SoNA Christmas Pops Concert

This Saturday, December 10 at 7:30pm, Maestro Paul Haas and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA) will be in Walton Arts Center's Baum Walker Hall for a holiday performance.

Back in September we referenced Paul Haas' blog, specifically his answer to "What exactly does a conductor do?" Since then, Haas has written two more entries to round out his official answer to this oft-asked question. Click here to read his witty, yet very informative, answers.

The Christmas Pops Concert is the second performance of SoNA’s 2011-12 inaugural season and will feature acclaimed Northwest Arkansas vocal soloists Chantry Dean and Echo Sibley – along with the debut of SoNA Singers, the Symphony’s new choral group led by Director Terry Hicks of Bentonville. The Har-Ber High School Camerata Singers and Bentonville High School Chamber Choir will also perform. 

The evening’s planned repertoire includes holiday favorites ranging from “Mary, Did You Know?" (vocals by Chantry Dean) and “O Holy Night” (vocals by Echo Sibley with guitarist Jim Goza) to “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Sleigh Ride,” among others. Not to mention, Maestro Paul Haas always has an extra surprise or two in store. 

So, make plans to attend and enjoy this holiday treat. It’s sure to be a celebration you and your family won't want to miss! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.sonamusic.org or call the Walton Arts Center box office at (479) 443-5600.

Million Dollar Quartet in Charlotte, NC

By Beth Goodwin, Public Relations Manager at Walton Arts Center

Although this was my second time to see the show, knowing THIS cast would soon grace the stage of Walton Arts Center coupled with our front row seats, certainly added an element of excitement and reality to the experience!

If I had to summarize, I would say, Million Dollar Quartet is a 95-minute, historically relevant jam session, filled with the energy of a concert and the spirit of Broadway! Set in Memphis on December 4, 1956, it's about the magical night Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley all came together for an impromptu recording session with producer, Sam Phillips of Sun Records. The show was inspired by the actual event-- and specifically the photo of that night.

 

Although its a Broadway show, MDQ is a stripped down performance featuring a bevy of Rockabilly, gospel, rock and country music. Songs like "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," and "Great Balls of Fire" take you on an intimate journey through the 1950s and the birth of rock n roll.

Aside from the southern charms of the setting, Million Dollar Quartet has several ties to Arkansas including Johnny Cash's hometown of Kingsland, AR. But what the Natural State can be most proud of is, Cody Slaughter the young rising star from Harrison, AR, who plays Elvis. From the lip curl to the hip swirl, he nails the part of a young E, home visiting his mother for the holidays. Here's a photo with Cody Slaughter, myself and Jill Holcombe after the show on Wednesday evening.

I absolutely fell in love with the history and soul of the show and can not wait till opening night...NWA is in for a treat!  For more info about Million Dollar Quartet, coming Feb. 21-26, go online or call the Box Office at 479.443.5600!

Here's a little video preview from the 2010 Tony Awards, ENJOY:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEh4tk8xP7U

Thank You Thursday

It's Thursday again, did you know it comes around once a week?? We're certainly glad it does because that means it's time for Thank You Thursday! We like to take a moment and thank the people that help make Walton Arts Center's mission a reality.

Today we would like to give thanks to the team at MailCo USA in Fayetteville. Mike, Kathy, Elizabeth and the whole team work diligently to ensure all of our mailings go out in a timely manner (even when we call them at the last minute!). They also come to our locations daily and pick up our mail so we can man the office and keep things running smooth, and they are one of our long-term partners and sponsors, supporting our efforts to bring the arts to more people throughout the region. We can always rely on the team at MailCo to be enthusiastic and supportive of our shows and education programs.

THANK YOU MAILCO USA!

Check back with us next Thursday for another round of Thank You Thursday. We have many, many people who help make Walton Arts Center a successful non-profit organization.

The funny bone: What tickles it & why?

We love our 20th Anniversary Season lineup, but we're especially excited for Cocktails with Larry Miller on Friday, December 16. Larry Miller is one funny guy. He stole our hearts in Pretty Woman, made us {guilt-ily} giggle in Princess Diaries, and brought on the laughs as the doorman on Seinfeld. Miller has also made appearances in many of Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, like Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman.

