At least a decade has passed since the last international symphony orchestra visited Denver, an absence that gives the Russian National Orchestra’s planned appearance in 2008 even more significance.
Acclaimed English pianist Stephen Hough and the 100-piece ensemble from Moscow will appear Feb. 20, 2008, as one of 14 events on the University of Denver’s newly announced 2007-08 Newman Center Presents series.
“I think it’s a big deal,” said Stephen Seifert, executive director of the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. “It’s a world-class orchestra, and it’s obviously Russian, and Russian orchestras just have a different feel and sound to them.”
In addition to symphonic music, the series will present an array of offerings ranging from the satirical group, Capitol Steps, to Rik Reppe’s “Glorious Noise,” a solo theatrical creation exploring the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
“We want to celebrate the fifth season of being a presenter in the community,” Seifert said. “And we’re doing that by selecting, we hope, a group of artists who are as diverse and eclectic as we’ve presented before, because that’s what we’re committed to doing.”
For its 2006-07 season, Newman Center Presents dropped traditional theatrical offerings from its lineup and put a greater emphasis on dance. It will increase the number of dance companies to three in 2007-08.
“Dance continues to be very well received here,” Seifert said. “The space works great for it, and people turn out for dance here. And there is an opportunity to continue to grow in that area.”
Featured will the Urban Bush Women, a group that draws on African-American history and the specific experiences of women. The much-honored troupe will join forces with the Senegalese all-male Compagnie Jant-Bi in a production titled “The Beauty of Little Things.”
Also on the lineup will be Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, a group that sends up traditional classical ballet, and the return of Diavolo, a daredevil ensemble that uses giant set pieces in its works.
“It will be the second company we have invited back,” Seifert said. “Diavolo was very well received. People loved it. They’re fun to work with, and we had the opportunity to co-commission a new piece.”
In addition to the Russian National Orchestra, the classical offerings will include a recital by violinist Andrew Manze and fortepianist Richard Egarr and the co-presentation of the Gilmore Award-winning pianist Piotr Anderszewski with Friends of Chamber Music.
The most surprising component of the season might be the appearance of the Manhattan Transfer as part of a gala marking the Newman Center’s fifth anniversary. The group is more connected to popular music than any other performer the facility has presented to date.
New subscriptions go on sale May 1, and individual tickets will be available Aug. 1. For more information, call 303-871-7720 or visit du.edu/newmancenter.
Fine arts critic Kyle MacMillan can be reached at 303-954-1675 or kmacmillan@denverpost.com.
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The lineup for 2007-08 Newman Center Presents:
Sept. 28, Diavolo
Oct. 4, Anne Akiko Meyers, violin; Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lawrence Golan conductor
Oct. 13, Yamato, The Drummers of Japan
Oct. 27, Dianne Reeves, jazz vocalist
Nov. 9, Andrew Manze, violin; Richard Egarr, fortepiano
Dec. 1, Tapestry, “In the Company of Angels”
Jan. 19, Badi Assad, guitarist and vocalist
Jan. 26, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Feb. 20, Stephen Hough, piano; Russian National Orchestra, Vladimir Jurowski, conductor
Feb. 23, Piotr Anderszewski, piano
March 12, Capitol Steps
March 22, Urban Bush Women and Compagnie Jant-Bi, “The Beauty of Little Things”
April 26, Manhattan Transfer
May 10, Rik Reppe, “Glorious Noise”
