Category Archives: Music

ASO Pops concludes 2012-13 with Cirque de la Symphonie

Posted on by

20121020-054530.jpgThe Arkansas Symphony Orchestra concludes the 2012-2013 Pops series this weekend with Cirque de la Symphonie.

The big-top meets classical music at this crowd favorite!  This high-flying event brings the magic of cirque to the music hall. See aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers, and strongmen while listening to classical masterpieces and popular contemporary music.

The musicians will be under the baton of ASO associate conductor Geoffrey Robson.

The concert is at 8pm tonight and 3pm tomorrow at Robinson Center Music Hall.

ASO and ASYO go SIDE BY SIDE on Friday

Posted on by

asoyo
The Arkansas Symphony Youth Orchestra members will have the chance to play “Side by Side” with members of the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra tomorrow night (Friday, May 10) at the annual “Side by Side” concert.

The musicians will play under the baton of Music Director Philip Mann.

The concert will take place at Robinson Center Music Hall at 7pm.  The tickets are $10 for adults, free for children.

This is a great opportunity to see not only what the members of the ASYO have been doing, but to see the next generation of musicians and music patrons in action.

Tales from the South pays tribute to Randy Tardy

Posted on by
talesfromsouthTonight, “Tales from the South” pays tribute to a longtime Arkansas writer.
Randy Tardy is the retired transportation and business writer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock. He covered railroads, airlines and river traffic from 1976 until 2001. Randy, who is now in hospice, would like to share his stories with the world, so they will be read by his close friends.Randy’s stories will be read by Walter Walker, Rex Nelson, and Harvey Joe Sanner. Live music will be provided by The Salty Dogs and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host, in conjunction with Temenos Publishing Company. The show is taped live on Tuesday nights at Starving Artist Cafe’in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock, Arkansas.

The program offers dinner and a show, and shows are $7.50 admission and open to the public. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Doors open at 5:00pm. Dinner is served from 5:00 to 6:30pm (dinner price not included in admission charge).  The program starts at 7:00pm.  Advance reservations are required.

UALR Jazz Ensemble Tonight

Posted on by

20130505-221413.jpg

The sounds of jazz will emanate from the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall tonight when the UALR Jazz Ensemble presents a concert.

The program will include arrangements of “Anything Goes” by Cole Porter; “April in Paris” by Vernon Duke; “Ko-Ko,” “In a Mellow Tone”and “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” by Duke Ellington; and “Wherever You Go” by Pat Metheny.

The ensemble features student musicians on saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and rhythm section. Michael Underwood is the director. Admission is free. Call (501) 569-3924 or e-mail mpunderwood@ualr.edu.

Double Bill Opera at UALR Tonight and Sunday

Posted on by

The UALR Opera Theatre will present a double-bill performance of “The Telephone” and “The Medium,” both by Gian Carlo Menotti, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, May 3, and again at 3 p.m., Sunday, May 5, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall in the UALR Fine Arts Building.

Opeara at UALRBoth performances will feature the talents of students in the vocal arts program and will be performed in English, the language in which they were written.  These operas premiered on Broadway in the 1940s as a double-bill and have been presented together and separately by opera  Carcompanies and theatre troupes since then.

UALR students can receive one free ticket; all other student tickets are $5. These tickets may be reserved by calling 501.569-3295.

For general admission, tickets are $15 and can be purchased through the music box office at 501.569.8993.

“The Telephone”
“The Telephone” is a romantic comic opera in one act about a suitor on a mission.

According to Don Bernardini, professor of music and director of the vocal program, “Ben, bearing a gift, comes to visit Lucy at her apartment. He wants to propose to her before he leaves on a trip. Despite his attempts to get her attention for sufficient time to ask his question, Lucy is occupied with interminable conversations on the telephone, but Ben will not be deterred!”

 

“The Medium”
“The Medium” is a two-act dramatic opera. Would-be psychic, Baba, with her daughter, Monica, pose as ghosts from the beyond during séances.

They take in a person who is deaf and doesn’t speak as a lodger but become distrustful of him. During one session, Baba feels a mysterious cold hand around her throat which panics her into revealing to her clients that she is a fake. When they refuse to believe her, Baba’s terror leads to tragedy.

Two Tales from the South this week

Posted on by

talesfromsouthHawthorne wrote of Twice Told Tales.  This week, Tales from the South offers two shows.

On Tuesday, April 30, the program will focus on “Lost and Found” featuring stories by Mary Lester, Wetzel LaGrone and May Griebel.  Music that night will be provided by Justin McGoldrick and blues guitarist Mark Simpson.

On Wednesday, May 1, Heritage Month will kick off with a Historic Preservation of Arkansas show.  It will feature stories by Deborah Carroll, James King and Sandra Hamilton. Mark Currey and blues guitarist Mark Simpson will provide the music.

“Tales From the South” is a radio show created and produced by Paula Martin Morell, who is also the show’s host, in conjuction with Temenos Publishing Company. The show is taped live on Tuesday nights at Starving Artist Cafe’in the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock, Arkansas.

The program offers dinner and a show, and shows are $7.50 admission and open to the public. The night is a cross between a house concert and a reading/show, with incredible food and great company. Tickets must be purchased before the show, as shows are usually standing-room only.

“Tales from the South” is a showcase of writers reading their own true stories. While the show itself is unrehearsed, the literary memoirs have been worked on for weeks leading up to the readings. Stories range from funny to touching, from everyday occurrences to life-altering tragedies.

Doors open at 5:00pm. Dinner is served from 5:00 to 6:30pm (dinner price not included in admission charge).  The program starts at 7:00pm.  Advance reservations are required.

Free Concert by ASO musicians at Capital Hotel this evening

Posted on by

ASO at CHMusicians from the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra will be performing this evening in the lobby of the historic Capital Hotel. The music will start at 5:00 pm.

In 2011, the ASO started these free concerts in the lobby of the Capital Hotel.  The marble and tile of this historic lobby provide a wonderful acoustic backdrop for the musicians.

The concert will feature short, accessible pieces along with commentary from the musicians.

Unlike concerts in music halls, guests here are encouraged to bring drinks to their seats or to stand and move around while the musicians are playing.  It is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where the audience and musicians alike are able to interact with each other.

This concert is part of the ASO’s ongoing efforts to play throughout the community under the leadership of Music Director Philip Mann and Executive Director Christina Littlejohn.  In addition to the Capital Hotel concerts, they offer occasional free concerts at UAMS and have recently started the INC (Intimate Neighborhood Concerts) subscription series.