Category Archives: Music

Beethoven, Blue Jeans, Brats and Beer

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Which of the words in the title doesn’t go with the other?  Trick question.  All go together this weekend at the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.

Under the direction of Music Director Philip Mann, the ASO brings back Beethoven and Blue Jeans this weekend. It is a mix of musical styles all united by a flair for entertainment.  The program includes Beethoven’s Lenore Overture No. 3, Op. 72b, Roumain’s Voodoo Violin Concerto No. 1, Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story and Beethoven’s Egmont: Overture.

Daniel Bernard Roumain aka DBR and his electric violin are the featured guest artist for this concert.

Prior to the concert, ticket-holders are encouraged to partake of FREE brats, $2 Diamond Bear Beer, and music by The Episcopal Collegiate School Steel Drum Band on Markham in front of Robinson before the concert!

Chamber Music Society of Little Rock presents Brasil Guitar Duo

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Since 1953, the Chamber Music Society of Little Rock has been bringing musicians to Little Rock for performances.  The next concert is tomorrow evening (Thursday, November 10), featuring Brasil Guitar Duo.

João Luiz and Douglas Lora met in São Paulo as teenage guitar students and have been performing together as the Brasil Guitar Duo for more than ten years, perfecting a sublime synchronicity and effortless performance style. Equally at home on a Classical or a World Music series, the Duo’s innovative programming features a seamless blend of traditional and Brazilian works, resulting in a full global touring schedule and numerous critically acclaimed recordings.

The Duo will include “Sete Aneis” (Seven Rings) by Egberto Gismonti (arranged by João Luiz) and Fandango (canon) by Mario Castelnuvo-Tedesco on their Little Rock program.

The performance will be in the Parish Hall at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 1000 North Mississippi Avenue in Little Rock. Concerts begin at 7:30 PM.  Tickets are $25 at the door, $10 for students.

Flashback Friday: Arkansas Symphony Orchestra Opus Ball

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The Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s annual Opus Ball was last weekend.  The 27th edition took place at the Capital Hotel. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arts & Humanities Month: UALR Music presents HANSEL AND GRETEL

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The UALR Music Department presents the Englebert Humperdinck opera Hansel and Gretel today at 3:00pm.  Based on the Brothers Grimm folk tale, this production has been transported to Arkansas in the 1920s. The opera tells the story of a brother and sister who set out to find strawberries in the woods, but encounter much more. Their musical journey through the woods comes alive with all sorts of magical creatures, including an encounter with a horrible witch. This witch is not your everyday witch, for she is more clever and charming than most.  This production is one of more than 40 performances which the UALR Music Department presents throughout the year.

The UALR Music Department offers emphasis in conducting, guitar, instrumental, MIDI, music history, music theory, piano, songwriting and vocal music.  Among the various ensembles are the Chamber Choir, Community Chorus, Community Orchestra, Concert Choir, Gospel Chorale, Guitar Ensemble, Opera Theatre, Percussion Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Wind Ensemble and Women’s Chorus.

Music majors may take courses in performance study of classical music and jazz, audio recording techniques, computer music MIDI techniques, music history, theory, and composition. Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall, a 304-seat facility equipped with a Steinway concert grand piano and a Bösendorfer Imperial grand, is the setting for the many concerts hosted by the music department each year.

Arts & Humanities Month: Governor’s Arts Awards

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Governor Mike Beebe and the Arkansas Arts Council are presenting the Governor’s Arts Awards at a ceremony and luncheon today in Little Rock. The recipients include:

  • LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Vincent Insalaco – North Little Rock
  • ARTS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARD: John Gaudin – North Little Rock
  • ARTS IN EDUCATION AWARD: Nicole Capri – Little Rock
  • CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP OF THE ARTS AWARD: Thoma Thoma – Little Rock
  • FOLKLIFE AWARD: Mike Shirkey – Fayetteville
  • INDIVIDUAL ARTIST AWARD: Larry Foley – Fayetteville
  • PATRON AWARD: Hershey and Denise Garner – Fayetteville
  • JUDGES’ SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD: Claire Haun – North Little Rock

The awards are sponsored by the Arkansas Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.  The Governor’s Arts Awards recognize individuals and corporations for their outstanding contributions to the arts in Arkansas. The recipients were nominated by the public and then selected by an independent panel of arts professionals from around the state. Each recipient will receive an original work of art created by Arkansas artist Winston Taylor of Russellville, recipient of the 2011 Arkansas Living Treasure award.

Also at the luncheon, the recipients of the Individual Artist Fellowships will be recognized.  This year’s recipients are:

MUSIC COMPOSITION

  • Richard Salonen – Farmington
  • Rena Wren – Hot Springs
  • Shannon Wurst – Fayetteville

POETRY

  • Mary Angelino – Fayetteville
  • J. Camp Brown – Fort Smith
  • Cynthia King – Fayetteville

SCULPTURE/INSTALLATION ART

  • Ty Brunson – Russellville
  • John Rankine – Eureka Springs
  • Cary Voss – Conway

Arts & Humanities Month: Sunday Afternoon Music Little Rock Wind Symphony; Arkansas Chamber Singers

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Little Rock audiences have two options for Sunday afternoon music today. The Little Rock Wind Symphony presents its first concert of this, its 19th season at 3pm at Little Rock’s Second Presbyterian Church.  Under the direction of Dr. Karen Fannin, music director since 2006, the program is entitled Warhorses for Winds.  The featured soloist will be Andy Wen on Alto Saxophone.  His appearance is underwritten by Fran and Dr. Al Nelson.

A highlight will be the world premiere of a new composition commissioned by the Little Rock Wind Symphony – Karen Griebling’s “Moduli Mundi” (“Tunes of the Cosmos”).

The program also consists of:

  • Samuel Barber: “Commando March”
  • Camille De Nardis: “The Universal Judgment”
  • Gustav Holst: “Second Suite in F”
  • Percy Grainger / Sousa: “Country Gardens”
  • Gustav Holst: “Mars”

Also at 3pm, the Arkansas Chamber Singers will be presenting their first concert of the season. Their performance will be in the Great Hall at the Clinton Presidential Center.  (They actually presented this concert as well this past Friday evening at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.)  Since 1979, the Arkansas Chamber Singers have been presenting a variety of classic and contemporary vocal works.

This season has the theme: “Masters in the Hall.”  The first concert is appropriately titled “Masters in Hall, Masters in the Fall.”  Under the direction of artistic director and conductor Dr. John Erwin, the singers will perform works by the Baroque composer Claudio Monteverdi.  The singers will also perform selections by Brahms and Schubert.  To conclude the program, they will present “Five Hebrew Love Songs” by Eric Whitacre. Joining the singers in this concert will be cellist Stephen Feldman and violinist Israel Getzov.