Each of those performances were all very different, yet equally funny, which got us thinking - what makes us laugh and why? Is it a learned response or something engrained in our cognitive thinking? This article in The Boston Globe helped explain humor a little better for us. Take a minute to read over it and let us know what you think. It's a pretty interesting perspective.

The show is only a couple of weeks away, but there are still tickets available here. We know there will be plenty to laugh about during Larry Miller's discussion on Marriage, Children & Drinking...how each one leads to the other two. Head over to Larry's blog and get prepared to laugh 'til you cry.

See you at the show, drink in hand, maybe in both. You wouldn't want to miss a minute of this performance!

Thank You Thursday

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to start a new tradition, “Thank You Thursday”!

As a non-profit, it takes a lot of people to help us do what we do.  Did you know that every year, we fundraise about half of our budget?  Without these gifts, we would not be able to serve our local schools, and offer low-cost programs like the 10x10 Arts Series or our Artosphere Festival.  So when we thank our supporters in curtain speeches before shows, we really mean it.

Each Thursday, we will highlight a group, person or organization that helps us fulfill our mission to, “bring great artists and entertainers from around the world to Northwest Arkansas, connecting and engaging people through inspiring arts experiences.” It could be a sponsor, or a granting organization or an individual.

We thought it would be nice to put it out in the universe (web-iverse?) and let everyone know how much we appreciate the support! We hope you’ll join us in thanking them for keeping the arts central to our great community.

Today we would like to thank Colgate-Palmolive, our Classroom Series sponsor. The Colgate Classroom Series offers live matinee performances in a variety of art forms including dance, theater, opera, and world music to school groups.

These performances are opportunities for young people to explore world cultures, make connections to important works of literature, or to learn more about art forms. For many Northwest Arkansas children, the Colgate Classroom Series is their first exposure to the performing arts. We are so thankful that Colgate-Palmolive allows them this opportunity by being a generous sponsor.

THANK YOU COLGATE-PALMOLIVE!

Check back in with us as we continue our "Thank You Thursday" posts, and see the man (men, women, partners, sponsors, friends - you get the idea) behind the Walton Arts Center curtain!

Reviews are in & Rock of Ages R-O-C-K-S the house!

Our Rock of Ages Broadway run has begun, and to say it is awesome is an understatement. The crowd is raving at intermission and by the end of the show they are already making plans to come back. It's.seriously.that.good. Don't take my word for it though, watch the audience reviews below and see for yourself!

TunedIn also has an opening night review on their site that you can read here.

There are still more performances this week, so it's not too late to get your tickets to this face-melting, head-banging, rock your socks off show! Click here to get tickets now, or you can call our box office at 479.443.5600.

Rock of Ages: "Nothin' but a Good Time"

Rock of Ages is coming to Northwest Arkansas! The five-time Tony Award® nominated musical will be at Walton Arts Center November 15-20 for eight performances.

In anticipation of this show, we partnered with Rowdy Beaver, The KEG and KRUZ radio for a karaoke contest. The winner received two tickets to opening night and a meet & greet with some of the cast members after the show.

We had an awesome time at the karaoke contest! There were a lot of great entrants, fun songs and hilarious '80s outfits. The pictures speak for themselves. Head over to our Facebook page to check them out. Thanks to everyone that came out for the event - it was "Nothin' but a Good Time!"

The Rock of Ages cast is excited about coming to Northwest Arkansas too. They sent us a shout-out to let us know, and you can watch that video over on our Facebook page!

If you want to head back in time to the '80s for some big hair, big tunes and big fun; get your tickets now for Rock of Ages. It's going to be a GREAT time! 

The Importance of Being Earnest - Patron feedback

The Importance of Being Earnest was a hit with our audience! It was the second performance in our 10x10 Arts Series, and the first play we have ever had in the series. After these reviews, we will certainly be looking to offer more plays in the 10x10, and to work with Aquila Theatre again. They were brilliant!

Here are just some of the many comments from our Earnest audience:

• Very good job of refreshing a period piece. I especially liked the scene changes. Still funny after all these years!
• Excellent! Happy! Joyous! Grateful for sharing the show with you!
• Well Done! Great production- acting direction, and segue’s from one scene to the next. We liked the way it was updated as well! Good job!
• Great Acting, great comedy and I enjoyed the modern spin. Put me in such a better mood! Oddly fit difficulties of life.
• Loved the show! It was hilarious and I am so grateful for the 10x10 series.
• This is my second play that I have been to, never really thought much about them. My wife drags me to them, must say I’m starting to enjoy them. This show was wonderful and funny. I have grown to like plays. Thank you!

