Cal Performances Fall 19/20 Brochure

CalPerformancesmusic dance theater 2019/20 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY SEASON

Single Tickets ON SALE NOW! Beginning August 6, 12pm.

Speaker Series JUST ANNOUNCED! Join us for a season-long series of presentations by some of the leading creative and intellectual voices of our time—thinkers, activists, strategists, satirists, journalists, and pioneers at the leading edge of culture and politics. DAVID SEDARIS MAGGIE HABERMAN DAN PFEIFFER Maggie Haberman David Sedaris Sun, Oct 6, 7pm, ZH Sat, Nov 9, 8pm, ZH The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, New York A master of satire and a hilarious commentator Times White House correspondent, and CNN on topics both mundane and profound, political analyst discusses lessons learned in Sedaris brings his beloved stories and essays her long experience covering Donald Trump— to vivid life onstage. As the New York Times from his decades in the New York City tabloid remarked, “He loves audiences, audiences headlines to his presidency and its contentious love him, and his readings attract hundreds relationship with the press. and even thousands of people.” Venue Key Dan Pfeiffer ZH Zellerbach Hall Thu, Dec 5, 8pm, ZH ZP Zellerbach Playhouse The former White House communications FCC First Congregational Church director, noted political strategist and HH Hertz Hall commentator, and Pod Save America co-host combines wry wit, spot-on political instincts, and formidable storytelling chops in an optimistic exploration of how politics and digital media interact in modern-day America.

LAVERNE COX JEMELE HILL DAVID POGUE JAD ABUMRAD Jemele Hill Laverne Cox Thu, Jan 23, 8pm, ZH Thu, Mar 12, 8pm, ZH The Emmy-winning sports journalist, The transgender actress and advocate, former ESPN SportsCenter co-anchor, known for her groundbreaking role on and current Atlantic staff writer opens Orange is the New Black, shares her views up about her career at the controversial on race, class, and gender, communicating intersection of sports and race in the a powerful message of inner strength and United States. self-acceptance. David Pogue Jad Abumrad Thu, Feb 27, 8pm, ZH Sat, May 9, 8pm, ZH The New York Times columnist, CBS The host and creator of public radio’s wildly Sunday Morning tech correspondent, popular Radiolab program and podcast digs and prolific “how-to” author leads a deep into some of his favorite topics—including journey through the pleasures and sound, science, history, and storytelling— pitfalls of our technological world— with his signature wit and infectious sense covering subjects as serious as of curiosity. smartphone-driven medicine and as fun and frivolous as e-mail etiquette. Exclusive radio partner for the 2019–20 Speaker Series

The 2019/20 season promises something for everyone— magnificent dance, international orchestras, star recitalists, innovative jazz, global performance traditions, and family fun for all ages. Single tickets are on sale now! MARIINSKY BALLET AND ORCHESTRA, LA BAYADÈRE

TRIPTYCH (EYES OF ONE ON ANOTHER) calperformances.org/onsale

September MARK MORRIS DANCE GROUP Mark Morris Dance Group Triptych (Eyes of One on Another) Mozart Dances Composed by Bryce Dessner Berkeley Symphony Libretto by Korde Arrington Tuttle, Colin Fowler, conductor and piano featuring words by Essex Hemphill Inon Barnatan, piano and Patti Smith Fri, Sep 20, 8pm Directed by Kaneza Schaal Sat, Sep 21, 2pm & 8pm Featuring Roomful of Teeth, with Sun, Sep 22, 3pm, ZH Alicia Hall Moran and Isaiah Robinson More than a decade after its West Coast premiere, Music direction and conducting Mark Morris’ sublime, joyful Mozart Dances by Brad Wells returns to Zellerbach Hall! Praised for its emotional A Cal Performances Co-Commission breadth and formal inventiveness, Morris’ buoyant, exhilarating choreography is set to three exquisite Sat, Sep 28, 8pm, ZH Mozart piano works—the Piano Concerto No. 11 in F major, K. 413; the Sonata for Two Pianos in The cool classical symmetry and bold eroticism D major, K. 448; and the Piano Concerto No. 27 of Robert Mapplethorpe’s photography meet in B-flat major, K. 595—in which light and dark sound and text in a hybrid theatrical experience dwell side by side. The music is performed live that invites us to reflect on the intimate acts by the Berkeley Symphony conducted by Colin of looking and being looked at. Composer Fowler, joined by celebrated Israeli-American Bryce Dessner, well known as a member of pianist Inon Barnatan as soloist. “To hear Mozart the rock group The National, has had a lifelong through Morris’ ears is to appreciate the music in fascination with the transgressive beauty of scintillating new detail” (The Guardian, London). Mapplethorpe’s images, and now collaborates Patron Sponsors: Bernice Greene, with librettist Korde Arrington Tuttle, designer Helen and John Meyer Carlos Soto, and director Kaneza Schaal to revisit Corporate Sponsor: U.S. Bank the photographer’s work nearly 30 years after it instigated a now-infamous obscenity trial and Jonathan Biss, piano controversy at the National Endowment for the Arts. The libretto draws on the poetry of Patti The Complete Piano Sonatas Smith and the writings of Essex Hemphill, who of Ludwig van Beethoven chronicled the African-American gay community during the AIDS epidemic and directly addressed Jonathan Biss does not do things halfway. Nearing the contradictions at the core of Mapplethorpe’s the end of an ambitious nine-year, nine-disc work. The music is performed by the Grammy- project to record all 32 of Beethoven’s piano winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, joined sonatas, he brings the fruits of his labor to Hertz by a chamber orchestra and guest artists. Hall for a once-in-a-lifetime listening experience. “Beautifully crafted and performed…[Dessner] In the season that marks Beethoven’s 250th creates a full spectrum of tonalities from the birthday, Biss visits with this full cycle of towering deepest black shadows to blazing white highlights” works, performed over seven concerts. An artist (SF Classical Voice). of probing intellect and vast emotional range, This production features sexually explicit images Biss last visited Cal Performances with stirring from the Robert Mapplethorpe collection that may performances of three Beethoven piano concertos, be inappropriate for some audience members. with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra during Discretion is advised. the 2017–18 season. As one critic marveled of his recording of the Appassionata Sonata: 1 “Biss’s performance is blazing, nimble, fleet of finger and dangerous” (The Guardian, London). SAT, SEP 21, 8PM, HH (CONCERT 1 OF 7) Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor, Op. 2, No. 1 Piano Sonata No. 9 in E major, Op. 14, No. 1 Piano Sonata No. 13 in E-flat major, Op. 27, No. 1, Quasi una fantasia Piano Sonata No. 12 in A-flat major, Op. 26, Funeral March Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53, Waldstein SUN, SEP 22, 3PM, HH (CONCERT 2 OF 7) Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, Op. 7 Piano Sonata No. 17 in D minor, Op. 31, No. 2, Tempest Piano Sonata No. 5 in C minor, Op. 10, No. 1 Piano Sonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57, Appassionata Pre-performance talk Sep 22 at 2pm.

