Jeremy Denk: Pianist, Writer, Pedaler

by Shawn Werner

Concert Series Coordinator

Pianist Jeremy Denk will be gracing us with his presence at the Wisconsin Union Theater on April 21st, with a fantastic concert program consisting of Ives’ first piano sonata and Bach’s virtuosic and incredibly demanding Goldberg Variations – and yes, he will be playing the whole piece!  And so, his repertoire reflects amazingly diverse works, ranging from 18th century to 21st century music.

Denk regularly premiers works around the world. Many contemporary composers tend to request him because of just how accomplished he is as a musician. According to his website, he has premiered works by Leon Kirchner, Ned Rorem, Jake Heggie, Mark O’Connor and Edgar Meyer.  He is a big deal!  In addition to being a solo performer (appearing with the top orchestras here in the US and around the world), he also is a chamber musician, performing with several chamber ensembles.  But, in addition to being an exceptionally talented and accomplished pianist, Denk is also a writer.

He keeps up a blog, called “Think Denk,” in which he discusses musical and nonmusical subjects, often pertaining to nothing in particular.  For example, one of his blogs discusses Ligeti’s piano etudes, and another discusses how he and his brother used to blast Christmas music at full volume on Christmas day to wake up their parents.  Noted author and music critic Alex Ross described Denk as “one of the most interesting writers [he] knows”.          

If being a writer isn’t enough, Denk also does residency work while on tour!  He offers classes, master classes, and forums ranging from teaching and demonstrating how to pedal while playing Chopin’s music (which he actually will be doing here in Madison in addition to giving a master class and a performance), to learning how to write about music.  With having so many things to offer, it isn’t too far from the truth when I say that he can do anything.  He is the real deal!

Jeremy Denk’s Residency will include:

MAPTA Master Class with Jeremy Denk
Wednesday: April 20, 2011
12:00pm-2:00pm
Location: Wisconsin Union Theater. Free and open to the public

Traditional individual master class sessions with five students from the Madison Area Piano Teachers Association. 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------

Guest Lecture: Jeremy Denk
Not Just Anything: Pedaling and Meaning with Chopin
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
3:30pm-4:30pm
Location: University of WI-Madison School of Music; Morphy Hall, Humanities Building. Free and open to the public
--------------------------------------------------------------

Blogging and Classical Music
A Panel Discussion with Jeremy Denk and Jacob Stockinger
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
5:30pm-6:30pm
Location: Wisconsin Memorial Union- Check TITU for Room
Free and open to the public

Panelists:
Jeremy Denk:
One of the nation's most compelling concert pianists, Denk is also the writer of the blog Think Denk which chronicles the life of a traveling concert musician.
http://jeremydenk.net/blog/

Jacob Stockinger
Stockinger, former arts editor for the The Capital Times, writes the blog The Well-Tempered Ear, documenting the classical music scene in and around Madison.
http://welltempered.wordpress.com/

--

Mellophoniums, Hammond B3's and Claves;the isthmus jazz Festival

I am very excited to announce some of the preliminary artists for the 2011 Isthmus Jazz Festival, June 3 and 4. The artists performing will include:

Grupo Candela, a twelve-piece band that plays many different styles of Latin music for dancing, from Salsa to Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, and Latin Jazz.

The Madison Mellophonium Orchestra, a giant big band, directed by Joel Kaye, a prior member of the Stan Kenton Band.

The Mike Frost Project, an organ combo from Chicago, calls itself "straight ahead jazz." This group will be sure to swing you into exhaustion on bebop and post-bop standards with exciting solos and a thick, solid Hammond B3 rhythm section.

This year again, we will also be hearing from students, with the Madison High School All-Stars and the University of Wisconsin Jazz Orchestra.

Stay tuned to the Wisconsin Union Theater and Isthmus home pages for more information about the festival, coming soon!

Program Announced for Neale-Silva Young Artists Competitions Winners Recital

by Elana Siegel Marketing Intern

The Neale-Silva Young Artists Competition Winners Recital will take place on Sunday, April 17, at 12:30pm. See the program below. The competition was established by Wisconsin Public Radio to recognize young Wisconsin performers who demonstrate an exceptionally high level of artistry.

