belt it's no wonder this toe-tapping fiddler is making waves with her new festive tour Christmas in Cape Brenton.
Reserved seats are $45, $35 and $25, with discounted tickets for seniors and children; call (603) 448-0400, or go online to www.lebanonoperahouse.org.
Hot Tuna in concert
LEBANON, N.H. – The tradition returns as Lebanon Opera House welcomes back Hot Tuna, performing Wednesday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. From their days playing together as teenagers to their current acoustic and electric blues, probably no one has more consistently led American music for the last 50 years than Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, the founders and continuing core members of Hot Tuna.
Reserved seats are $30, with additional discounted tickets for seniors and children; call (603) 448-0400, or online at can also be purchased online at www.lebanonoperahouse.org.
Vermont Public Television
Sunday: At 7 p.m., "Tim Janis: Celebrate America" encores. It features the composer and musician performing at Vermont Public Television with choirs from area high schools. Accompanied by the Montpelier Youth Orchestra, the singers perform uplifting compositions that celebrate the American spirit. Schools in the program are Essex, Mount Mansfield Union, Vergennes, Hanover, U-32, Montpelier, Northfield, North Country Union, Middlebury, BFA St. Albans, Missisquoi Valley, The Putney School and Champlain Valley Union. At 8:30 p.m., "Peter, Paul and Mary: Carry It On: A Musical Legacy" returns with classic performances and interviews with the legendary trio.
Monday: At 7:30 p.m. on "Profile," Fran Stoddard interviews Bill Brauer, a painter and printmaker from Warren, who has influenced decades of students in rendering the human figure. At 8 p.m., "Magic Moments: The Best of '50s Pop" features performance clips of 1950s icons such as Patti Page, Perry Como, Debbie Reynolds and the McGuire Sisters.
Wednesday: At 9:30 p.m., "Ed Sullivan's Rock and Roll Classics – the '60s" presents some of the amazing acts Sullivan introduced to North America on his TV show — from The Beatles to the Rolling Stones to The Doors.
Thursday: At 7:30 p.m., "Tim Janis: Celebrate America" airs once more. It features the composer and musician performing at Vermont Public Television with choirs from area high schools singing uplifting selections. At 9 p.m., "Celtic Woman: Songs from the Heart" encores. Ireland's Powerscourt House and Gardens provides the breathtaking backdrop for spirited fiddle and bodhran pieces, lush arrangements of Irish classics, contemporary covers and original compositions. The Aontas Choir, the Discovery Gospel Choir, the Extreme Rhythm Drummers and a bagpipe ensemble join Celtic Woman for this event.
Friday, Dec. 11: At 10 p.m., a perennial favorite with VPT viewers returns. "Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black and White Night," filmed at the Cocoanut Grove in Los Angeles in 1987, brought Orbison together with the likes of Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and other greats.
Saturday, Dec. 12: At 7 p.m., Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer reprise their roles in a beloved Britcom for the "As Time Goes By Reunion Special." The story picks up where the original series left off, revealing Jean's longing for grandchildren, much to her husband Lionel's dismay.
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