Guest Artists

Julian Lage and Chris Eldridge explain music is not just simply playing notes

Julie Fowlis performed and discussed traditional Scottish music at workshops with students

“Heart-wrenching, hilarious…possibly one of the funniest plays you’ll ever see.” The Guardian You’re six years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. This sold-out hit of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is a new play about depression and the lengths we will go to for those we love. Based on true and untrue stories. Every Brilliant Thing is supported by Anne McMeehan and Jim Roberts and was developed with the support of nabokov and the Jersey Arts Trust. OFF THE MAP is generously supported by the BYU Mary Lou Fulton Endowment in Theatre and Media Arts. Approximately 60 minutes

As a major snowstorm descended on New York, opera star Renee Fleming boarded one of the last planes out and squeezed between two passengers to claim her economy class seat. Fleming almost always flies first class, so sacrificing comfort to beat the storm was an unusual move, but she was determined to keep a commitment in Utah. Fleming had agreed to perform as part of BYU’s BRAVO! series. In fact, renowned performers from all over the globe consistently write a stop at BYU’s Harris Fine Arts Center into their schedules. The series holds enough weight in the entertainment industry to catch agents’ attention and bring in some pretty big names, BRAVO! producer Jeffrey Martin said. But it wasn’t always this way. Read More

The Brigham Young University BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series presents an evening with The Branford Marsalis Quartet, in the Pardoe Theater on Thursday, Sept. 15, at 7:30 p.m. The Branford Marsalis Quartet will be joined by guest-vocalist Kurt Elling, also a Grammy award winner, who is among the world’s foremost jazz vocalists. In a singular collaboration of musical forces, the tight-knit band will feature Marsalis on saxophones, Joey Calderazzo on piano, Eric Revis on bass and Justin Faulkner on drums.

The Brigham Young University 2016-17 BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts Series opens Sept. 2 and 3, 7:30 p.m. with two special performance from Leslie Odom, Jr., Tony Award-winning star of the hit musical, Hamilton.

Legendary soul and R&B star Gladys Knight will perform as the featured guest during BYU’s Homecoming Spectacular! on Saturday, October 15. The live concert will be held in the Marriott Center, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., as part of BYU’s Homecoming Week celebrations. Knight will be joined by singers Peter Hollens and Lexi Mae Walker in two special 90-minute shows presented by the BYU Alumni Association and sponsored by Deseret First Credit Union and Liberty Mutual Insurance. READ MORE >>>>>>>>

