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February 2, 2009
Music lovers’ Valentine in February

By Jessica Moore

The array of free and ticketed Emory concerts in February includes a host of options the week of Valentine’s Day and a special appearance by President Jim Wagner. Concerts are free unless noted as ticketed below.

University Organist Timothy Albrecht performs “Super Bowl Sunday Bach Bowl” (Feb. 1, 4 p.m.), an all-Bach program. Organist John Scott performs works by Mendelssohn, Schumann and Messiaen (Feb. 17, 8 p.m.)

The St. Olaf Choir (ticketed, Feb. 2, 8 p.m.), a pioneer a cappella choir under the direction of Anton Armstrong, performs choral favorites by Purcell, Brahms and Poulenc, and folk songs, hymns and spirituals.

Thamyris, a contemporary music ensemble co-directed by Emory’s Steven Everett, performs “Songs of Madness” (Feb. 6, 8 p.m.) with the Vega String Quartet. Featured works are Davies’ “Eight Songs for a Mad King,” with soprano Haleh Abghari and “March 1911,” a string quartet by Everett.

DuoATL (Feb. 10, 8 p.m.) features Emory guitarist Brian Luckett and flutist Nicole Randall performing Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” Luckett’s “West End Funk” and Randall’s composition “Mangosteen.”

“Contemporary Dance-Vintage Music” (ticketed, Feb. 12–14, 8 p.m.) features the Vega String Quartet performing Bach, Bartok and Einhorn as 22 Atlanta-based dancers bring Emory choreographer George Staib’s new work to life. A “Dinner-and-Dance” package is available for Feb. 12 by calling Café Lily, 404-371-9119.

Emory Annual Jazz Festival (Feb. 12–14) features guitarist Russell Malone in an improvisation class (Feb. 13, 10 a.m.) and performance with the Gary Motley Trio (ticketed, Feb. 13, 8 p.m.) Jazz vocalist Carmen Bradford performs with Emory’s Big Band (Feb. 14, 8 p.m.) and presents a lecture-demonstration (Feb. 12,
2:30 p.m.)

The Emory Chamber Music Society presents voice faculty in “Valentine’s Day Love Songs” (Feb. 13, noon), and piano faculty in “Pianomania!” (ticketed, Feb. 15, 4 p.m.) with special guest President Jim Wagner narrating Saint-Saen’s “Carnival of the Animals” for two pianos.

Lorin Maazel conducts the New York Philharmonic (Feb. 21, 8 p.m.; sold-out, call for wait list) in this Candler Series special event presented by Emory College. Also this month: Richard Prior directs the Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra (Feb. 18, 8 p.m.) in a performance of Vaughan-Williams’ “Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis”; the Emory Wind Ensemble performs under the direction of Scott Stewart (Feb. 25, 8 p.m.), and the Atlanta Sacred Chorale and Eric Nelson host the annual Emory Community Choral Festival (Feb. 28, 8 p.m.)

Tickets/information: www.arts.emory.edu, 404-727-5050.