The winners receive the incredible opportunity to perform live at the Wisconsin Union Theater, a venue that has also featured some of the most famous musicians of the 20th Century, and have their music broadcast live on WPR's "Sunday Afternoon Live" program. This, according to Ruthanne Bessman, host of WPR's Classics by Request, is the most rewarding part of the competition. As she states, "the winners are dedicated musicians, and it's a joy to hear [their] truly amazing performances."

Auditions were open to soloists, duos, trios, quartets, and quintets who are residents of Wisconsin or who attend a Wisconsin college or university. Contestants must be between the ages of 17 and 26. This year's judges were Horn Professor Doug Hill from UW-Madison, Piano Professor Nicholas Phillips from UW-Eau Claire, and Conductor Nobuyoshi Yasuda, also from UW-Eau Claire.

Congratulations to the winners:

James Maverick, Piano: The Italian Ground by Orlando Gibbons, Ballade in f minor, Op. 52 by Frederic Chopin

Daniel Kim, Viola: Suite No. 6: Prelude BWV-1012 by Johann Sebastian Bach, Figment IV by Elliott Carter, Solo Sonata Op. 25 No. 1: Mvts III & IV by Paul Hindemith

Daniel Kuzuhara, Piano: Sonata in E Flat Major XVI:49 by Joseph Haydn, Prelude & Fugue in D minor WTC II by Johann Sebastian Bach, Gnomenreigen by Franz Liszt

Saxophone Quartet: David Davis, Phillip Dobernig, Will Obst and Sumner Truax: Andante et Scherzetto: Mvt. 1 & 2 by Pierre Lantier, Quartuor pour Saxophones by Jun Nagao

Piano Duo: Dario LaPoma and Hazim Suhadi: Concerto for 2 Pianos in D Minor by Francis Poulenc, Mt. 1 - Allegro ma non troppo, Mt. 2 - Larghetto, Mt. 3 - Finale: Allegro molto

A Journey Around the World: We Announce the 52nd Travel Adventure Film Series

by Nina Reynolds

With Discovering the Dutch with Sandy Mortimer coming up on April 25th and 26th, the 2010-2011 Travel Adventure Film Series is soon coming to a close. But that certainly doesn't mean we're done exploring the world over here at the Wisconsin Union Theater. In fact, for all of you adventurous, travel-hungry voyagers out there who are always eager to learn about the fascinating places and cultures of the world, we have got yet another exciting season of films planned. Subscriptions are on sale now for the 52nd Annual Travel Adventure Film Series, and this is a journey you do not want to miss. Ladies and gentlemen, buckle your seat belts and prepare for takeoff, because we're taking a little trip to see just what is in store for you in the upcoming year...

...Now don't get too comfy because we're already at our first destination! Our first stop is Venice, the starting point for filmmakers' Mary Lee and Sid Nolan's tour of the Eastern Mediterranean. On September 26th and 27th, in Cruising the Eastern Mediterranean, after exploring the sights of Venice, you will take a step back into ancient Greece. Discover Ithaca (Ulysses' home), Olympia (the birthplace of the Olympic games and the Greek god Apollo), and the ruins and temples of Athens! Traveling further east, you'll get to see Helen's ancient birthplace of Troy and Christopher Columbus' purported birthplace in Chlos. Finally, see the entrance to the Suez Canal, the Pyramids of Giza, and the lively city of Cairo before cruising back to where you started in Venice. That's almost an entire "travel adventure series" in one film!! But we've only just begun, so hop back on the plane because we're off to the next destination...

...a hop, skip, and a jump further east to Pakistan and Afghanistan. On October 31st and November 1st in Marlin Darrah's Pakistan and Afghanistan: Behind the Headlines, experience the countries that we have come to know so well as conflict-ravaged in a fresh, new light. Situated in a breathtakingly beautiful mountainous region of the world, Darrah's travels through these two countries are bound to offer a new perspective of life in the Middle East. Enjoy the views while you can, though, because we're getting back on the plane and flying all the way around the world to....