Thanks to everyone that came out and enjoyed the show! We had just as much fun as you! Our next 10x10 show will be January 20, 2012 with Poncho Sanchez and his Latin Jazz Band.

The Importance of Being Earnest - Part 2

Yesterday we had a q & a with Peter F Gardiner who plays Jack Worthing (Earnest) and Merriman in Aquila Theatre's "The Importance of Being Earnest." The play will be at Walton Arts Center this Saturday, November 5 at 8pm, and is part of our 10x10 Arts Series in which most of our tickets are only $10. Yes, you heard me right, $10!! Quick, hop over here and purchase tickets now!

Ok, on with the rest of the story. Today, we've got a q & a with Guy Oliver-Watts who plays Algernon in Earnest. He definitely had a different perspective on some of the questions, and it was great to see how he and Peter differed in their answers. Read on for some intriguing facts on Guy. 

1.       "I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression." ---How are you wonderfully expressive?

2.       “Oh! it is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read.”---What have you read recently but shouldn’t? 

3.       One of the characters pretends to have a friend in the country that he can ‘visit’ anytime he wants to get away from social engagements…where would you go if you could visit anywhere?

4.       If you could switch identities with one well-known/famous character for a day, who would it be? Why?

5.       The New York Times describes Aquila as “modernly hip” – what two words would you use to describe YOURSELF?

6.       Can you think of a time you got caught bending the truth?

7.       If you could uproot any classic what time period would you place it in and why?

Responses from Guy Oliver-Watts who plays Algernon 

1. When I am at my least self conscious and able to articulate or focus on something/some character outside of myself.

i.e.  When I write songs, sing, act or when I express my love to my wife and children, most of the time at least I leave them in no doubt about it.

2. A Terry Pratchett novel...amusingly written etc... but fundamentally an utter waste of several hours of my life when nothing was learnt.

Other than that, my mothers choice of English newspaper 'The Daily Mail'. It has an editorial that I find abhorant.

3. India or Africa because I've never been... or Rome & New York because I never tire of them

4. Obama...so I could triple the funding for the arts.. or Scarlet Johansson (I'm only human).

5. Occasionally inspired

6. not for a while...I'm a good liar.

7. Off the top of my head...Dr. Faustus in some present day political scenario.

Thank you Guy for some great answers to our questions! Judging by the responses from Guy and Peter, "The Importance of Being Earnest" is sure to be an entertaining show this weekend. Come on out Saturday night and party with us at the second performance of our 10x10 Arts Series. There will be a pre-show creative conversation with some of the actors, and after the show there's a party in our lobby, complete with music and a specialty cocktail. We hope to see you there!

The Importance of Being Earnest

Aquila Theatre will be performing Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" this Saturday, November 5 at 8pm as part of our 10x10 Arts Series. Earnest is such a witty and fun play, and there are so many fabulous quotes, like, "Never speak disrespectfully of Society, Algernon. Only people who can't get into it do that," and "Well, I know, of course, how important it is not to keep a business engagement, if one wants to retain a sense of beauty of life." 

We thought it would be fun to get to know some of the actors from Aquila Theatre, so we went sent them some interesting questions to answer. Here are the questions & their answers are below: 

1.       A quote from the play: "I don't play accurately - anyone can play accurately - but I play with wonderful expression." ---How are you wonderfully expressive?

2.       “Oh! it is absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one should read and what one shouldn't. More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn't read.”---What have you read recently but shouldn’t? 

3.       One of the characters pretends to have a friend in the country that he can ‘visit’ anytime he wants to get away from social engagements…where would you go if you could visit anywhere?

4.       If you could switch identities with one well-known/famous character for a day, who would it be? Why?

5.       The New York Times describes Aquila as “modernly hip” – what two words would you use to describe YOURSELF?

6.       Can you think of a time you got caught bending the truth?

7.       If you could uproot any classic what time period would you place it in and why?

Responses from Peter F. Gardiner who plays Jack Worthing (or Earnest) and Merriman 

1. I express myself through my acting (in 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and 'Macbeth' I get to play 8 different roles and that's just in 2 shows). Since my first play in 1991 ('Tess of the D'Urbervilles') I've played hundreds of roles and I find that this is one of the greatest ways for me to express myself. I also write and play songs on the guitar I find this a very satisfying way of expressing myself. I have written 3 full-length plays, I really enjoy expressing myself through play-writing. Socially I enjoy telling stories, telling jokes and 'playing the fool' so I also find this is a daily way of expressing myself in an informal way.