October TREY MCLAUGHLIN & THE SOUNDS OF ZAMAR Trey McLaughlin & Jonathan Biss, piano The Sounds of Zamar The Complete Piano Sonatas Thu, Oct 3, 8pm, ZH of Ludwig van Beethoven Atlanta gospel sensation Trey McLaughlin and the Sounds of Zamar, his expert 20-voice choir, For full description, please see p. 1. bring a deep experience of musical communion to every concert hall they visit, cutting across cultural SAT, OCT 12, 8PM, HH (CONCERT 3 OF 7) differences and religious beliefs with soul-stirring Piano Sonata No. 15 in D major, Op. 28, Pastoral arrangements and fresh takes on familiar hits. Piano Sonata No. 20 in G major, Op. 49, No. 2 The youthful singers cite influences as diverse as Piano Sonata No. 3 in C major, Op. 2, No. 3 Shania Twain, Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, and Piano Sonata No. 27 in E minor, Op. 90 Prince and have a cult online following for videos Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101 showcasing their impeccable vocal blend and chemistry. A group on the rise, they are featured SUN, OCT 13, 3PM, HH (CONCERT 4 OF 7) on the song “Chasing After You” on VaShawn Mitchell’s Grammy-nominated Triumphant album, Piano Sonata No. 6 in F major, Op. 10, No. 2 and have twice broken onto the Billboard gospel Piano Sonata No. 10 in G major, Op. 14, No. 2 chart. Catch them while you can! Piano Sonata No. 18 in E-flat major, Op. 31, Renée Fleming, soprano No. 3, The Hunt Piano Sonata No. 29 in B-flat major, Op. 106, Sat, Oct 5, 8pm, ZH The astonishingly versatile Renée Fleming has Hammerklavier expanded her appearances well beyond the opera Pre-performance talk Oct 13 at 2pm. stage in recent years, appearing on two award- winning film soundtracks and captivating audiences Sankai Juku in the acclaimed Broadway revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel. Fleming brings the Meguri: Teeming Sea, Tranquil Land elegance and glamour of the opera house to her intimate—and rare—recital appearances, lending Directed, choreographed, and her rich soprano to German art song, operatic designed by Ushio Amagatsu arias, Broadway hits, classical masterworks, and Sat, Oct 12, 8pm new music by gifted contemporary composers. Sun, Oct 13, 3pm, ZH “Her voice floated across the hall in an iridescent A majestic stone wall carved with fossils of sea display of vocal color…. By the end of the evening, lilies overlooks a sand-dusted stage, where eight Fleming held her audience in the palm of her hand” dancers from this internationally renowned butoh (Los Angeles Times). company enter into a sublime dialogue with gravity. Meguri is a meditative visual poem by Maggie Haberman Ushio Amagatsu, Sankai Juku’s brilliant artistic director, that reflects on the passage of time Sun, Oct 6, 7pm, ZH through imagery and movement inspired by For full description, please see inside front cover. the ebb and flow of water, and the cycle of the earth’s seasons. “At its core, each Sankai Juku SANKAI JUKU production draws the audience together with the 2 performers into a powerful human experience” (The Seattle Times). Ha-lau O Kekuhi Sun, Oct 20, 3pm, ZH Harnessing the force of the mighty volcanoes and the serene beauty of the forests that are their neighbors, the members of this acclaimed and highly respected troupe sing and dance in honor of Pele, the goddess of fire and the creator of their native islands. The Hawaiian classical dance ensemble specializes in the vigorous and kinetic ‘aiha‘a style of hula and chant, handed down from woman to woman for more than eight generations of the Kanaka’ole family in Hilo, on the Big Island.

RENÉE FLEMING calperformances.org/onsale

MARIINSKY BALLET AND ORCHESTRA LA BAYADÈRE For current Mariinsky casting information, please see event page at calperformances.org. calperformances.org/onsale

MOMIX MOMIX Viva MOMIX! Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra La Bayadère Sat, Oct 26, 8pm Sun, Oct 27, 3pm, ZH Valery Gergiev, artistic director Prepare yourself for an evening of mesmerizing Conductor to be announced illusion, stunning imagery, and captivating Music by Ludwig Minkus movement—MOMIX is back! The famed acrobatic Choreography by Marius Petipa (1877) troupe, established more than three decades ago Revised choreography by Vladimir by Pilobolus founding member Moses Pendleton, Ponomarev and Vakhtang Chabukiani returns after a long Berkeley hiatus. Viva MOMIX! (1941) bursts off the stage with a collection of acts from With dances by Konstantin Sergeyev the company’s most visually spectacular shows, and Nikolai Zubkovsky including Botanica (about the seasons), Lunar Libretto by Marius Petipa and Sergei Sea (the moon), and Opus Cactus (the landscape Khudekov of the American Southwest). “A magical dance Set design by Mikhail Sishliannikov theater experience” (Critical Dance). after set designs by Adolf Kvapp, Konstantin Ivanov, Pyotr Lambin, MYRA MELFORD’S JAZZ PLATFORM and Orest Allegri Costumes by Yevgeny Ponomarev David Virelles Trio Lighting design by Mikhail featuring Marcus Gilmore Sishliannikov and Rashaan Carter Spider Web Wed–Fri, Oct 30–Nov 1, 8pm by Nicole Mitchell Sat, Nov 2, 1pm & 8pm and Josh Kun Sun, Nov 3, 3pm, ZH No company in the world dances the spellbinding Nicole Mitchell, flute, voice, electronics “Kingdom of the Shades” scene in La Bayadère Josh Kun, spoken word as brilliantly as Saint Petersburg’s Mariinsky Ballet. JoVia Armstrong, percussion The story of forbidden love and shocking betrayal, Damon Locks, voice, electronics complete with a spectral voyage to the afterlife, Joshua White, keyboards radiates with colorful characters, opulent sets, and S. Ama Wrey, movement, spoken word vibrant costumes, performed with the unmatched Sun, Oct 27, 7pm, HH refinement, dramatic poise, and flawless Cal Performances invites pianist, composer, and technique that defines this centuries-old cultural UC Berkeley faculty member Myra Melford to institution. Marius Petipa created La Bayadère co-curate our jazz programming this season, for the Mariinsky more than 140 years ago, and introducing Bay Area audiences to innovative the marvelous Romantic work—with a score by artists who, in her words, stand “at the leading Ludwig Minkus performed here in all its glory edge of jazz and improvisational music today, by the company’s grand orchestra—continues diverse performers who blend composition and to be one of the ensemble’s most beloved improvisation in exciting, original ways.” Pianist showpieces well into the 21st century. The David Virelles—performing here with bassist Mariinsky’s rare Berkeley appearances are truly Rashaan Carter and drummer Marcus Gilmore— momentous occasions, marked by passionate funnels folkloric influences from his native Cuba standing ovations and fervent pleas for curtain into thoroughly modern inventions that embrace calls shouted from the rafters of a packed and the exploratory ethos of contemporary classical electrified Zellerbach Hall. music and the jazz avant-garde. Acclaimed “A magnificent statement about what the Mariinsky flutist and musical conceptualist Nicole Mitchell troupe has meant and still prodigiously means after visits with Spider Web, a new multimedia project so many years” (The Financial Times, London). created in collaboration with scholar Josh Kun Pre-performance talk Nov 2 at 7pm. that explores race and politics in Southern Patron Sponsors: Ivan and Maris Meyerson California in the context of Afrofuturism, black experimental music, and her own family history. 5 Pre-performance talk at 6pm. NICOLE MITCHELL