...Colorful Mexico! On November 28th and 29th in this travel film from Fran and Brooke Reidelberger, get to know our southern neighbor. This is not your typical resort stay in Mexico. Whether it's visiting with the indigenous Tarahumara in their home in the Copper Canyon, or touching the gigantic gray whales in the Pacific waters of Baja Peninsula, this adventure will have you wishing you could see even more. That will have to wait for next time, because it's time to snuggle up for a series of in-flight movies as we cross back over the ocean to....

...Egypt! Take another cruise, this time on March 26th and 27th aboard the MS Sun Goddess with Clint and Sue Denn as they investigate the historic majesties of this "cradle of civilization". Their film, Egypt's Treasures and Cruising the Nile, provides a tour of this beautiful country before the recent political turmoil. In Cairo, shop in Khan el-Khalili, a major quarter in the Islamic bazaar district. A trip to the second-largest city of Egypt, Alexandria, promises to feed your appetite for ancient ruins as you explore sites such as the Serapeum Temple and Library of Alexandria. After seeing Egypt, the journey is almost over. But we still have one more stop to make. We're flying south, this time to...

...South America! On May 7th and 8th, join Karin Muller in Along the Royal Inca Road as she explores the ancient Inca Empire while traveling along what remains of their extensive road system. Along the way she juxtaposes a rare glimpse into the modern lives of Inca descendants with the religious practices and warring rituals of the vast civilization that met a tragic end at the hands of the Spaniards.

Now, sadly, our journey has ended. It's time to get back on the plane and head back to...good ol' Wisconsin. But if you enjoyed this trip, don't hesitate to pick up the phone or head to the box office to book your next tickets for a trip around the world!

Student Creativity Abounds at the Wisconsin Union Theater

by Heather Good

The Wisconsin Union Theater is proud to help nurture a flourishing community of student performers on campus. Each year we work with numerous Registered Student Organizations productions that feature students as creators, producers, and performers.

Theater staff members advise the 30+ registered student organizations that present their work in the Union Theater and Play Circle each year. Working in a professional theater, students gain an education in the ins-and-outs of all aspects of event production. And audiences have a chance to sample the amazing creative talents of UW-Madison students.

The April calendar offers a wonderful sampling of the variety of student shows that make their way here:

April 7. The Wisconsin International Students Association will present Intercultural Night, an annual event that promotes and celebrates the diversity of cultures amongst students at UW-Madison. WISA collaborates with numerous student organizations to showcase their unique cultures. This year’s show features music, dance, puppetry and more. Free.

April 14, 15 &16. Humorology is a campus tradition now in its 65^th year. The event brings six original mini musicals to the stage for a family-friendly show. Proceeds are donated to OneHeartland’s summer camp program for youth affected by HIV/AIDS. Tickets available through Campus Arts Ticketing Service.

April 22 Fundamentally Sound, a men's a cappella group, presents their Spring Concert. Tickets will be available soon through Campus Arts Ticketing Service.

April 24. Sigma Lambda Gamma kicks off National Dance Week with Move If You Want It 2, a dance competition where 10 groups compete for a cash prize. Free.

April 29. Dance Elite presents its annual Spring Recital. This student-run dance team has been active for 10 years. Members compete at two major competitions during the fall semester and perform at a variety of campus events including Homecoming, All Campus Party, Relay for Life, and more. More information available on Facebook. Free.

April 30. Bellydancing UW's 11th Annual Spring Show will feature performances from NY-based bellydancer Ranya Renee, local troupes and Bellydancing UW's club. Here's more information about the club and the show. Buy tickets here.

I ♥ the Archives: Dianne Reeves

Guess who is coming to the Union Theater next week? Just the 4 time Grammy Award winning Jazz singer, Dianne Reeves! The concert is on Friday, April 8th at 8pm. I hope you purchased your tickets already because this show is going to be incredible. How do I know? She was here back in our 2007-2008 season (see picture) and I was in the audience! She also received a multitude of praises. Among the great musicians with her this time is Brazilian jazz guitarist, Romero Lubambo. I'm excited to see him again too!