2. I bought a novel 'Matterhorn' 3 months ago. It's a great book and yet I've only read a quarter of it because I'm not a big reader. So I don't read the good stuff, let alone waste my time by reading stuff I shouldn't! Also in the last 12 months I've been in 5 different plays so I find myself learning and revising my lines, so - again I don't have the time to read stuff I shouldn't - I'm too busy getting on top of my lines. 

3. Italy. I've heard it's beautiful, the food's great, it's full of history and I've never been there before, and it's warmer than where I live in Britain. 

4. I'd love to be Han Solo for the day. A lot of people don't realize that he's a real person who helped bring peace, prosperity and love to a galaxy under threat from a great evil. I love the Star Wars movies and apparently Harrison Ford's a really big fan of my early work.

5. Expressive and Fun. But also Scottish and Short. Also Jealous and Ambitious. Also Artistic and Creative.

6. The last time I bent the truth a little bit was probably after the last time I stayed at my parents house. We always eat too much, stay up late, drinking, playing poker and partying into the wee wee hours, so come the next day my girlfriend and I just want to get home, lie on the couch in front of the TV and recover. So I might have told the odd white lie about needing to get home 'the morning after' for sundry weighty reasons; 'To meet people', 'To have lunch with someone', 'To prepare a chicken we've already bought' etc.......

7. I'd uproot 'Hamlet' and place him in a Modern Urban Scottish Setting, complete with drugs, drink, clubs, violence, family histories, distrust, friends, romances and rapier duels - a bit like a 'Shakespearean Trainspotting', or 'Hamlet in Hamilton',  perhaps 'The Dane in Dundee', or 'The Prince of Paisley', 'Deep-Fried Hamlet', these are just a few of the titles I'm playing with. I've also got an idea for a very good 40 year old Scottish actor to play the lead role in the version I've just described - in fact he's perfect! 

Great answers from Peter!! Check back tomorrow for another round with Guy Oliver-Watts who plays Algernon in "The Importance of Being Earnest."

Scotch Tasting

Throughout the year Walton Arts Center hosts several different events as part of our annual Art of Wine (AOW) Festival. Our Art of Wine Festival is one of the major fudraising events for Walton Arts Center's Arts Education and Outreach programs.

The first event of this year's AOW is the Scotch Tasting on Thursday, November 3 at 6pm. Master of Whisky, Robert Sickler will be here to host the evening, and will have some of the finest single malt and blended Scotch whiskies in the world.

Robert has been here with us before hosting this event, and we're happy to welcome him back this year. Here's a little bio on Robert:

Master of Whisky for Colorado, Robert Sickler, spends his days organizing whisky tastings, seminars, and dinners to introduce people to all things whisky.Trained in all aspects of whisky by experts at some of the world's most famous distilleries,Sickler takes great pride in“bringing whisky to the people”, converting new whisky enthusiasts “one dram at a time.”

Before discovering a career in whisky, Sickler worked as an English teacher; however, his passion for wine and spirits prompted him to change course. He became a veteran of the wine & spirits industry, pouring drinks, managing restaurants, and hosting wine dinners across the globe before returning to the United States to become a Master of Whisky.

Because of his knowledge of international cuisine and interest in complex flavor combinations, Sickler is always seeking to pair the perfect food alongside the perfect whisky. He views whisky as the "wine of the spirits world‟ and enjoys the opportunity to present whisky and food combinations that "transform hearts, minds, and palates.‟ He also takes pride in utilizing fresh, innovative ingredients to create unforgettable whisky cocktails.

Sickler can think of no job better suited to his personality than Master of Whisky. He says, “I grew up with a deep connection to my Scottish and Irish heritage, and as an adult I developed a sincere passion for whisky. Getting to combine these two interests by working as a brand ambassador for the world's finest whisky portfolio is a true honor.”

When not preaching the gospel of whisky, Robert enjoys writing, reading, photography, percussion and the culinary arts. He is an avid reader of literature, international affairs, anthropology and history.

