International Artistry Inspires the Green Center's 2016-17 Season; Tickets On Sale Now

August 15, 2016

The opening concert at DePauw University’s Green Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, Aug. 26, by Ukrainian-born faculty pianist Tony Weinstein and his sister, mezzo soprano Yana Weinstein, will introduce a colorful thematic thread of music without borders that will weave throughout the 2016-17 season. Audiences will be encouraged to inspire their inner explorer this year with boundary-breaking repertoire by Kronos Quartet, the limitless possibilities of Japanese taiko drumming by the Kodo ensemble, and spirit-lifting music of South Africa by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to highlight just a few of the artists to be experienced at the Center this season.

Individual ticket sales to all events will begin at midnight on Aug. 15. The popular All-Access Season Passes will again be offered, and as regular concertgoers can attest, the laminated pass is now more convenient than ever: it’s renewable! Available for only a limited time through Sept. 10, last year’s passes can be renewed at the bargain price of $75 per person or two for $100; new passes may be purchased for $85 or $120 for two. Passes for seniors over 65 continue to be free. Just swipe the plastic pass at the door and never stand in line at the box office or pre-print a paper ticket again. To obtain passes, visit music.depauw.edu.

Opening the Green Guest Artist Concert Series with a world premiere performance on Saturday, Sept. 10, offered in conjunction with DePauw’s 21CMposium (Sept. 9–11), will be the incomparable Kronos Quartet (pictured at left). For more than 40 years and with over 50 recordings to their credit, these celebrated musicians have combined a spirit of fearless exploration with a courageous commitment to reimagining the string quartet.

On Oct. 9, the renowned Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra returns to the GCPA with Deutsche Grammophon recording artist and three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist Hilary Hahn, whose gregarious personality reaches out to students, new listeners and anyone with a love for music and the arts. This all-Prokofiev program, conducted by ISO’s internationally applauded music director Krzysztof Urbański, features Hahn on the ravishing Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major.

Mezzo soprano sensation Laurie Rubin will partner with opera legend Frederica von Stade to perform an evening of arias and duets on Nov. 19. Recognized as one of the world’s most beloved musicians, von Stade has enriched the realm of classical music for more than three decades. Rubin is much admired not only for her interpretations of new works by 21st-century composers, but also as author of Do You Dream in Color? Insights from a Girl Without Sight.

According to the Chicago Tribune, “superlatives don’t really exist to convey the primal power and bravura beauty of Kodo,” which travels to Greencastle on Feb. 24 from Sado Island, off the coast of Japan. A rare combination of supreme artistry, seamless choreography and physical endurance, the ensemble will explore the creative possibilities of Japanese taiko drumming. Since its debut at the Berlin Festival in 1981, Kodo has given over 5,800 performances in 48 countries on five continents. Allow yourself to be immersed in this 2,000-year old tradition — as old as Japan itself and as much a form of pure, physical athleticism as it is musical entertainment. This mesmerizing performance will be presented through support from DePauw University’s Asian Studies Program.

Fans familiar with the a cappella ensemble Ladysmith Black Mambazo, first made famous by recordings with American songwriter Paul Simon (remember “Homeless” and “Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes” from his Graceland album?), will be rewarded with a glorious, spirit-lifting celebration on March 5, when this four-time Grammy Award-winner brings the joyous music of South Africa to the Green Center stage -- spreading their message of peace, love and harmony, along with a promise to carry forward founder Joseph Shabalala’s dream to “keep South Africa alive in people’s hearts” for years to come. “It isn’t merely the grace and power of their dancing or the beauty of their singing that rivets the attention,” says Simon, “but the sheer joy and love that emanates from their being.”

Returning to DePauw for a second season as artists-in-residence will be the New York City-based chamber ensemble Decoda, which will open its residency and the 21CMposium with a Friday night concert on Sept. 9. These passionate arts advocates, known for innovative performances and projects designed to engage audiences and artists alike, will be at DePauw for two residencies this fall: Sept. 9–10 and Nov. 18–21, including a special side-by-side Thanksgiving week concert with the DePauw University Orchestra on Nov. 21. For up-to-the-moment details on Decoda’s activities, check the School of Music’s online event calendar as these dates approach.

All Green Guest Artists events, along with the Faculty Artist Series -- plus the DePauw Interdisciplinary Festival, Holiday Gala (Dec. 3–4), Opera at DePauw (Feb. 9–12), Music of the 21st Century (Feb. 27–March 3), and all School of Music ensemble concerts -- are included in the convenient, affordable all-access season pass.

Individual ticket options will also be available for sale, beginning today, at the following prices: Green Guest Artist Series concerts: $15 in advance/$20 day of the event; Faculty Select Series: $10; School of Music Ensembles: $5; Annual Holiday Gala: $10; Opera at DePauw: $10; and Music of the 21st Century: $10 for a five-day festival pass.

Tickets for all area students, seniors over 65, and youth, 12 years and younger, are free once again, thanks to season sponsors Judson and Joyce Green. To ensure that any person wishing to attend a performance is able to do so, a pay-what-you-can option is available, both online and on request.

For additional concert details, assistance with ordering passes or purchasing individual tickets, visit music.depauw.edu, or call the Green Center, (765) 658-4380. Audience members are encouraged to obtain passes or tickets in advance to ensure adequate seating.

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