Meet our staff: Dan Reichl, our Administrative Intern

by Kiley Groose, WUD Performing Arts Committee Director

Student Dan Reichl joined our Theater Staff team earlier this semester as the adminstrative intern. We sat down with him to find out his experiences thus far.

What attracted you to this position and what are your impressions so far?
Back in December, when I was looking for a job, I thought that it would be great to work at the Union. I found this job on the website, and it looked like something that would be fun to do.

I like it a lot here at the theater. During the week, I get to work in the office with everyone, and I also have gotten a chance to usher for some shows, which is a lot of fun. Everyone is really friendly and laid back, so it makes it an awesome place to work.

Tell us about yourself.
I am a senior majoring in Civil and Environmental Engineering. When I am not studying or working, I enjoy spending time with friends, doing things like going to Badger football games, tossing a football around outside, watching movies, hanging out at the Terrace, and getting ice cream at the Union.

What show(s) have you enjoyed at the Wisconsin Union Theater this season?
Naturally 7
Rocky Horror Show

Who is your favorite musical artist?
I’m a big country music fan, so Kenny Chesney

What is your first musical memory?
When I was about 6 years old, I would pretend to be Stevie Wonder around my house! I had a couple different cassette tapes of him and I would play the songs on this little boom box that I had. Then, I would throw on a pair of sunglasses and sing along.

Salsa Lesson and Dance Marks Opening of Union South!

Join us for a night of salsa dancing on Saturday, April 16th at Union South's Varsity Hall! Doors open at 7:30 pm. Lessons from 8-9. Dancing 9-11pm with live music from Grupo Candela!

This will be our first event in the new Union South 2011.Invite your friends.


Brought to you by the Wisconsin Union Directorate's Global Connections and Performing Arts committees.

For a complete listing of the Union South Grand Opening, look here.

Backstage Diaries - Meatball Monday: The Mystery Gets Solved!

By Elana Siegel
Marketing and Communications Intern

Welcome back to our newest feature: The Backstage Diaries. Here you'll find fun stories and happenings of our theater, our staff, and how our shows come to be.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Today, I am very proud to announce that we at the theater have made an all-important discovery: the Spaghetti Man has been successfully identified. That's right, this mysterious man, with his large eyes and excited smile, has finally been unmasked.

Who is the Spaghetti Man? Who is this fantastic caper? The Wisconsin Union Theater opened in 1939, and the Union itself in 1907. With a history of so many years, old artifacts just tend to show up with no explanation and stay for a while.

One such artifact is the frame we have in the theater kitchen with pictures and recipes from the chef affectionately known, until now, as Spaghetti Man. The frame has pictures of this mysterious man making spaghetti with students in the very kitchen where his picture hangs. At the bottom are his recipes for spaghetti, salad dressing, and beef.

I undertook the pressing quest to find out exactly who is the man in these photographs. My first clue? The final recipe listed was for "Beef a la Warren." I went to look through our archives for anybody with a last name Warren who has performed at the theater. Voila! I found him: Baritone Leonard Warren, who performed with pianist Willard Sektberg on May 2 and 4, 1948 in our 28th annual Concert Series.

Here's Leonard Warren the chef:

And the Baritone:

I can't guarantee if he makes great spaghetti and meatballs, but our next Concert Series performer, American pianist Jeremy Denk, seems to enjoy fresh produce. See him below shopping in a street market with piano music in hand. When Denk comes to the theater on Thursday, April 21, I'll ask him if he has any great recipes to share.

Here are Warren's recipes. No one here has tried them before, so you'll have to let us know if they're any good:

Spaghetti with Meatballs (Serves 15)

6 small cans tomato paste
2 large cans tomatoes (Italian style) season to taste, cook down 2 or 3 hours.

Make small meatballs of 1lb. ground round streak, 1/2 lb. ground veal--and 1/2lb. ground pork; mix together with 3 eggs and bread crumbs. Drop into spaghetti sauce to cook. Boil 4 lb. Buitoni spaghetti with plenty of water until just done. Drain spaghetti in colander, rinse, combine spaghetti and sauce and serve with plenty Parmesan cheese.