We hope to see you here at Walton Arts Center on Thursday at our Scotch Tasting with Master of Whisky, Robert Sickler. It's sure to be a good time for a good cause!

The importance of music

Munich Symphony, a world-renowned symphonic group is coming to Walton Arts Center on Tuesday, November 1 at 7pm. They will be performing one of the most well-known pieces of music, Mozart's Requiem. They will be accompanied by the choral group Gloria Dei Cantores.

 

The Munich Symphony Orchestra (Münchner Symphoniker) is one of Munich’s four symphony orchestras. It was founded in 1945 as “Symphonieorchester Kurt Graunke” and – with its four subscription series in Prinzregententheater, Herkulessaal and the Philharmonie am Gasteig – is regarded as one of the high-profile ensembles of the city of Munich.

More than 100 concerts each year in almost every musical center of Germany and Europe, as well as regular guest performances in the USA (most recently in February 2009) and Asia display the capability of the orchestra, which captivates through its flexibility, its wide repertoire and extroverted interpretations.

For over ten years, the Munich Symphony has been a cooperative partner to the opera festival at Gut Immling in Chiemgau with two major opera productions each summer. Attractive productions of film scores (for example, a live concert of the score of “The Lord of the Rings”) and show productions (Roncalli’s “Circus Meets Classic”) add to the profile of the Munich Symphony Orchestra.

With this upcoming concert, and West Side Story playing their iconic music in our hall this week, it really got us thinking about music and how it plays a role in our lives. We found an article on Arts Journal last week that discusses this very topic, the importance of music, and categorizes music and sound into different areas and how those areas are used. The author was at an American Symphony Orchestra League conference, and was sharing the podium with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

Take a look at the article and let us know what you think about the author's ideas!

West Side Story is here - let the snapping begin!

Today we have a guest post from Chris Rice, a cast member of West Side Story. Chris will be performing in the show that is here at Walton Arts Center this week! We were very excited that Chris took the time to write this post for us, and we hope you'll enjoy reading it. We sure did!

West Side Story

Hey Everyone! My name is Christopher Rice and I play Baby John in the Broadway National Tour of West Side Story. 

I grew up nearby in Oklahoma and following graduation from the University of Oklahoma this past May, I moved to the big, bad apple! I was lucky enough to go in for this production of West Side as my first audition in the city! In a nutshell, I booked this show my first week and shortly there after, I hit the road with this amazing show!!

I have been very blessed and have worked a lot regionally during my summers off from school. There have been many great theatrical experiences so far, but nothing has compared to working on this tour. West Side Story is as good as it gets! 

Almost everyone knows the iconic  music in the show, but I think people are reminded just how breathtakingly beautiful the score is when they hear it played with a live orchestra! As a performer, there is nothing more thrilling than dancing and singing along with a live orchestra playing great music. It is such a rush!

It is a very dance-heavy show and with such flashy, iconic choreography, many people ask how we, as dancers, maintain our bodies on the road. Everyone is different, so each cast member has to find what works for them. Many cast members lift weights regularly, run, do yoga, and take ballet to maintain their bodies on the road. Also, before each show, the dancers spend a great amount of time stretching and warming up as preparation for the non-stop action of the show. 

It takes a lot of work, but seeing the audience get swept away night after night makes it all worth it. I hope you get a chance to check out the show! Feel free to check out my website and the official website for the show!

www.ChristopherRiceOnline.com 

www.BroadwayWestSideStory.com

Thank you Chris! We look forward to seeing you and the rest of the cast in Fayetteville this week. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.waltonartscenter.org  or by calling our Box Office at 479.443.5600.

Hope to see you at the show this week!

Reaching an audience

Around here we are always trying to brainstorm ways to get in touch with our audience, get them interested in the arts and make them feel like they are a part of what's going on in the arts world. The Arts Council of Oklahoma City has implemented a new program called "Art Moves, presented by Devon" as a way of engaging audiences.

Read the article here, and let us know what you think about this! Pretty cool? We think so!

Yellow Bus Celebration: 20 Years of Arts Education

Yellow buses arriving during the celebration

For 20 years, arts education has been the cornerstone of Walton Arts Center, reaching more than half a million students and teachers throughout NWA and the state. Our learning and education programs are designed to help students, teachers and families make certain that the arts remain an essential part of their lives.