IESTYN DAVIES Afropop Spectacular November Sahara Soul with Alsarah and the Nubatones Fretwork with and Sidi Touré Iestyn Davies, countertenor Fri, Nov 8, 8pm, ZH Sun, Nov 3, 3pm, HH MICHAEL An inspired double bill of Nubian electro-pop NYMAN No Time in Eternity and electrified desert blues from Mali. Singer and Balancing the Books guitarist Sidi Touré updates the hypnotic Malian The Self-Laudatory Hymn of Inanna guitar music first popularized by Ali Farka Touré and Her Omnipotence through the sounds of his new electric band, Music After a While creating exhilarating trance music that overflows If with joy, carried by the beauty of Touré’s singular Why voice. Born in Sudan and based in Brooklyn, PURCELL Fantasia No. 7 in C minor vocalist Alsarah weaves classic East African pop Fantasia No. 11 in G major sounds with subtle electronics, Middle Eastern Fantasia No. 6 in F major oud, driving percussion, and lilting vocal harmonies Music for a while in her enchanting music. “A sound that flows like The Evening Hymn silt through your fingers one minute and starts a Fantasia upon one note fire beneath your feet the next…. Alsarah has the Words like “glorious,” “rapturous,” “exquisite,” makings of an Afropop queen” (PopMatters). and “sublime” routinely come into play when conversations turn to the vocal mastery of David Sedaris countertenor Iestyn Davies. Joined by the formidable British viol ensemble Fretwork, Davies Sat, Nov 9, 8pm, ZH bridges three centuries of English repertoire in a stirring recital of works by Henry Purcell and For full description, please see inside front cover. contemporary minimalist composer Michael Nyman—whose work has long been influenced by Danish String Quartet the Baroque masters. “A masterclass in technique, vocal beauty and moving musicality that it is hard Sun, Nov 10, 3pm, HH to imagine surpassed” (Gramophone). Pre-performance talk at 2pm. BACH Fugue No. 24 in B minor, from Major support provided by The Bernard The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 Osher Foundation SCHNITTKE String Quartet No. 3 Farruquito BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Mon, Nov 4, 8pm, ZH Op. 130, with Grosse Fuge, Op. 133 Dancing flamenco is as natural for Farruquito as walking is to us mere mortals. Part of the The “infectiously appealing” (San Francisco legendary Farruco dynasty in Andalusia, Spain, Chronicle) Danes are back—this time with a brilliant he has been perfecting his fleet footwork since program from their Prism series, which matches he was a toddler and is the undisputed heir to a late Beethoven string quartet with a related that region’s rich cultural legacy of “puro” Gypsy fugue by Bach and a work from the contemporary flamenco. Farruquito’s muscular, explosive style quartet literature. The latest addition to Cal balances bold and dramatic shifts with graceful Performances’ elite family of annual chamber fluidity and finesse, in a breathless exchange with music visitors, the Danish String Quartet has the dynamic musicians in his ensemble. “This soared to the top of the music world, universally was flamenco that seemed improvised in the praised for performances of restrained beauty, moment—raw, visceral and executed with blazing earthy dynamism, and breathtaking precision. intensity and immediacy” (The Boston Globe). This program revolves around Beethoven’s 6 massive and mysterious Grosse Fuge, which borrows thematic material from Bach’s Fugue in B minor and is quoted in the opening passages of Soviet composer Alfred Schnittke’s restless, obsessive Third Quartet of 1983. Major support provided by The Bernard Osher Foundation DANISH STRING QUARTET

ALSARAH AND THE NUBATONES calperformances.org/onsale

PEKING ACROBATS calperformances.org/onsale

Ensemble Basiani DAVID FINCKEL AND WU HAN Fri, Nov 15, 8pm, FCC David Finckel, cello No other sound on earth compares to the rich, and Wu Han, piano haunting, otherworldly sonorities of Georgia’s ancient vocal polyphony. The men of Ensemble Sun, Nov 24, 3pm, HH Basiani are masters of the art form, cultural ambassadors who celebrate and honor the BEETHOVEN Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69 religious hymns, monastic chants, epic ballads, BRAHMS Cello Sonata No. 2 in F major, Op. 99 and folk songs of their Eastern European DEBUSSY Nocturne and Scherzo homeland. Returning to Berkeley, the choristers FRANCK Violin Sonata in A major (trans. cello) share their cultural riches in a performance of stirring power and supreme musicality. Consummate performers and chamber music As director Zurab Tskrialashvili has remarked: ambassadors on both coasts as co-directors of “This is our jazz, our classical music. Georgian the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center harmony is unique in the world…one of the best and Music@Menlo, David Finckel and Wu Han things Georgians have created.” have been driving forces in American music Pre-performance talk at 7pm. for decades. Here, they dive deep into the repertoire, performing three canonic cello sonatas: Video Games Live Beethoven’s radiantly serene Op. 69, Brahms’ bold and heroic Op. 99, and Franck’s refined with the Sonata in A major (transcribed for cello), plus UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra Debussy’s dreamy Nocturne and Scherzo. Finckel has described the care the couple puts into Hosted by Tommy Tallarico crafting their programs: “The realm of classical Featuring Jason Paige, original Pokémon music is so vast—and because of this, we have at television program theme song singer our fingertips an incredible variety of experiences NEW SHOW for 2019, featuring that one can have, even over the course of a performances of music from games single evening. [We try to be] rigorous in putting including Final Fantasy, Zelda, together programs that make sense, from which Pokémon, Overwatch, Kingdom Hearts, any listener can come away with the feeling of Undertale, Okami, MegaMan, Metroid, empowerment.” and Earthworm Jim! Patron Sponsors: Will and Linda Schieber Sun, Nov 17, 7pm, ZH Imagine the thrill of video gaming mixed with Peking Acrobats the collective energy of a rock concert and the emotional power of an orchestral performance, Thanksgiving Weekend and you have an idea of the adrenaline rush Fri–Sat, Nov 29–30, 2pm that is Video Games Live! A concert event for Sun, Dec 1, 3pm, ZH all the senses, the interactive show created This spellbinding troupe of China’s most gifted by game music composer Tommy Tallarico tumblers, contortionists, jugglers, and gymnasts features the UC Berkeley Symphony Orchestra returns by popular demand, with breathtaking performing live arrangements of video game music feats and daring maneuvers steeped in 2,000 hits, synchronized to dazzling video footage, years of folk tradition. In vibrant costumes and spectacular light displays, and theatrical special accompanied by live music performed on an effects. Whether you’re a current gamer or assortment of Chinese folk instruments, the nostalgic for the Marios and Zeldas of another era, rigorously trained acrobats dazzle with their agility pre- and post-concert events offer a chance to and grace—in signature routines including trick interact with others in the gaming community and cycling, precision tumbling, and awe-inspiring include a costume contest and meet-and-greets balancing acts. “The Peking Acrobats regularly with top industry game composers and designers. passed from the seemingly impossible to the “A captivating, proudly bombastic show” virtually unbelievable” (Los Angeles Times). (The New York Times). VIDEO GAMES LIVE 9

December Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello & Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano Wed, Dec 4, 8pm, ZH BEETHOVEN 12 Variations on Mozart’s “Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen” (from Die Zauberflöte), Op. 66 EIGHTH BLACKBIRD LUTOSŁAWSKI Grave BARBER Cello Sonata in C minor, Op. 6 RACHMANINOFF Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 19 Winner of the 2016 BBC Young Musician Eighth Blackbird competition, artist-in-residence at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, and a featured performer Sat, Dec 14, 8pm, ZH at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the young cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason NINA SHEKHAR ice ‘n’ SPICE has skyrocketed to fame as one of the shining (Bay Area Premiere) new lights of the classical music world. He and his elder sister, pianist Isata, perform a program ANGÉLICA NEGRÓN Quimbombó that highlights the cello’s magnificent expressive (Bay Area Premiere) range: sumptuous Rachmaninoff, turbulent Barber, lyrical Lutosławski, and playful Beethoven JON HOLLAND The Clarity of Cold Air (his variations on an aria from Mozart’s The Magic Flute). “A player who makes you tune in to every HOLLY HARRISON Lobster Tales and nuance of articulation, every subtle shading, every Turtle Soup eloquent turn of phrase” (The Times, London). (Bay Area Premiere) Patron Sponsors: Nadine Tang and Bruce Smith JESSIE MARINO Rot Blau VIET CUONG Electric Aroma (Bay Area Premiere) FJÓLA EVANS Eroding (Bay Area Premiere) PAMELA Z New Work (Bay Area Premiere) Dan Pfeiffer Eighth Blackbird wants you to know what is happening in new music. Right. This. Minute. Thu, Dec 5, 8pm, ZH Winner of four Grammy Awards and hailed as “one of the smartest, most dynamic For full description, please see inside front cover. contemporary classical ensembles on the planet” (Chicago Tribune), the sextet has been Takács Quartet a catalyst in the chamber music world for more than 20 years, committed to nurturing the next The Complete String Quartets generation of adventurous composers. Here, of Béla Bartók the group introduces us to a diverse cohort of exciting contemporary voices—mostly born in SAT, DEC 7, 8PM, HH the 1980s and ’90s—whose compositions are inspired by a thrilling range of topics, from Lewis String Quartet No. 1 Carroll stories to Afro-Caribbean traditions, Indian String Quartet No. 3 home cooking, and Icelandic glaciers. Pioneering String Quartet No. 5 electroacoustic composer and performer Pamela Z joins for the Bay Area premiere of a newly SUN, DEC 8, 3PM, HH commissioned work built on the cadences in the speech patterns of members of the ensemble. String Quartet No. 2 Pre-performance talk at 7pm. String Quartet No. 4 String Quartet No. 6 Jonathan Biss, piano Pre-performance talk Dec 8 at 2pm. The Complete Piano Sonatas The peerless Takács Quartet—for decades a of Ludwig van Beethoven Cal Performances audience favorite—returns to perform the complete Bartók string quartet For full description, please see p. 1. cycle over two concerts. These six masterful works span much of the composer’s life—Bartók SUN, DEC 15, 3PM, HH (CONCERT 5 OF 7) composed the first when he was 27, and the last when he was 58—and similarly, the Takács has Piano Sonata No. 25 in G major, Op. 79, Cuckoo continued to evolve and mature as an ensemble Piano Sonata No. 11 in B-flat major, Op. 22 since first recording the cycle nearly 35 years Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, ago. The quartet’s performances are praised for sophistication matched with vibrant intensity, and No. 2, Moonlight clarity shot through with unparalleled expressive Piano Sonata No. 24 in F-sharp major, Op. 78, richness. “It’s Bartók’s brilliance, but the Takács players executed it with a perfect mixture of fever À Thérèse and chill” (The New York Times). Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 Patron Sponsors: Charles and Helene Linker Pre-performance talk at 2pm. 10

SHEKU KANNEH-MASON calperformances.org/onsale

PINCHAS ZUKERMAN calperformances.org/onsale

January MYRA MELFORD’S JAZZ PLATFORM Jemele Hill An Evening of Duos Onstage Thu, Jan 23, 8pm, ZH Tim Berne, saxophone Matt Mitchell, piano For full description, please see inside front cover. Ingrid Laubrock, saxophone Kris Davis, piano Royal Philharmonic Sun, Feb 9, 7pm, ZH Orchestra Cal Performances invites pianist, composer, and UC Berkeley faculty member Myra Melford to Pinchas Zukerman, conductor and violin co-curate our jazz programming this season, introducing Bay Area audiences to innovative Sun, Jan 26, 3pm, ZH artists who, in her words, stand “at the leading edge of jazz and improvisational music today, BEETHOVEN Overture to Egmont diverse performers who blend composition and improvisation in exciting, original ways.” This MOZART Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, program features a pair of saxophone-piano duos K. 219, Turkish comprised of four New York artists at the height of their powers. The lean, incisive ensemble TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 interplay of saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and pianist Kris Davis combines improvisational Under the direction of the inimitable Pinchas prowess with intricate chamber-like composition. Zukerman, now in his 11th season as the And saxophonist Tim Berne and pianist Matt ensemble’s principal guest conductor, Britain’s Mitchell excel in jagged rhythmic inventions that Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is hailed for the showcase the players’ dazzling dexterity and polish and nuance of its performances. Zukerman in-the-moment agility. leads the orchestra in Beethoven’s regal Egmont Pre-performance talk at 6pm. Overture and Tchaikovsky’s dramatic and dynamic Fifth Symphony. He also lends his burnished Susan Graham, mezzo-soprano tone and commanding presence as a soloist to Malcolm Martineau, piano a signature work, Mozart’s radiant Fifth Violin Concerto. “[Zukerman] combined tenderness Sun, Feb 9, 3pm, HH (without sentimentality) with passion, his sweet tone lending aristocratic grace” (Bachtrack). PROGRAM TO INCLUDE SONGS BY GUSTAV MAHLER, REYNALDO HAHN, February JAKE HEGGIE, AND OTHERS. Jordi Savall with A true season highlight! Susan Graham’s recital La Capella Reial de Catalunya appearances are rare and precious events, since and Hespèrion XXI the mezzo-soprano is constantly traveling the globe to sing major roles in the world’s great Splendor of the Iberian Baroque opera houses. With longtime collaborator Malcolm Martineau, Graham serves up a sumptuous and Sat, Feb 1, 8pm, FCC intimate program of musical favorites, including timeless classics by Mahler, languid art songs by Gamba virtuoso and musical polymath Jordi French-Venezuelan composer Reynaldo Hahn, Savall returns with a program close to his heart— and poignant work by the brilliant American and his Catalan homeland—celebrating the rich composer Jake Heggie. “Her combination of cultural melting pot of the Iberian Peninsula of sophistication and sincerity, flexibility and secure the 16th and 17th centuries. Savall is joined core, is perfect” (The New York Times). by the Grammy-winning choir La Capella Patron Sponsors: Michael A. Harrison and Reial de Catalunya and his septet of virtuoso Susan Graham Harrison instrumentalists Hespèrion XXI for a spirited tour through the ornamented melodies and modal harmonies of the Arab-Andalusian tradition, plus dancing songs and romantic and pastoral themes woven together with colorful improvisation. “A group of musicians who show consummate mastery of their instruments and play in a sunny, lively style that is full of Iberian color” (Bachtrack). Pre-performance talk at 7pm. SUSAN GRAHAM 13

