Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
January 11, 2007 issue
ASU Performing Arts Series Readies for Busy Spring
Story by David Brewer
With audiences already having been treated to the Onllwyn Male Voice Choir, Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s Dracula, Emmylou Harris, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Ailey II Dance Company and fiddler Bonnie Rideout, ASU’s 2006-2007 Performing Arts Series is well underway, but far from over. For more info, click to www.pas.appstate.edu.
Aida
On Tuesday, January 23, the Bulgarian State Opera will present Aida. Set in Egypt, this four-act opera is sung entirely in Italian (with supertitles) and features a live orchestra. The production tells the story of an enslaved Ethiopian princess and her forbidden love with an Egyptian warrior, Radames. When the Ethiopian enemies headed by Aida's father invade Egypt, Aida is faced with the inner conflict of supporting her father or her beloved Radames.
Established in 1996 by Ivan Kyurkchiev, the Bulgarian State Academic Opera is based on the great traditions of the art of opera in Bulgaria and presents unique productions combining the best of the opera worlds of Bulgaria and all of Europe.
Jane Eyre
Honored by the Tony Awards for Excellence in Theater, The Acting Company will travel to ASU on Friday, February 16, to present Jane Eyre. Revolving around one of literature's most independent and strong-willed women, Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre was recognized as a masterpiece when it was published in 1847. The piece remains a startlingly modern blend of passion, romance and suspense.
Called the major touring classical theatre in the United States by the New York Times, The Acting Company’s production of Jane Eyre features stunning visual imagery and powerful style, transforming Brontë's great novel into deeply affecting drama.
Charlotte Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1932 by Spanish conductor and composer Guillermo de Roxlo, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has grown into one of the premier musical institutions in the Southeast. In its 75-year history, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra has counted among its collaborators such lauded soloists as Andrés Segovia, Alicia de Larrocha, Luciano Pavarotti, Isaac Stern, André Watts, Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax and Yo-Yo Ma.
On Friday, March 2, the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra will perform at Farthing Auditorium under the direction of German conductor and Music Director Christof Perick. Currently in his sixth season, Perick has guest conducted many of the USA's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic; Los Angeles Philharmonic; the orchestras of Boston, San Francisco, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Detroit, Seattle, Indianapolis and Milwaukee; and the National Symphony.
Anoushka Shankar
The only artist in the world to be trained completely by her father, legendary sitar virtuoso and composer Ravi, Anoushka Shankar has emerged as an international star and one of the finest sitar players in the world.
Playing and studying the sitar with her father since she was nine, Shankar has shown herself to be a unique artist with tremendous talent and understanding of the great musical tradition of India.
Shankar will perform at Farthing Auditorium on Tuesday, March 20 at 8:00 p.m.