Arts and Culture at Wake Forest University
This program brings performing artists of national and international reputation to the campus of Wake Forest and to the surrounding community. Considered as education and entertainment of the highest quality, such celebrated performers as Itzhak Perlman, Christopher Parkening, Ravi Shankar, Denyce Graves, and the National Symphony with Leonard Slatkin have appeared on the Secrest Series. Each event is free to Wake Forest students, faculty and staff.
Tuesday, October 13
Reynolds Auditorium, Reynolds High School
After working with artists from all over the Latino world, Luna Negra Dance Theater Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro returns to his roots for the company’s 10th Anniversary season with a new work called Danzón. The influence of Danzón (the official dance of Cuba) can be heard in virtually all Cuban music genres. In Danzón, Luna Negra joins the bold and ingenious Turtle Island Quartet, and legendary composer and performer Paquito D’Rivera. Turtle Island and Mr. D’Rivera have collectively won eleven Grammy Awards.
Danzón is a commission of the University of Notre Dame’s DeBartolo Performing Arts Center and the Music Center at Strathmore. In this partnership with “the Turtles” and D’Rivera, Vilaro is taking this traditional and quintessentially Cuban dance form and reinventing and reinvigorating it as a modern work of art. In doing so, he is both introducing mainstream American audiences to a thriving Latino tradition and creating a milestone moment in the continuity of Latino artistic expression.
This event is in collaboration with the Arts Magnet program of Reynolds High School and the Cuba Project Collective of the Department of Romance Languages at WFU. An all-school performance for students at Reynolds, followed by workshops and classes with the artists, will precede the public performance. At Wake Forest, the art exhibit, Cuban Artists’ Books and Prints, will be on view in the Charlotte and Philip Hanes Art Gallery until October 6.
For more information, call (336) 758-5757.
Added October 9th
Angela Hewitt is one of the world’s premiere pianists. She has fixed her position at the top with her 2005 completion of an eleven-year project to record all major keyboard works of Bach. This project, praised as, “one of the record glories of our age”(The Sunday Times), has earned her the title of “the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time”(The Guardian) and, “nothing less than the pianist who will define Bach performance on the piano for years to come” (Stereophile). She states, “When I was a kid, I dreamt of being in a musical because I loved to sing and dance. Perhaps that’s why I’m so preoccupied with making the piano do the same. Music is mostly song and dance anyway.”For her mesmerizing technique and lyricism, Angela Hewitt was named Gramophone Artist of the Year in 2006.
Angela Hewitt will perform on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall. For tickets and information call (336) 758-5757.
Added September 12th
January 14, 2010
7:30 PM
Wait Chapel
Contact: lillian shelton
336-758-5101
Secrest Artists Series presents Nathan Gunn.
Nathan Gunn's dashing good looks and"velvet-voiced"baritone (in New York Magazine) have made him one of the nation's most in-demand opera singers.
Mr. Gunn has earned critical praise for his many roles including the title roles in Billy Budd and Hamlet, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Ottone in L'incoronazione di Poppea. Additionally, Mr. Gunn created the role of Clyde Griffiths in the world premiere of An American Tragedy, a new opera by Tobias Picker at the Metropolitan Opera.
Mr. Gunn's recent first solo album,"Just Before Sunrise,"showcases his ability as a contemporary pop singer as well. Mr. Gunn is also a notable concert performer. He most recently appeared at the Metropolitan Opera as the comic bird-catcher Papageno in The Magic Flute (2007/08) and Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette (2008/09). He will reprise the Papageno role next season.
March 4, 2010
7:30 PM
Wait Chapel
Contact: lillian shelton
336-758-5101
Secrest Artists Series presents Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
As cultural ambassadors both at home and abroad, Ladysmith Black Mambazo represents the customs of their native South Africa through traditional music called Isicathamiya.
Over twenty years ago, Paul Simon collaborated with the group to produce the"Graceland"album, hailed by many critics as shaping the surge of interest in world music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang at Queen Elizabeth II's 50th Anniversary as Monarch, joining Eric Clapton, Sir Paul McCartney, and several other prominent singers. Ladysmith also appeared at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony of 1993, on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Garnering several Grammy awards over the past two decades (most recently one in 2009 for Best Traditional World Music CD), Ladysmith Black Mambazo is cherished by audiences worldwide for their rich vocalizations, authentic world-music, and"celebration of the human spirit"(Boston Herald).
Brendle Recital Hall, Scales
Reynolds Auditorium, RJ Reynolds High School
Wait Chapel
November 10, 2009
7:30 PM
Contact: lillian shelton
336-758-5101
Secrest Artitsts Series presents Bruckner Orchester Linz with Dennis Russell Davies, conductor.
The Bruckner Orchester has a rich history of over 200 years of excellence. In the more recent past, it has risen to prominence as a leading orchestra in Central Europe. The Orchestra's 110 musicians are dedicated to"reflecting tradition and the present equally"as a"key task of any orchestra that plays an important role in the cultural life of our times."
The Bruckner Orchester has made a name for itself over the decades with its recordings of works by Mozart, Schubert, Matthus, Schmidt, Korngold, Holst, and all of Bruckner's symphonies in their original version.
The orchestra's intentionality and purpose impacts the culturally relevant works they choose for performance; their program for Wake Forest will include works by Philip Glass and Leonard Bernstein.
David Levy, Wake Forest professor of music and Beethoven scholar, will give a pre-performance talk at 6:40 p.m. in the Balcony Room of Wait Chapel.
October 13, 2009
7:30 PM
Contact: lillian shelton
336-758-5101
Secrest Artists Series presents Luna Negra Dance Theatre w/ Turtle Island String Quartet&Paquito D'Rivera
"The ensemble choreography was breathtaking, with one sweeping, daredevil movement after another"Cleveland Plain Dealer.
After working with artists from all over the Latino world, Luna Negra Dance Theater Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro returns to his roots for the company's 10th Anniversary season with a new work called Danzon. The influence of Danzan (the official dance of Cuba) can be heard in virtually all Cuban music genres. In Danzon, Luna Negra joins the bold and ingenious Turtle Island Quartet, and legendary composer and performer Paquito D'Rivera.
This event is in collaboration with the Arts Magnet program of Reynolds High School and the Cuba Project Collective of the Department of Romance Languages.
http://www.lunanegra.org
http://www.turleislandquartet.com
September 17, 2009
7:30 PM
Contact: lillian shelton
336-758-5101
Secrest Artists Series presents Angela Hewitt, pianist
Angela Hewitt is one of the world's premiere pianists. She has fixed her position at the top with her 2005 completion of an eleven-year project to record all major keyboard works of Bach. This project, praised as"one of the record glories of our age"(The Sunday Times), has earned her the title of"the pre-eminent Bach pianist of our time"(The Guardian) and"nothing less than the pianist who will define Bach performance on the piano for years to come"(Stereophile).
She states,"When I was a kid, I dreamt of being in a musical because I loved to sing and dance. Perhaps that's why I'm so preoccupied with making the piano do the same. Music is mostly song and dance anyway."
For her mesmerizing technique and lyricism, Angela Hewitt was named Gramophone Artist of the Year in 2006.