An Evening with KRONOS QUARTET Kronos Quartet MILOŠ and Friends A Thousand Thoughts The Voice of the Guitar A documentary with live music, written and directed by Sam Green Fri, Feb 21, 8pm, FCC and Joe Bini “Classical music’s guitar hero” (BBC Music Terry Riley, solo piano Magazine) makes his long-awaited return to Rebecca Solnit, panel moderator Berkeley with a dazzling program showcasing Panelists: Kronos members, centuries of six-string musical wizardry. The Sam Green, Terry Riley young Montenegrin plays virtuosic solo works by Thu, Feb 13, 8pm, ZH Bach, Granados, and de Falla and is joined by an An evening in two parts, celebrating Kronos ensemble of gifted collaborators for arrangements Quartet’s 45-year legacy and composer Terry of classical music by Rodrigo, Boccherini, and Riley’s 85th birthday. Sound, image, history, Piazzolla; popular standards from Brazil and storytelling, and the magic of live performance Mexico; and intimate renditions of songs by merge in Kronos’ collaboration with documentary Lennon and McCartney. “No other guitarist can filmmakers Sam Green and Joe Bini. Onscreen, match his graceful blend of personal charisma the quartet’s history at the vanguard of and technical finesse” (The Independent, London). contemporary music unfolds through stunning Patron Sponsors: Liz and Greg Lutz archival footage and interviews with luminaries like Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Tanya Tagaq, and Cirque Éloize Steve Reich. Onstage, Kronos revisits works from its vast and expansive catalog, performing music Hotel by George Crumb, Laurie Anderson, John Zorn, Aleksandra Vrebalov, and many others—while Sat, Feb 22, 2pm & 8pm Green narrates in real time. The evening also Sun, Feb 23, 3pm, ZH includes a special solo piano set by minimalism Enter the elegant and stylish Art Deco lobby of pioneer Terry Riley (Kronos’ great friend and Cirque Éloize’s newest show, Hotel, and you’ll collaborator) and a panel conversation with the meet a cast of captivating characters, from a artists and guest Rebecca Solnit. A Thousand juggling janitor and a hapless tightrope-walking Thoughts is “as magical an amalgamation as bellhop to a starlet flying through the air on anything you can imagine” (Los Angeles Times). a trapeze swing. Make your way to the front desk, which stretches across the entire stage; We Shall Overcome but be careful—there’s a gravity-defying hula hoop act to your right, and a guest spinning in A Celebration of Dr. Martin an enormous steel ring to your left! A pioneer Luther King Jr. of contemporary circus arts, “Cirque du Soleil’s featuring Damien Sneed hipper, sexier cousin” (The Stage, London) delivers uproarious comedy through a mix of Thu, Feb 20, 8pm, ZH acrobatics, aerial routines, and live music, in a Composer and pianist Damien Sneed’s stirring show about the unexpected encounters that fuel tribute to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther every memorable traveler’s tale. King Jr. celebrates a living lineage of African- American music and culture that ranges from gospel, spirituals, and classical music to jazz and Broadway. Sneed, who has collaborated with Wynton Marsalis, the Clark Sisters, Aretha Franklin, and Jessye Norman, is joined by five singers, the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, and a live band for a program packed with timeless songs by Aretha Franklin, Duke Ellington, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, and Nina Simone, as well as traditional spirituals that evoke the struggles and triumphs of the civil rights movement. The music is interwoven with excerpts of Dr. King’s recorded speeches. CIRQUE ÉLOIZE 14

DAMIEN SNEED calperformances.org/onsale WE SHALL OVERCOME

JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL THE ORIGIN OF LOVE TOUR calperformances.org/onsale

AKADEMIE FÜR ALTE MUSIK BERLIN Eco Ensemble Akademie für Alte Sat, Feb 29, 8pm, HH Musik Berlin UC Berkeley’s daring and accomplished ensemble-in-residence comprises contemporary Secrets of the Baroque music specialists from throughout the Bay Area, directed by new-music champion David Milnes. Sun, Feb 23, 3pm, HH Praised by the New York Times as a “dream team of local musicians who embody a high point in the VERACINI Overture No. 6 in G minor Bay Area’s vibrant contemporary music scene,” Eco Ensemble was founded in 2011 and in recent VAN WASSENAER Concerto Armonico seasons has performed works by Esa-Pekka No. 5 in F minor Salonen, Kaija Saariaho, and Martin Matalon, as well as chamber and electroacoustic works by C.P.E. BACH Oboe Concerto in B-flat major UC Berkeley faculty members Edmund Campion, Franck Bedrossian, and Cindy Cox. TELEMANN Sinfonia Melodica John Cameron Mitchell A. SCARLATTI Concerto Grosso No. 5 in D minor The Origin of Love Tour Featuring the songs of Hedwig VIVALDI Violin Concerto in D minor, by Stephen Trask Op. 4, No. 8 with special guest Amber Martin HANDEL Concerto Grosso in D minor, Sat, Feb 29, 8pm, ZH LGBTQ Night OUT Op. 3, No. 5 The Tony Award-winning co-creators of the groundbreaking, cult rock musical Hedwig and the Berlin’s esteemed early-music ensemble returns Angry Inch take the stage for an evening of songs with a treasure trove of Baroque gems. Many and stories. Stephen Trask wrote the music and of these works harbor some musical “secret,” lyrics, and John Cameron Mitchell created the title whether it’s Vivaldi’s sly flouting of convention role when the show premiered off-Broadway more in his D-minor Violin Concerto, or the discovery than 20 years ago, portraying the “internationally that the Concerto Armonico in F minor was ignored” East German transgender singer fronting actually composed by the Dutch nobleman van a struggling rock band. The program draws Wassenaer, and not Pergolesi as was assumed. in both “Hedheads” and newcomers alike, as Alessandro Scarlatti is best known for his religious Mitchell and Trask connect stories from their own and dramatic works, but his rarely performed lives to Hedwig’s search for self-awareness and concerti grossi reflect his sophisticated sense of acceptance. So as Hedwig herself would say, put harmony. Also featured are Telemann’s masterful on some makeup, turn up the eight-track, and Sinfonia Melodica and Handel’s mysterious pull the wig down from the shelf—for a night of Concerto Grosso in D minor. “The ensemble post-punk, neo-glam memoir-cabaret! is superb—it’s as much fun to watch these SF Bay Times is the media sponsor for performers listen to one another as it is to hear LGBTQ Night OUT. For more information and them play” (The Boston Globe). to RSVP, visit calperformances.org/nightout. Pre-performance talk at 2pm. David Pogue Thu, Feb 27, 8pm, ZH For full description, please see inside front cover. The Chieftains THE CHIEFTAINS The Irish Goodbye 17 Fri, Feb 28, 8pm, ZH The sweetest sounds this side of County Cork! Far and away “the world’s best-loved Irish folk band, both for their superb musicianship and their sense of adventure” (The Guardian, London), the Chieftains cap 57 years of music making with a tour for the ages. Beloved by fans for bringing the elegant simplicity and fiery virtuosity of Irish folk music into a dizzying array of musical contexts— including collaborations with Ry Cooder, Mick Jagger, Bon Iver, and traditional musicians from Mexico—the six-time Grammy winners are equally at home in a grand concert hall or an after-hours pub jam session. Don’t miss a chance to say goodbye to these folk music legends!