Tony Award-winning actors, Grammy Award-winning musicians, and celebrated dancers and theatre-makers from ten different countries will come to Provo next season for an unparalleled program of world-class performances. From Broadway legends to chamber music masters and time-honored dance to thrilling circus–there are many treasures to discover during the new season of professional performing arts at BYU. Season ticket packages will be available for purchase beginning May 11 for renewals, and May 23 for new orders. Tickets for individual events will go on sale approximately four to six weeks before the performance date. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office (Harris Fine Arts Center and Marriott Center), by calling 801.422.4322, or online at byuarts.com. The BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts at BYU 2016-17 schedule: BROADWAY: NOW With two Tony Awards and an additional five nominations among them, this roster of talent represents some of the most beloved and active musical theatre stars and creators to be found on the Great White Way. Kristin Chenoweth Friday—Saturday, Sept. 2—3, 7:30 PM de Jong Concert Hall The Emmy and Tony Award†winning actress and singer takes the lead in a spectacular career effortlessly spanning film, television, and stage. In her live concert, the acclaimed star presents an evening of songs from her iconic roles in shows like Wicked, Glee and On the Twentieth Century–as well as popular standards and classics from Broadway, Hollywood and beyond. An Evening with Lucy Simon with special guest Anthony Warlow Thursday, Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall The Grammy Award winner and Tony†nominated composer of the musicals The Secret Garden and Doctor Zhivago sits down for an intimate discussion of her acclaimed songwriting career and her life on stage, intermingled with live performances of her most beloved songs. Broadway vocalists to be announced. Frank Wildhorn and Friends Friday, March 17, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall The Tony Award†nominated composer (The Count of Monte Cristo, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jekyll & Hyde) and pop music songwriter returns to BYU with a live band and professional soloists for a journey through his celebrated catalog of hits and show tunes. Broadway vocalists to be announced. Lea Solonga with BYU Chamber Orchestra Kory Katseanes, conductor Tuesday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall The Tony Award-winning Broadway star (Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, Allegiance), celebrity TV coach of The Voice (Philippines), and Disney princess (Aladdin, Mulan) makes a much†anticipated return to Provo for a grand night of standards and show tunes in concert with the 35†piece BYU Chamber Orchestra. CLASSICS Timeless classical music shines brightly at the hands–and voice–of some of the greatest concert artists of our day. Joyce Didonato and Brentano String Quartet Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall The Grammy Award†winning mezzo†soprano, celebrated for her “glamour, charisma, intelligence, grace, and remarkable talent” (New York Times), takes to the stage with the Yale School of Music’s esteemed quartet†in†residence for a program of familiar and contemporary classical treasures. Utah Symphony Thursday, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall For the explorer in each of us, the Utah Symphony, conducted by Thierry Fischer, transports us to another time and place with their performance of Dvorak’s “New World” Symphony, featuring what many consider to be one of the most beautiful melodies in all of classical music. Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet Friday, Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. Madsen Recital Hall Founded in 1988, this quintet continues to astonish audiences worldwide with its range of expression, tonal spectrum and conceptual unity. The ensemble has succeeded in virtually redefining the sound of the classic wind quintet. Program highlights include works Gyorgy Ligeti’s “Six Bagatelles,” Franz Hanzi’s “Quintet in F†Major” and Paul Hindemith’s “Kleine Kammermusik.” Philharmonia Quartett Berlin Saturday, March 11, 8:00 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall Founded in 1984 by the principal concertmaster and string section leaders of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, this ensemble has established itself as one of the world’s premier string quartets with its extensive history of international concerts and large and diverse discography. Highlights of the group’s BYU recital include performances of celebrated string quartets by Mozart, Shostakovich and Beethoven. BAROQUE RE/VISITED Starring the music of Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, this trio of performances explores some of the most beautifully textured classical masterworks from the Baroque music canon. Matt Haimovitz: “The Bach Suites: A Moveable Feast” Thursday, Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. Madsen Recital Hall Some of the most moving and spiritual compositions for a solo instrument in history, Bach’s Suites for Unaccompanied Cello (1717†1723) take on new life in a program offering a brilliant musical variation on the concept of A Moveable Feast. The acclaimed Israeli†American cellist combines each of Bach’s beloved works with newly†commissioned suites by Philip Glass, Du Yun, Vijay Iyer and others. Tenebrae: Handel’s Messiah Nov. 