Salad Dressing

3 parts olive oil (imported Italian), add chopped whole garlic and marinate in oil several hours in warm place, add unrolled anchovies cut in pieces, and one part wine vinegar. At last minute, toast thinly sliced bread, cut in crutons (sic) about 1" square and add to dressing. Adjust all proportions to taste.

Beef a la Warren

1 1/2 lbs. first grade chuck steak. Mash 2 whole garlic onions, wrap in a piece of gauze and oil warm pot with garlic, then sear pieces of chuck steak (3 or 4 at a time in oiled pot until nice and brown). Set aside meat, wash out pot, put in one large can of fine grade conned tomatoes, one or two chopped onions, add meat and cook until tender--seasoning with pinch of basil, 4 or 5 large bay leaves (which should be removed as soon as their flavor is extracted), rock salt and freshly ground pepper. When meat is almost done, cook frozen peas, carrots and cubed potatoes until tender, then transfer meat and sauce into casserole and top with cooked vegetables.

I ♥ the Archives: Martha Graham, Pioneer and Guru

Don't you feel like dancing?

I certainly do, pretty much all the time. I think my co-workers are used to my crazy dance moves and stretches in the hallways by now...

Anyway, enough about me. Check this out - modern dance pioneer and guru, Martha Graham, graced our stage a few times through the 1940s and into the 1970s. This flier is from 1942, when you could see her performing in Punch and Judy for 55 CENTS!

Fun fact: The Martha Graham Dance Company is the oldest dance company in America and continues to perform today.

Another fun fact: The Union Theater continues to bring some of the most innovative artists (but you already knew that one, didn't you). :)

Four Seasons Theatre presents The Great American Songbook Series: The Music of Cole Porter

Our friends at Four Seasons Theatre are presenting The Great American Songbook Series:  The Music of Cole Porter on:

Friday, March 25 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, March 26 at 3:00 pm and 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 27 at 3:00 pm
At the Playhouse in the Overture Center (201 State Street, Madison, WI)


Four Seasons Theatre kicks off its Great American Songbook Series with a celebration of "The Music of Cole Porter."  A prolific composer, Porter wrote over 30 musicals, many of which were adapted for film.  Led by Music Director Taras Nahirniak and Director Wendy Jones Hill, a talented cast of local singers and musicians showcases the music of this wonderful writer - including tunes from his popular shows "Anything Goes" and "Kiss Me Kate" and jazz standards from lesser known gems.  From "So In Love" to "I Get a Kick Out of You" this concert will leave you humming Porter's memorable music for days to come.

Tickets ($20 for students, $23 for seniors age 62+, and $25 for adults) are on sale through the Overture Center Box Office at (608) 258-4141 or can be purchased online.

Cast members include Wendy Jones Hill, Tamara Brognano, Christine Callsen Flanery, Marja Barger, Gail Becker Koppa, Amy L. Welk, Michael Brunner, Dennis Yadon, Steve Mendez, Rick Henslin, and Neil Peterson, with dancers Cindy Severt and Dan Jackson.

Learn more about the production herehttp://www.fourseasonstheatre.com

This program is made possible by a generous grant from the Pleasant T. Rowland Fund for Theater through the Madison Community Foundation.  Additional support provided by the Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission. the Wisconsin Arts Board, and The Psychology Center of Madison.

The Joy Of Discovery: Holland

by Ted Harks
Box Office Manager

One of the aspects of traveling I most treasure is that of discovery. I love the joy I feel when first coming in contact with a beautiful place, its people and its culture. And more often than not, that joy only grows the more I experience and learn there.

One place I can only dream of traveling to someday is Holland. Having not yet experienced it for myself, when I hear of Holland my imagination conjures images of gabled houses, old-world windmills and lush hills blanketed by tulips. But travelogue filmmaker Sandy Mortimer invites me and any other would-be traveler to experience deeper discoveries.

On April 25th and 26th, attendees will have the opportunity to share Mortimer's experiences as she guides viewers north to south through Holland, taking in sights which include Anne Frank's house, Muiden Castle, and the Alsmeer flower auction. Mortimer will be present to narrate her film, not only introducing the audience to Holland and its people but also its rich history and culture.