March Louis Lortie, piano JONATHAN BISS Sun, Mar 1, 3pm, HH Jonathan Biss, piano LISZT Années de pèlerinage The Complete Piano Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven A lifelong devotee of the music of Franz Liszt, the insightful and probing French-Canadian pianist For full description, please see p. 1. Louis Lortie visits with a rare treat—the full cycle of the composer’s brilliant set of three suites, Années SAT, MAR 7, 8PM, HH (CONCERT 6 OF 7) de pèlerinage. Lortie has said that he returns Piano Sonata No. 19 in G minor, Op. 49, No. 1 to this deeply Romantic work again and again Piano Sonata No. 16 in G major, Op. 31, No. 1 because it represents the stunning range of Liszt’s Piano Sonata No. 7 in D major, Op. 10, No. 3 virtuosity and his sweeping musical personality. Piano Sonata No. 2 in A major, Op. 2, No. 2 “Lortie played the nearly three-hour work with Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major, Op. 110 tireless elegance, precision and flexibility…. He brought thunder to Liszt’s explosions and SUN, MAR 8, 3PM, HH (CONCERT 7 OF 7) breathtaking delicacy to the filigree work at the top Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, Pathétique of the piano’s range” (The New York Times). Piano Sonata No. 22 in F major, Op. 54 Piano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a, The Joffrey Ballet Les adieux Fri–Sat, Mar 6–7, 8pm Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 1 Sun, Mar 8, 3pm, ZH Pre-performance talk Mar 8 at 2pm. LIAM SCARLETT Vespertine (music: Bjarte Eike, Laverne Cox Dowland, Corelli, Geminiani) (California Premiere) Thu, Mar 12, 8pm, ZH LGBTQ Night OUT For full description, please see inside front cover. STEPHANIE Bliss! (music: Stravinsky) SF Bay Times is the media sponsor for MARTINEZ LGBTQ Night OUT. For more information and (California Premiere) to RSVP, visit calperformances.org/nightout. NICOLAS BLANC Beyond the Shore Dorrance Dance (music: Mason Bates) (Bay Area Premiere, SOUNDspace Cal Performances Co-commission) Fri–Sat, Mar 13–14, 8pm Sun, Mar 15, 3pm, ZP JUSTIN PECK The Times Are Racing Thirteen tap dancers and one acoustic bass (music: Dan Deacon) player—it’s all you really need! Michelle Dorrance’s SOUNDspace strips tap dance down to its The incomparable Joffrey Ballet continues its most raw and thrilling basics—movement as five-year Berkeley residency, returning with a pure music. Without the trappings of ornate set recent piece by ballet master Nicolas Blanc that pieces or flashy costumes, the award-winning was developed on the Berkeley campus two choreographer and her expert company, along seasons ago; the California premieres of works with musician Gregory Richardson, explore by Liam Scarlett (inspired by Baroque music) the unique setting and acoustics of Zellerbach and Stephanie Martinez (set to Stravinsky’s Playhouse in a collective celebration of rhythm, Dumbarton Oaks Concerto); and a recent creation sound, and energy. “What’s most impressive is by Justin Peck (with music by Baltimore electronic how cohesive it is, how it maintains momentum music wizard Dan Deacon). Blanc has said of and holds your attention. Ms. Dorrance makes his lush work, “One of my goals was to integrate full use of tone, timbre, volume, tempo and, of all my sides and moods as a choreographer— course, rhythm, constructing patterns that lock to put the entire ‘me’ on the table.” Featuring an together thrillingly” (The New York Times). electronic score by Mason Bates, Blanc’s Beyond the Shore has been hailed as “a deep-sea dive… that reaches out and pulls us back with the tide” (Chicago Tribune). Pre-performance talk Mar 6 at 7pm. Major support provided by The Bernard Osher Foundation and by Patron Sponsors Gail and Dan Rubinfeld 18

