Series back with eclectic lineup

By Stephanie Sonnenfeld ssonnen@emory.edu

A sought-after soprano, the former United States poet laureate and a conductorless orchestra are just some of the performers rounding out the 2001–2002 Candler Series at Glenn.
The series kicks off its season Sept. 29, and Kendall Simpson, director of the Concert Division, said he can’t wait for it to start.

“This year’s series is one of the most varied seasons we’ve ever put together in terms of instrumentalists, vocalists and ensembles, versus a single recitalist,” he said. “Because this season is so engaging, I wish that I could move it ahead two years for the inaugural season for the Donna and Marvin Schwartz Center for Performing Arts because it’s so balanced and rich.”

The 2001–2002 schedule includes:
• Takács String Quartet with poet Robert Pinsky, Sept. 29: Former United States Poet Laureate Pinsky and Takács will present “All the World for Love,” a program where Pinsky will recite love poems by William Butler Yeats, Robert Frost, Emily Dickenson and others as the quartet performs love-themed pieces.

• Arcadi Volodos, piano, Oct.17: Critics have called Volodos a “genius of the piano” whose performances are noted for coupling breathtaking technical mastery with a profound and eloquent musicality.

• Netherlands Chamber Choir, Nov. 17: This 24-member choir has been assembled to acquaint listeners with the repertoire of an a cappella choir. Its Emory performance will include works by Bach and Rachmaninov.

• Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Jan. 24: This conductorless orchestra was voted as the 1998 Ensemble of the Year by Musical America. Its Emory debut will feature the Mozart violin concerto in G Major, Dvorák’s String Serenade and Wolf’s Italian Serenade.

• Renée Fleming, soprano, Feb. 11: Fleming, the opera diva du jour, has been dubbed the most “sought-after soprano of her generation” by The New York Times.

• Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood (conductor) and Robert Levin (forte-piano),
March 5: The goal of this all-Mozart program is to provide the audience with an experience of the music as it might have sounded at the time it was written—complete with period instruments.

The Candler subscription series at Glenn is in its third year, following two highly varied and successful seasons that have included performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Emmanuel Ax, violinist Pinchas Zukerman and mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade. The previous seasons have helped lay a foundation for musical excellence, Simpson said.

“We want to offer the finest in classical music. That’s been our guiding force. Our goal is to provide Emory and the Atlanta community with the opportunity to hear some of the finest artists performing today.,” he said.

Advertising the series hasn’t been broadbased yet, except for a mass mailing of brochures to all Emory employees, as well as each person in the box office database of previous event buyers. Simpson said he wants to give the Emory community first dibs at ticket subscriptions.

Subscribers have the option to choose four of the six concerts for a savings of 20 percent off single ticket costs, or take all six concerts for a savings of 25 percent. For the whole series of six, prices range from $94–$134. For the chose four option, prices range from $68–$97. All subscribers have the ability to purchase seats before they go on sale to the public on Aug. 27.

When single tickets go on sale, Emory and Oxford College students can receive a 50 percent discount.

To subscribe, complete the order form and mail it to the Arts at Emory Box Office, DUC Drawer D, Atlanta, 30322, or fax it to 404-727-4763.

For more information or to charge tickets by phone, call the box office at 404-727-5050 or e-mail boxoffice@emory.edu.