And not to worry - there will be windmills, too.

Why not make it a night of discovery for you and a friend of loved one? Tickets are available now for the film, parking and a delicious pre-film buffet featuring a variety of regional foods to feast upon. Come discover the Dutch with us this April.

I ♥ the Archives: Happy Birthday to an 86 Year Old Master

Hi folks!

Guess who turned 86 this past Sunday? Yeah, that guy on your left, the great jazz drummer Roy Haynes. He was the headliner for the Isthmus Jazz Festival in 2008. That means he was 83 when he played here! 83! Now that is some life affirming news.

Teachers: A Special Dianne Reeves Deal for you!

Do you love Dianne Reeves, the great jazz singer? Are you a K-12 teacher? 

We have a special something for you!

From Wednesday, 3/16/11 to Tuesday 3/22/11, the Wisconsin Union Theater shows its appreciation of Wisconsin’s teachers and their dedication to educating our young by offering the $38 and $34 tickets at $10 off per ticket--$28 and $24. The $20 tickets are not included in this offer. Up to a pair may be purchased at this price and a teacher ID must be presented either upon purchase or at the door. Tickets purchased online or by phone will be available at Will Call and the ID must be presented at that time. 

Backstage Diaries: Friday, March 4, Rocky, Horror, Quiet...

Friday, March 4.

9:06am: Shhh! Don't tell anyone, but when you're in Dressing Room #6, we can hear you in the office! Last night, I was treated to wonderful renditions of Wicked and Avenue Q music from the gentlemen in there. Hopefully tonight I'll get another free concert!

This morning, I'm here by myself. My normal morning companions, Ted, Box Office Manager, and Claire, Program Assistant, are both out with the flu. I believe this is day five of the flu for Claire, and day two for Ted. Oy! I better not get sick.

Since I'm the first one here, I take a quick peek into the theater. University Theatre's Rocky Horror is in the theater this weekend, so the stage is covered with their set. The theater is peaceful this early in the morning. I can walk the aisles and climb all over the set in the quiet. I walk to the front of the stage and look out over the 1300 seat house. How majestic! We really do have a beautiful theater.

Here are some shots of the Rocky Horror set and house.

The full set as seen from Orchestra Right.

Only for Rocky Horror would I find a chair like this backstage.

The theater house as seen from the top of the set.

One of the set pieces from behind. He's sexy looking.

Random leftovers from Rocky Horror. Rubber gloves and Dixie Cups?

Meet Our Staff: Erin Bannen, Renaissance Woman

Erin Bannen joined our Marketing Team early this semester. We then found out that she was also one of the playwrights whose work was selected to the Marcia Legere Student Play Festival. We wanted to find out some more about her.

Who are you and what have you done in life so far?

I am a senior majoring in English with an emphasis in creative writing. What have I done in life so far? What a question! In my short 22 years of living I have tried to cultivate a multifaceted artistic identity. I can, at least relatively successfully, walk my way through singing, dancing, acting, writing poetry, plays and flash fiction (which is very, very short fiction), and making sculptures. I have most enjoyed creative writing and acting here at UW Madison, acting classes from the fantastic instructors in UW Madison's Theater Department, having a play accepted to the Wisconsin Union Theater's Marcia Legere Student Play Festival, and having the opportunity to take advantage of the incredible teaching talent in the Creative Writing Department.

This year I am doing two senior capstone projects. The first is a creative writing thesis, which will consist of two plays, a number of flash fiction stories, poems, and non-fiction pieces. The second is a literary criticism thesis on the aesthetics of E. E. Cummings's poetry. I applied for and received a travel grant for the thesis, and was able to view Cummings's manuscripts at Harvard University over winter break, an opportunity for which I am still incredibly grateful.

When you were looking for an internship you had several choices. Why did you choose the theater?

I chose the theater because of its friendly atmosphere, its commitment to bringing the arts to UW students, and its consistent production of a varied, fantastic season. I have attended numerous Wisconsin Union Theater shows, including, most recently, Spring Awakening, and I have yet to be disappointed. I have also performed in both the Union Theater and the Play Circle, and had fond memories of both.