THE JOFFREY BALLET calperformances.org/onsale

LES BALLETS TROCKADERO DE MONTE CARLO calperformances.org/onsale

Les Ballets Trockadero LAHAV SHANI de Monte Carlo Mnozil Brass Sat, Mar 14, 8pm LGBTQ Night OUT Sun, Mar 15, 3pm, ZH Cirque Jacques D’Aniels. Nadia Doumiafeyva. Nina Enimenimynimova. These legendary (faux!) stars Sat, Mar 21, 8pm, ZH of the ballet—along with their full company of “danseurs extraordinaires”—return to Berkeley Austria’s rollicking Mnozil Brass combines antics for more savagely funny satire married with with artistry in Cirque, its latest rowdy music- seriously stunning ballet. Statuesque, glamorous meets-slapstick mashup. Tongues planted firmly male dancers in the iconic, if fictional, roles of in cheeks and lips buzzing ferociously through an prima ballerinas, the Trocks made their Berkeley assortment of trumpets, trombones, and tubas, debut in 1976 and in the intervening decades the seven musicians play a mix of party songs, folk have helped bring gay culture and drag arts to music, jazz, pop, and classical arrangements— the American mainstream. Beloved by ballet creating an environment of controlled chaos where aficionados, their “comedy masterclass in style” music is mixed with skits, dance numbers, and (The Financial Times, London) is also sure to no small amount of horseplay. “The audience seduce the uninitiated—even those who don’t loved every minute...the inimitable combination know a plié from a fouetté. of superlative musicianship and anarchic comedy SF Bay Times is the media sponsor for seems out of control but is, in fact, tightly LGBTQ Night OUT. For more information and choreographed” (The West Australian). to RSVP, visit calperformances.org/nightout. Rotterdam Philharmonic The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6 Lahav Shani, conductor Nelson Freire, piano A Celebration of the Manhattan Transfer’s 45th Anniversary Sun, Mar 22, 3pm, ZH Fri, Mar 20, 8pm, ZH BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5, Emperor Ten voices strong and with 20 Grammy Awards between them, the dream-team combo of the BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra Manhattan Transfer and male gospel ensemble Take 6 promises an unforgettable evening of In a rare US appearance, Israeli Lahav Shani— crystal-clear harmonies, gospel grooves, lush chief conductor of the Netherlands’ grand melodies, and the uplifting experience of hearing Rotterdam Philharmonic and a protégé of Daniel extraordinary voices raised in song. Celebrating Barenboim—leads this storied ensemble in the Manhattan Transfer’s 45th anniversary, this two masterworks of the orchestral repertoire. rousing vocal extravaganza was the subject The kaleidoscopic Concerto for Orchestra is of a PBS special called The Summit. The two Bartók’s final and perhaps most beloved work; groups will sing separately and together—both and revered Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire joins a cappella and backed by a sleek live band—and the orchestra in Beethoven’s heroic Emperor then join forces for a thrilling “battle of the bands.” Concerto. “Few pianists alive convey the sheer Expect favorites like “Operator,” “Birdland,” joy and exhilaration of being masters of their craft “Boy From New York City,” and “Route 66,” plus more vividly and uncomplicatedly than Nelson music by Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder, tunes Freire” (The Guardian, London). from the Great American Songbook, and new Patron Sponsors: Nadine Tang and arrangements prepared specially for this tour. Bruce Smith Support for the presentation of Israeli THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER AND TAKE 6 artists provided by the Sir Jack Lyons Charitable Trust 21

Alvin Ailey ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER American Dance Theater Yamato: Robert Battle, artistic director The Drummers of Japan Masazumi Chaya, associate artistic director Tue–Fri, Mar 31–Apr 3, 8pm Passion Sat, Apr 4, 2pm & 8pm Sun, Apr 5, 3pm, ZH Tue, Apr 7, 8pm, ZH Now in its seventh decade, Alvin Ailey American Direct from Japan’s beautiful Nara Prefecture, Dance Theater stands tall as an enduring cultural this mesmerizing company visits with its newest touchstone, especially when it comes to work that production, a thrilling program that celebrates speaks directly to the times. With artistic director the unbridled passion and boundless energy of Robert Battle at the helm, the Ailey company has traditional Japanese drumming. With their spiky cultivated the best and brightest choreographers neon hairstyles and psychedelic punk-meets- working today—gifted artists exploring themes of samurai costumes, the youthful drummers hope, sorrow, joy, and resilience. Programs will perform with infectious spirit and masterful include classics from the Ailey repertoire and new coordination on massive drums built from ancient works that extend and honor the legacy of Ailey tree trunks. “A genuinely theatrical experience, himself, whose masterwork Revelations “becomes delivered with balletic grace and infectious humor” brighter, its brilliance more memorable, every year” (The Times, London). (The New York Times). Bollywood Boulevard April A Journey Through Hindi Spektral Quartet Cinema Live Sun, Apr 5, 3pm, HH Thu, Apr 9, 8pm, ZH Romance! Drama! Hit songs! Spectacular PHILIP GLASS String Quartet No. 2, Company dance routines! The lush visual spectacle and exuberance of Hindi cinema come to life onstage SCHUBERT String Quartet No. 13 in in this colorful theatrical tribute. With live music A minor, D. 804, Rosamunde from beloved scores by R.D. Burman and A.R. Rahman; choreography inspired by the dance SAMUEL ADAMS String Quartet No. 2, Current moves of superstars like Amitabh Bachchan (World Premiere, Cal and Priyanka Chopra; and romantic leads based Performances Co-commission) on classic heartthrobs like Raj Kapoor, this intoxicating, fully staged production takes us on The Spektral Quartet is on a roll. One of the most a journey from the birth of India’s famous film daring chamber groups on American stages, in industry to Bollywood’s present-day blockbusters. the past year alone, the ensemble recorded two “A spectacular display” (News India Times). Philip Glass quartets, played Schoenberg’s full quartet cycle, made its debut at the Library of Amir ElSaffar’s Congress, and was nominated for a Grammy Rivers of Sound Orchestra for its CD with jazz luminary Miguel Zenón. In Berkeley, Spektral plays the world premiere of Tue, Apr 14, 8pm, ZH a new electroacoustic work by Samuel Adams, Trumpet player and composer Amir ElSaffar has Schubert’s haunting Rosamunde Quartet, long explored the connections between Iraqi and Philip Glass’ Company Quartet, originally maqam and jazz improvisation in his expansive composed for a theatrical production of Samuel compositions. His gorgeous score was a Beckett’s 1979 novella of the same name. “They highlight of Ragamala Dance Company’s visit to have everything: a supreme technical command Cal Performances two seasons ago, and here that seems to come easily, a capacity to make he brings together 17 musicians from Middle complicated music clear, and…an ability to cast Eastern, South Asian, and Western jazz traditions a magic spell” (The New York Times). in a kaleidoscopic new program. ElSaffar’s layered, trancelike music combines microtonal SPEKTRAL QUARTET melodies floating over a richly textured bed of 22 strings and winds, and a bubbling, ever-shifting rhythmic backdrop. “A towering statement of purpose—wise to many traditions, even while it remains accessible to anyone” (Pitchfork).

BOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD A JOURNEY THROUGH HINDI CINEMA LIVE calperformances.org/onsale

SCOTT JOPLIN’S TREEMONISHA calperformances.org/onsale

TANZTHEATER WUPPERTAL PINA BAUSCH May Tanztheater Wuppertal The Tallis Scholars Pina Bausch The Field of the Cloth of Gold: Palermo Palermo Music of Jean Mouton and William Cornysh Fri–Sat, Apr 24–25, 8pm Sun, Apr 26, 3pm, ZH Fri, May 1, 8pm, FCC A towering wall crashes to rubble on the stage. In the 16th century, the retinues of King Henry Dancers make their way through the remains of VIII of England and King Francis I of France a crumbling city in stiletto high heels. Six pianists met on a field near Calais for a friendly show of hammer out Tchaikovsky on upright pianos mutual power, an extravagant display of food, while men and women exploit and are exploited. wine, wrestling, jousting, and of course, singing. In Palermo Palermo, the late Pina Bausch’s Rival choirs squared off, with the French led 1989 masterpiece, the acclaimed dance- by composer Jean Mouton and the English by theater pioneer observed—through a series of William Cornysh. The Tallis Scholars pay tribute to vignettes by turns somber and surreal—the daily this Renaissance “sing-off” in a program of works rituals of a people capable of both resonant by both composers, culminating in Cornysh’s beauty and chilling brutality. Bausch’s influential glorious Magnificat. “These a cappella meditations, Tanztheater Wuppertal, which first appeared interweaving plainchant and polyphony, sober at Cal Performances in the US premiere of her canon and rhythmic surprise, take the listener extraordinary Nur Du (Only You) in 1996, makes as near extraterrestrial as you can get sitting in a its highly anticipated return to Berkeley after an concert hall” (The Guardian, London). eight-year hiatus, and the company’s dancers Pre-performance talk at 7pm. are as convincing and committed as ever: “Every single one of them is magnificent, and Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha wonderfully alive” (Critical Dance). Major support provided by The Bernard Volcano Theatre Company with Osher Foundation the Moveable Beast Collective Weyni Mengesha, stage director Sat, May 2, 8pm Sun, May 3, 3pm, ZH In his masterwork Treemonisha, famed ragtime composer Scott Joplin created a story of black female empowerment that explored the aspirations of African Americans, telling the tale of an abandoned ex-slave girl who grows up to lead her community. The landmark work, written more than 100 years ago, never reached the stage during Joplin’s lifetime, but the Toronto- based Volcano Theatre Company is resurrecting the opera and bringing Joplin’s fictional African- American town in the post-Reconstruction South to vivid life in this reimagined and partially staged production. The company has enlisted Leah-Simone Bowen to create a new libretto honoring the politics of Joplin’s original, set to new orchestrations of the composer’s vibrant and eclectic score, in which he fuses classical and folk sounds with gospel and ragtime. Jad Abumrad Sat, May 9, 8pm, ZH For full description, please see inside front cover. THE TALLIS SCHOLARS 25

Enhance Your Experience Bring your heart and mind to a series of special events that empower you to engage with the creative processes of acclaimed international artists who are considering some of the most challenging issues of our time. Informal discussions, participatory workshops, and community forums provide compelling ways for you and fellow performing arts lovers to find personal meaning in the works presented on our stages. Join Us For These Free Public Events Visit calperformances.org/related-events for updates and newly announced events throughout the season. Mozart Listening Party with Mark Morris Sep 21, 5pm, ZH Mark Morris Dance Group, Mozart Dances Butoh Workshop and Discussion Oct 13, time TBA, Center for Art and Religion, Doug Adams Gallery (2465 LeConte Ave, Berkeley) Sankai Juku, Meguri: Teeming Sea, Tranquil Land Presented with the Graduate Theological Union and the Department of Theater, Dance and Performance Studies Thinking About Composition: Myra Melford’s Jazz Platform Oct 25, 3pm, Geballe Room, Stephens Hall With Nicole Mitchell and Josh Kun, co-creators of Spider Web Presented with the Department of Music and the Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities Improvisation Workshop: Myra Melford’s Jazz Platform Oct 27, 3:30pm, Morrison Hall With Myra Melford and Lisa Mezzacappa Berkeley Dances Revelations Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Apr 3, Hearst Gymnasium and Lower Sproul Plaza Company dancers lead morning workshops followed by the fifth annual community Revelations “flash mob” at UC Berkeley Also planned this season, extended campus and community residencies with the Joffrey Ballet (Mar 4–7), Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha (May 1–2), and more! Free for Ticketholders Catharsis Cafés Join fellow audience members in the Zellerbach Hall mezzanine lobby for informal post-performance discussions and light refreshments at these performances: Sep 28 Triptych (Eyes of One on Another) CIRQUE ÉLOIZE, HOTEL Oct 12–13 Sankai Juku, Meguri: Teeming Sea, Tranquil Land Feb 23 Cirque Éloize, Hotel Feb 29 John Cameron Mitchell, The Origin of Love Tour Apr 24–25 Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch, Palermo Palermo May 2–3 Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha Pre-performance Talks Ticketholders are also invited to 30-minute talks and interviews, beginning one hour before curtain, at select performances. Talks planned this season are included with individual performance listings in this brochure. calperformances.org/related-events

With Thanks Order Now! Cal Performances thanks the Online following foundations and corporations for their lead support calperformances.org/onsale of the 2019/20 Season. By Phone or In Person Foundation Support Call 510.642.9988 or visit the Ticket Office, THE ANDREW W. MELLON Tue–Fri, 12–5:30pm; and Sat & Sun, 1–5pm. FOUNDATION Holiday and university break hours may vary. Funding for large-scale artist residencies The Ticket Office is located at the northeast and Cal Performances’ suite of student corner of Zellerbach Hall on the life and learning programs—including UC Berkeley campus. innovative semester-long courses that bring together campus academic programs Subscribe and Save with Cal Performances’ programs and artists for unique student engagement Save up to 25% on a Choose-Your-Own opportunities—is provided by The Andrew subscription. Subscribers also receive advance W. Mellon Foundation. notice and save 10% on events added during KORET FOUNDATION the season. For a list of full subscriber benefits, Funding for K–12 education programs, visit calperformances.org/subscribe. new-audience development initiatives, and co-presentations with Stanford Live is Important Information provided by the Koret Foundation. WILLIAM AND FLORA HEWLETT Service Fees FOUNDATION, ANN AND GORDON GETTY FOUNDATION, and THE $14 per single-ticket order service fee (waived ZELLERBACH FAMILY FOUNDATION at the window) and $19 per subscription order General operating support is provided by (all ordering methods). these lead funders. Accessibility Corporate Support All venues are wheelchair accessible. When Season Sponsor ordering tickets online, please choose designated wheelchair locations for reserved- Zellerbach Hall’s state-of-the-art sound system seating performances. To request additional is generously provided by Meyer Sound. disability-related accommodations, including sign language interpreters, contact the Major support for public programs is Ticket Office at least two weeks in advance provided by Bank of America. of the performance to ensure best possible arrangements. Patrons using a TTY, please Design: Cuttriss & Hambleton contact us via California Relay Service by dialing 711 or 800.735.2929. Discounts Single-ticket discounts are available for UC Berkeley students, Alumni Association members, faculty, staff, seniors (65+), students, and groups of 10 or more. Some exclusions may apply. Full details at calperformances.org/buy/discounts. Refunds Programs and performers are subject to change without notice. Refunds are given only in the case of event cancellation. Service fees are not refundable. All ticket sales are final. Venue Key ZH Zellerbach Hall ZP Zellerbach Playhouse FCC First Congregational Church HH Hertz Hall

CalPerformancesmusic dance theater 2019/20 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 86 SEASON events ONN SOAWLE! Beginning August 6, 12pm. calperformances.org/onsale Season Sponsor: