Cirque de la Symphonie: Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra opens the 2011-2012 season

Cirque de la Symphonie comes to Lincoln on Friday, September 16th to perform with Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra (Arkansas Symphony via youtube) 

Lincoln's Symphony Orchestra is opening it's new season at a new venue with new prices on Friday, September 16th. This opening performance will feature not only the symphony orchestra itself but the "acrobats, aerial flyers, dancers and jugglers" of Cirque de la Symphonie. Cirque de la Symphonie, "Circus of the Symphony," is another example of a group making Classical music relevant in today's world. The Cirque has performed with symphony orchestras throughout the country including those in Houston, Baltimore, Boston, Seattle, and many more--in working with the symphony, the Cirque choreographs everything specifically to the music on each concert. They believe that "The combination of these two art forms provides an energized performance that is greater than the sum of its parts."

This performance will put to use the larger stage of the Lied Center, LSO's new home, a great place to show the acrobatic prowess of the members of Cirque de la Symphonie. Don't miss this wonderful event. For tickets go to LSO's website or call the ticket office 402.476.2211.

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Music and dance to commemorate 9/11

The 9/11 service at St. Mark's will also feature quiet and reflective candlelight.

Credits: Scott Robinson, via flickr

On September 11, 2001, the world watched in shock and horror as the terrorists attacked our great nation. Ten years have gone by, although for some, it still feels like it was yesterday for the loss and grief never quite go away. For the first anniversary, the Lincoln community remembered and honored those who died with a tribute in music at Kimball Recital Hall, and this year, on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, St. Mark's-on-the-Campus will host a service in memory of the event.

St. Mark's-on-the-Campus is located at 13th and R Sts. at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln campus, and the event is set for 8:00pm. Many people are collaborating to bring this together including Lincoln's own Dulces Voces, the UNL Dance Department, UNL viola professor and LSO member, Clark Potter. The first movement of Kurt Knecht's newly commissioned piece, "Ordo Rachelis," will be performed by Dulces Voces, and the composer's piece "Meditation" will be performed by Clark Potter.

 

This will be a time for the Lincoln community to gather together, regardless of religious affiliation, and join together in memory, reflection, and prayer--much as we all did 10 years ago on September 11th.

MUSIC Endowment kick-off

Charter members of the MUSIC Endowment following the luncheon honoring the start of the endowment serving financially needy children.

Credits: LMTA, via facebook

The Governor's Mansion was the gathering site of Lincoln Music Teachers and friends on Wednesday, August 31, for the kick-off fundraiser for the MUSIC Endowment. The MUSIC Endowment allows the Lincoln community to be a part of providing music lessons to children in financial need. Details on how to give can be found in this Examiner.com article.

Introductions and ice-breakers included a delightful game of singing and guessing the melody and were followed shortly by a lovely lunch catered in the lower level of the mansion. The atmosphere was delightful, surrounded by Nebraskan history and art. Dr. Valerie Cisler of University of Nebraska at Kearney gave a thought-provoking talk about "Music Mastery = Motivation."

Following lunch, LMTA Treasurer, Jessica Freeman, thanked those who have contributed already to the MUSIC Endowment. "We have not quite met our goal, so please keep spreading the word!" All the contributors present who have helped start the MUSIC Endowment were awarded with a certificate thanking them for being "Charter Members" of the MUSIC Endowment.

Although the kick-off meeting has passed, it is not too late to contribute. The MUSIC Endowment will provide funding to the LMTA Music Outreach Program for years to come.

Handbell soloist comes to Lincoln

The evening of August 29, about 60 members of the Lincoln community took the time to attend a handbell solo recital given at First Plymouth Congregational Church. The handbell soloist and her accompanist came to Lincoln from Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. Sue Garton performs with English handbells, three full octaves span the table, and some pieces require duplicats that she keeps on hand. Garton has performed through the U.S. as well as Kiev, Ukraine, and Presov, Slovakia--and her performance here in Lincoln was a delight.

Garton began by performing "Are you Dressed for the Wedding?" Afterwards, she explained that it is about the heavenly wedding banquet when Christ comes. As she rearranged her bells following the piece, she told the audience that they are arranged like the keys of a piano, but with one advantage, she can move them wherever she wants. Garton and her accompanist, Marilyn Hines, played three more hymns or spirituals including "Lord of the Dance," "Finlandia," and "Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel."

Although the evening also included some Broadway tunes, the most musical, and beautiful arrangement for the handbells was Claude Debussy's "Clair de Lune." The piece is originally written for solo piano, but the arrangement did a wonderful job of dividing the music up between piano and handbells. The video to the side of this article is a recording of Garton playing "Clair de Lune." As the sound from the final notes rang out and died away, there was a pause as the audience let the music sink in before breaking into applause.

When asked how she came to take up the handbells, Garton explained that she joined a church handbell choir in the '70s and by the time she retired in 1992, she had her own handbells. "I quit cooking and cleaning my house, and now I play with my bells all day," she said, smilingly.

Upcoming events at Lincoln's own Lied Center for Performing Arts

Cover for the booklet containing the upcoming shows of the Lied Center's 2011-2012 season.

Credits: Amy Flamminio

The Lied Center's Artistic Director, Ann Chang, makes sure that each season "represents all the genres, Classical, family, dance, Jazz, Broadway, theater, and popular, as well as making sure that they are all programmed well with quality and class.” As the Lied Center opens its 22nd season in Lincoln, all the genres are present and there is surely something to please everyone.

The first show is the fast-selling, and already sold-out, "Bill Cosby - Live at the Lied," wherein famed comedian Bill Cosby comes to Lincoln. Lincolnites are planning to turn out in huge numbers to greet this legend whose life lessons and laughs entertained families for years through "The Cosby Show." Bill Cosby is set to come to the Lied Center on October 7th, at 7:30pm.

In the dance category, Lincoln can see Pilobolus Dance Theatre on October 12th, Moulin Rouge - The Ballet will come on April 1st, and Ragamala will bring their dance to Lincoln on April 11th.

Family and theater shows include Local Wonders from Nebraska's own U.S. Poet Laureate, Ted Kooser, Tomas Kubinek, The Shape of a Girl, The Ugly Duckling, and more. While Broadway shows include Beauty and the Beast, Young Frankenstein, and MAMMA MIA!

Jazz musicians and groups include the Turtle Island Quartet, Tiempo Libre, and the SFJAZZ COLLECTIVE - The Music of Stevie Wonder featuring some of the greatest Jazz musicians of today... and tomorrow.
Classical musicians coming to the Lied Center inlude the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Kathryn Stott, and the legendary, Itzhak Perlman.

Want to know what's coming up at the Lied Center this season? Subscribe to the Lincoln Lied Center Examiner to get advance, exclusive reports on who and what to look forward to as well, and check back often for reviews on some of the great shows coming to Lincoln this season!