What are your plans and hopes for the future?

I hope to one day be an English professor! But this is assuming I can first be admitted to, and then hack through, a graduate program. Back-up plans include working in tech services (I am a four-year veteran of the DoIT Help Desk!) as a technical writer, or as a web content provider. I am also currently a member of the student organization Yoga Empowerment and Service Plus (YES+), and am fund raising to become a meditation instructor.

What show are you especially excited about this season?

I was incredibly excited about Gaelic Storm, which of course did not disappoint. Now I cannot wait for Acoustic Africa!

I ♥ the Archives: Dobet Gnahore Makes her Madison Debut

This is Esty, trying to measure up to Claire, who's home sick with the flu. Feel better, Claire!

In the 2006-2007 Season we presented Acoustic Africa for the first time. The artists were Habib Koite, the great Malian guitarist-singer-songwriter who's returning to the theater on March 10; South African Vusi Mahlasela in his second visit to the theater; and an unknown: Ivory Coast's Dobet Gnahore. She got on stage with a contemplative, haunting song, then exploded into song and dance. What a performer!

After the concert I told her in my limited French that she was great and without a doubt will return to Madison. Her response? A great jump in the air! She has returned to the theater and the East Side festivals many times since.

This time, Acoustic Africa includes Habib Koite and Oliver Mtukudzi, another superb musician who has also played here in the past to great acclaim. Again, we have an unknown: Malian Afel Bocoum, nephew of Ali Farka Toure whose passing we still mourn. Will he become a new Madison favorite? Come and find out.

Major, Noteworthy Classical Artists in Next Season's Concert Series Artists!

by Shawn Werner 

Concert Series Coordinator

We are excited to announce the 2011-2012 Concert Series, which features major, noteworthy classical artists and ensembles, including The Academy of St. Martin in the

Fields Chamber Ensemble, Nadja-Salerno Sonnenberg and the New Century Chamber Orchestra, the piano trio of David Finckel, Wu Han, and Philip Setzer, and last but certainly not least, Peter Serkin!

Drawn from the principal players of the world-renowned Academy of St. Martin in the Fields Orchestra, the ensemble mainly performs larger chamber works such as Mendelssohn's famous E-flat major Octet. The chamber ensemble tours extensively throughout the world's major concert halls in Europe, North and South America, Australia, and Asia.

Violinist Nadja-Salerno Sonnenberg comes to the Union Theater debuting the New Century Chamber Orchestra as the director the orchestra and performer. The New Century Chamber Orchestra, founded in 1992, plays with "a new sense of vitality and determination" and with a sense of "audacious swagger" according to Gramophone Magazine. This unique orchestra performs sans conductor, allowing the performers to collaborate with each other, resulting in a fantastic and professional sound. More interesting is that their repertoire includes newly commissioned works. They play various genres of music, showing their diverse mastery. They are simply one of the world's leading chamber orchestras.

David Finckel, Wu Han, and Philip Setzer form a fantastic piano trio due to the members themselves. Cellist David Finckel and violinist Philip Setzer are members of the highly acclaimed Emerson String Quartet, and pianist Wu Han has made her well-established mark in the classical music world as a multi-faceted individual; she is a concert pianist, a recording artist, educator, Co-Artistic Director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, and a cultural entrepreneur. She is married to David Finckel and the two have performed all over the world, frequenting concert halls such as Carnegie and Wigmore. Setzer, the founder of Emerson String Quartet, is also a soloist who performs with the world's leading orchestras. The three artists come together to form an unforgettable piano trio.

Peter Serkin has garnered a reputation as being one of the world's most respected, distinguished, and passionate classical pianists. He performs regularly with all of the world's leading orchestras including the "Big Five," Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, and many others.

His musicianship extends five centuries, especially 20th and 21st century music. Serkin is also a regular recitalist, often performing at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Orchestra Hall in Chicago, and New York's 92nd Street Y. His rich musical heritage certainly shines through his musicianship.

The Backstage Diaries

by Elana Siegel

Marketing Intern

Hello, and welcome to our newest feature: The Backstage Diaries. Here you'll find fun stories and happenings of our theater, our staff, and how our shows come to be.

Saturday, 02/19/11 - Gaelic Storm at the Theater

3:30pm: I was told Gaelic Storm's sound check would be at this time, so I dutifully trek over to the theater to take some pictures and make sure everything is set up.

3:45pm: I enter the theater but hear no voices or music. Curious, I ask Christa, our World Music Coordinator, where the band is. It turns out that Gaelic Storm skipped up the seven blocks to the Capitol almost as soon as they arrived! They take a picture, above, with Darcy, their plastic Donkey, at his first protest. (Just so you know, they maintain a politically neutral stance on the bill.)

5:30pm: Gaelic Storm arrives back at the theater a little rosy in the cheeks, but finally ready for a sound check. They begin to warm up their bodies and their instruments.

7:00pm: I'm doing a last check throughout the theater. I pass by the box office workers and ushers having their last meeting before we open the doors. It looks like a football huddle from my angle. I wonder what they talk about in those meetings! Someday I'll have to ask Bruce, our box office manager. In the lobby, people are already gathering. The doors to the theater are full of windows, so our patrons can see us finishing to set up. I feel like I should give a smile and a wave as I walk by.

7:23pm: Bruce opens the doors a few minutes early to reduce the crowd gathering outside. People start meandering through the theater. This is one of my favorite parts of performance evenings. I love to people-watch (and dare I say eavesdrop) as our patrons get excited about the upcoming show.

8:03pm: The show starts, and what a great show it is! For this performance, I'm lucky enough to be in the audience to watch. Gaelic Storm really are master performers - they are able to get the entire house up on its feet for almost the whole evening (pictured right).

11:00pm: We start the close-out process. The sound guys begin to pack the instruments and equipment back into the semi-truck outside. The merchandise is counted out. Our count of how much merchandise we sold matches with the amount of money we count. Whew! The men of the band start to count the money they raised for St. Baldricks at the show. They are amazed to find two $2 bills in the mix. I mention out loud that I can't tell who the president is, but Patrick Murphey (frontman for Gaelic Storm) is able to tell me promptly that it is Thomas Jefferson. Someone paid attention in US history.

Sunday, 02/20/2011

12:09am: I head home. Our Theater Director Ralph and some student committee members are still finishing out contract work, but I'm exhausted. I sing "Kiss me I'm Irish" all the way home. Disappointingly, no one joins in. Ah well. It was a successful night anyway.

Enjoy Young Artists at the Neale-Silva Competition

By Kiley Groose

WUD Performing Arts Committee Director

The Neale-Silva Young Artists' Competition was established to recognize young Wisconsin classical music performers who demonstrate a high level of artistry. It is made possible by a grant from the estate of the late University of Wisconsin-Madison professor Eduardo Neale-Silva, a classical music enthusiast who was born in Talca, Chile and came to the United States in 1925.

It is open to students between the ages of 17 and 26 who reside in Wisconsin or attend a university within the state. Auditions are open to soloists, duos, trios, quartets, or quintets.

Winners of the competition receive a cash prize and the opportunity to perform in the historical Wisconsin Union Theater. The even is also broadcast live statewide on Wisconsin Public Radio. Best of all, it is free! You can hear the winners of this year's competition on Sunday, April 17, at 12:30pm.

See Acoustic Africa at a Special, Short-Lived, Reduced Price!

What’s more exciting than seeing three of Africa’s greatest guitarists/singer-songwriters? 

Seeing them at a discount!

We’re making a special offer to you, simply because you use our social media . Between Wednesday, March 2 at noon and Thursday, March 3 at 4 pm you can buy tickets for Acoustic Africa for only $20 in any available seat at the Wisconsin Union Theater. A limited number of seats are available, only on-line purchase qualifies for this price, and the sale will end on Friday, March 4 at 4 pm sharp!

Hurry up. The special sale will be available here from noon on 3/2 until 4 pm on 3/3.

See you in the theater!