10-11, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall Celebrated for its passion and precision, this London†based chamber choir returns, with soloists, for an intimate staging of George Frideric Handel’s timeless and glorious oratorio honoring the life and mission of Jesus Christ. Former King’s Singer Nigel Short conducts the performance, which also includes the BYU School of Music’s Baroque Ensemble, University Singers and Concert Choir. Venice Baroque Orchestra Wednesday, Mar. 1, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall Since its establishment in 1997, this acclaimed orchestra has become recognized as one of the very finest period instrument ensembles in the world and has appeared in more U.S. cities than any other Baroque orchestra in history. Acclaimed Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti joins the ensemble for a dynamic performance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece, The Four Seasons. MUSIC + MOTION This eclectic mix of jazz, world music, dance, and circus captures the variety and fun of the sounds and stories of today’s global community. Branford Marsalis Quartet with Special Guest Kurt Elling Thursday, Sept. 15, 7:30 p.m. Pardoe Theatre A collaboration between jazz’s most intense band and one of the genre’s foremost singers should prove to be anything but standard in this special line-up that looks beyond the Great American Songbook and enables the band to perform a variety of material in new and exciting ways. Anda Union Thursday, Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall A thoroughly addictive combination of musical styles reflects the diverse roots of this group hailing from the ethnic nomadic cultures of Inner Mongolia. Combining throat singing and long song with a wide range of musical instruments, Anda Union brings the region’s old and forgotten music to life as never before. Selected Shorts Friday, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall Public radio’s beloved program, one of the premier reading series in America, comes to Provo! One theme, three actors, and a variety of short stories (sometimes classic, sometimes new, always interesting) by today’s most exciting contemporary fiction writers take center stage in this dynamic storytelling performance. Stories and actors to be announced. David Archuleta and Nathan Pacheo Friday-Saturday, Nov. 25-26, 7:30 p.m. de Jong Concert Hall Make the season bright with a joyful mix of Christmas classics and popular hits when this hometown pop star and classically trained tenor share the stage for a very special concert to get the holiday season started. Noam Pikelny Wednesday, Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m. Madsen Recital Hall Noam Pikelny has emerged as the preeminent banjoist of his generation, and the greatest color†blind banjoist of all†time. Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as the “pros’ top banjo picker,” Noam is a founding member of Punch Brothers, a string ensemble which the Boston Globe calls “a virtuosic revelation” and the New Yorker describes as “wide†ranging and restlessly imaginative.” LimÁ³n Dance Company Friday, Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. Pardoe Theatre Founded in 1946 by José LimÁ³n and Doris Humphrey, the LimÁ³n Dance Company has been at the vanguard of American modern dance since its inception and is considered one of the world’s greatest ensembles. The company’s repertory is unparalleled in its breadth and includes classic works along with new commissions from contemporary choreographers. OFF THE MAP BYU’s fourth-annual international theatre festival welcomes a single company with two productions—one a returning favorite, the other a Utah premiere—for a unique double-bill of innovative theatrical storytelling from the land Down Under. The Last Great Hunt: “It’s Dark Outside” Tuesday, Jan. 17, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday—Saturday, Jan. 18—21, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2:30 p.m. Pardoe Theatre Puppetry, mask, animation and live performance merge seamlessly in this epic western about an old man and his noble tent who go wandering together into the wild. Inspired by experiences and research into Alzheimer’s and Sundowner’s Syndrome, the play is a heartfelt, fearless, and inventive voyage about aging, getting lost and trying not to be found. The Last Great Hunt: “The Adventures Of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer” Wednesday—Saturday, Jan. 18—21, 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20, 10 a.m. (school matinee) Saturday, Jan. 21, 1 p.m. Nelke Theatre Encore engagement! This multi award†winning one†man micro†epic puppet show melds technology and multimedia into a touching story of enduring love and the end of the world. Created by Tim Watts, this solo performance employs a unique blend of live animation, mime, puppetry, live and recorded music to present an exploration of the next and oldest frontier: the deep blue sea. Cirk La Puyka: “Slapstick Sonata” Wednesday, March 22, 7:30p.m. de Jong Concert Hall With a multi†talented cast of dancers, actors, mimes, and comedians, Prague†based Cirk La Putyka is one of Europe’s most pioneering physical theatre companies. Set to the music of Mozart, Handel, Shostakovich and others, Slapstick Sonata is an absurd yet poetic theater piece without text or words. Visual poetry meets physical comedy with a dash of contemporary circus in this glorious explosion of color, humor, movement and silliness.

Last September, the BYU Men’s Chorus invited YouTube sensation, Alex Boyé, to join them in a new music video of Baba Yetu, a choral, Swahili version of the Lord’s Prayer. That new video has now reached more than 100,000 views in less than a week. BYU Sound Engineer Jeff Carter recorded and mixed a new version of this popular song from the Men’s Chorus repertoire to include the BYU Philharmonic conducted by Kory Katseanes and features Alex Boyé, a former member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir who rose to fame with his 'Africanized' version of well-known pop songs. 'As this is an African version of the Lord’s Prayer, we thought of Alex Boyé and his 'Africianized' songs, so we invited him to be a soloist and he was perfect,' said Benjamin Jacob, president of the BYU Men's Chorus. 'He brought his own style to the piece–just a great combination of Men’s Chorus and Alex Boyé.' Read more and see the video >>>>>>>>>>

The Brigham Young University BRAVO! series presents the National Dance Company of Siberia, in the de Jong Concert Hall, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 - $30, with discounts available for alumni, students, employees and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981, or online at byuarts.com. Hailing from Krasnoyarsk, Russia, the National Dance Company of Siberia has enthralled audiences worldwide since 1960. Coordinating more than fifty dancers in striking costumes, the artistic director, Vladmir Moisevev, leads the company as they exhibit the rich traditions and folklore of Siberia. Their performances captures the heart of the Siberian soul with original melodies from Vladimir Kornev, the company’s music director, and choreography by the company’s founder, Mikhail Godenko. 'Our community stands uniquely prepared to appreciate the talents of this company of dancers because we value cultural exploration and discovery,' said Jeffrey Martin, producer of performing arts for the College of Fine Arts and Communications and presenter of the BRAVO! series. 'Many of us learn foreign languages, participate in international study abroad programs, and, of course, spend time overseas in missionary service.' This performance is sponsored by BRAVO! Professional Performing Arts at BYU, the university’s concert series that hosts world-renowned guest artists from across the globe. Performance Date: Thurs, Oct. 1, 2015 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: de Jong Concert Hall, Harris Fine Arts Center, BYU Price: $20 (with discounts for senior citizens, BYU students, employees and alumni) Tickets: Available in person at the BYU Ticket Office in the Harris Fine Arts Center or Marriott Center, by phone at 801-422-2981 or online at byuarts.com

The Classical Greek Theater Festival of Westminster College will perform Sophocles’ tragic masterpiece, Electra as part of their 2015 tour in the de Jong Concert Hall on Sep. 21 at 5:00pm.Tickets are $11, with discounts available for alumni, seniors and students.

Three leading female soloists across three different fields of music – Renee Fleming, Kelli O’Hara and Nnenna Freelon – will headline the BYU Bravo! 2015-16 Performing Arts series.

Theatre-makers, dancers and musicians from across the globe will come to Brigham Young University next season as the BRAVO! series launches a new lineup featuring a dynamic roster of celebrated guest artists including Renée Fleming, The Kings Singers, Chris Thile and the National Dance Company of Siberia, showcasing an eclectic mix of work from across the world. From Broadway to Vienna, the 2015-16 season welcomes to campus one of the most exciting groups of dancers, theatre performers and musicians in recent history. Jeffrey Martin, BRAVO! series producer, looks forward welcoming the guest artists to campus. “We work to present a diverse lineup of performances not only to enhance our own lives but also to expose our students and community to those artists currently functioning at the very highest levels of the performing arts today,” said Martin. “We are geographically isolated from some of the nation’s cultural centers, but we make it a priority for our patrons to be able to experience world-class performances right here at home.” Most performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Individual tickets will be available in person at the BYU Ticket Office (Harris Fine Arts Center and Marriot Center) by calling 801.422.4322 or online at byuarts.com/tickets. Season ticket packages will be available for purchase beginning May 11 for renewals and June 1 for new orders. View the 2015-16 Schedule For more information, contact Jeff Martin, 801.422.6340 or visit byuarts.com.

Celebrated Utah fantasy artist James C. Christensen will take center stage at the Marriott Center during BYU Spectacular on October 16-17, at 7:30 p.m., and one of the fanciful creations that first made him famous more than 30 years ago will join him. Tickets are on sale now for the event (BYUTickets.com), which will also feature eight BYU performing groups and is part of the university’s annual Homecoming week activities.

Photo by Michael G. Handley. BYU Arts, the umbrella organization in the BYU College of Fine Arts and Communications that produces and presents live performances, finished its 2013-2014 season on June 14 with final showings of The Selfish Giant, a play featuring extensive puppetry work, and The Elixir of Love, an Italian opera. The total number of individual music, theatre and dance performances presented during the season numbered more than 460. Each year, BYU Arts makes hundreds of performances available to BYU and local audiences. These include shows put on by students and staff, as well as visiting professionals. Jeffrey Martin, producer of the BRAVO! guest artist series, said the performances from this last season wouldn’t be possible without collaborative efforts by those on stage and behind the scenes. “Everyone works so hard. The choirs and orchestras rehearse multiple times each week, students involved in theatre, dance or opera performances rehearse all semester, but people don’t usually hear about that,” Martin said. “It really does take a lot of people and resources to put these programs together. We couldn’t do it without everybody’s support and participation.” Students performed in several notable productions, including BYU Theatre Ballet’s full-length production of Swan Lake, the Department of Theatre and Media Arts’ new staging of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, and the BYU Philharmonic’s concert with acclaimed guest pianist Marc-André Hamelin. In addition to the student performances, BRAVO! brought more than a dozen professional artists to campus to perform and instruct students. Audiences enjoyed shows by Broadway performer Audra McDonald, Grammy-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn, and TV and filmstar John Lithgow. OFF THE MAP: BYU International Theatre Festivalalso made its debut, receiving extremely positive reviews from attendees. Martin mentioned how visiting performers prove to be invaluable in their contributions to the lives of CFAC students. “We want our students to interact with professionals who are at the highest level in their careers right now,” Martin said. “I want our students to experience them live in performance and in workshops, so they can ask questions, get to know them and be inspired to do great work themselves.” Martin shared how the arts and the gospel are intertwined with BYU’s aims and mission. “It’s the fundamental beliefs of how to create art that inspires and brings light to the world,” Martin said. “We hope that is always reflected in our performances themselves. We’re constantly looking at how we can train our students to be the very best in their disciplines, but bring the light of the gospel into their work.” As the Franklin S. Harris Fine Arts Center celebrates its 50th anniversary next season,BYU Arts programming will help celebrate BYU accomplishments in the arts. “We’ll have special performances, exhibitions and lectures all throughout the year, focusing on the legacy of those who got us here and how we’re going to move forward in the future,” Martin said. “I think this new season will provide even more artistic development in our students than the last.”

Will inaugurate the school’s new Fazioli F308 grand piano The Brigham Young University School of Music will present the Philharmonic Orchestra with guest pianist Marc-André Hamelin Thursday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall. Tickets are $13 for the public, $1 off for alumni and senior citizens and $5 off for students. Tickets can be purchased through the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-2981 or at byuarts.com/tickets. The program will feature a special concert performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 to inaugurate the school’s new Fazioli F308 grand piano. A 10-foot-2-inch concert grand piano, the Fazioli F308 is the crown jewel of Fazioli’s pianoforti. Its immense power and extraordinary harmonic richness derive from an increased string length in the bass section. A fourth foot pedal, invented by Fazioli, allows the artist to reduce volume without modifying timbre. The orchestra will also perform Matthew Webb’s “Cornerwise” and Bela Bartok’s “Dance Suite.” The Philharmonic Orchestra, directed by Kory Katseanes, plays compositions from all musical periods, focusing on the romantic period but also including 20th- and 21st-century music. Nearly 100 of the university's finest musicians bring these great symphonic works to life. In addition to the orchestra, Hamelin’s unique blend of musicianship and virtuosity brings forth interpretations remarkable for their freedom, originality and prodigious mastery of the piano’s resources. A musician of broad musical interests and curiosity, Hamelin is renowned in equal measure for his fresh readings of the established repertoire and for his exploration of lesser-known works of the 19th and 20th centuries, both in the recording studio and in the concert hall. For more information, contact Kenneth Crossley, (801) 422-9348, ken_crossley@byu.edu. Source: BYU News

Guest performers Trio Southwest will perform a free recital at Brigham Young University Thursday, Feb. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at the Madsen Recital Hall.

Guest artist Johannes Moser will perform a cello recital at Brigham Young University Friday, Jan. 31, at 5 p.m. at the Madsen Recital Hall. Moser will also present a master class Thursday, Jan. 30, at the Madsen Recital Hall. Both events are free and the public is welcome to attend. The recital will include Bach’s Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007, Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 and Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009. Praised for his rich, gorgeous tone and playing that can range from lovely and elegant, to vigorous with head-banging, rock star energy, German-Canadian cellist Johannes Moser has been hailed by Gramophone Magazine as “one of the finest among the astonishing gallery of young virtuoso cellists.” Moser has performed with the world’s leading orchestras such as the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, London Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Munich philharmonic, Tokyo Symphony and Israel Philharmonic. He works regularly with conductors of the highest level including Riccardo Muti, Christian Thielemann, Pierre Boulez, Paavo Jarvi and Semyon Bychkov. For more information about this recital, contact Ken Crossley at (801) 422-9348 or ken_crossley@byu.edu. For more information about Johannes Moser, visit www.johannes-moser.com. Source: BYU News