We work to provide every Northwest Arkansas student access to arts field classes through our Colgate Classroom Series. The Colgate Classroom Series offers live matinee performances in a variety of art forms including dance, theater, opera and world music.

Recently we had the Yellow Bus Celebration to kick-off the 20th season of our Colgate Classroom Series. State Representative, Uvalde Lindsey gave the key-note address, and Payton Bridewell, a former student that attended many performances through our Colgate Classroom Series, also spoke.

It was so interesting to hear her speak about the way that the early exposure to art has influenced her life. Payton said that because of her experience with the arts early on in life, she was actively involved in singing and drama throughout her high school and college, and is now a regular patron at Walton Arts Center.

We are so glad that we can provide this service to our community, and hope that over the next 20 years we will hear more stories like Payton's!

10x10 Audience Feedback

We love our 10x10 Arts Series. The idea that we can bring world class theater, jazz, classical and dance performances to our patrons for only $10 per ticket - well, that just makes us giddy. But, what we really want to know is what our audience feels when they come to one of our 10x10 shows, and so, at the end of each one we have special sticky notes for our patrons to write on and let us know what they thought of the performance. See example below:

 

This was a couple of our patron notes after the Emerson String Quartet performance.

Patrons gathering post-show in our lobby

Here are a few of our feedback favorites on Emerson String Quartet:

“Incredible, Brilliant! The scenes that unfold, the stories that grow behind the eyelids…whole worlds of sun and shadow, kindness and intrigue, forest, stream, city, the violence, the tenderness of nature. Bravo, Bravo and thank you!”

“My first classical music experience…Thanks for an amazing show! Your passion and enthusiasm shine!”

“Playful and passionate, instead of sitting back and listening I wanted to lean forward and engage!”

“Last time we saw them was in Carnegie Hall. They were great then and now, but we like seeing them in the Walton Arts Center more!”

“Leaving here craving MORE!”

Our next 10x10 show is Aquila Theatre's The Importance of Being Earnest on Saturday, November 5 at 8pm. We will also have a Countdown Conversation at the Fayetteville Public Library on Sunday, October 23 at 2pm in the Walker Community room. Jodi Beznoska, VP of Communications at Walton Arts Center and Dr. David Jolliffe will be discussing Oscar Wilde and The Importance of Being Earnest. More information on that here. 

Come join in the 10x10 fun and let us know what you think!

Guest post on Emerson String Quartet performance

Today we've got a guest post from Iti Agnihotri, a news producer for our local NPR affiliate, KUAF. Iti attended the Emerson String Quartet performance this past Sunday, and was kind enough to share her thoughts with us on the show. Please, read on and enjoy!

The Emerson String Quartet performance, the first in this year’s 10x10 Arts Series, was, in one word, magnificent. It was also the first ever such experience for me. I’ve trained in north Indian classical vocal music for four years, but am not really familiar with the technicalities of western classical music; hence, was eager to learn more.

Is there a better way to start the program than with a piece by Haydn, “the father of string quartets?” I think not. The Emerson String Quartet opened with Haydn op.77 #2. After hearing so much about it at the Countdown Conversation two weeks ago, I looked forward to the piece and thought it was brilliant (as a matter of fact, I’m still listening to it). The music soared and descended, sometimes dramatically. The artists were having fun which, in turn, helped us enjoy the piece more. A fellow audience member appropriately called the performance a game of “musical” musical chairs.

Some fun facts:

*All these pieces are the composers’ last (in Haydn and Beethoven’s case) or latest (in Pierre Jalbert’s case) pieces.

*Beethoven was nearly deaf when he composed his five late quartets (including Beethoven op. 135).

*Beethoven was Haydn’s pupil.

How do I know this? Laura Goodwin of Walton Arts Center and University of Arkansas musicologist Dr. Martin Nedbal discussed all this and much more during the Countdown Conversation. They also said another interesting observation to make during the concert would be the exchange between the members of the quartet, and how the quartet draws the audience into this exchange. Although, all three pieces involved conversation, my favorite was the Jalbert composition, written exclusively for the Emerson String Quartet. You could tell it had an immediate effect on the audience.

I don’t think anyone quite expected the Jalbert piece to be all that it was. Sinister sounding, it was unusual, otherworldly even. Every ebb and flow was highly anticipated. The artists egged each other on and the performance looked physically demanding. No wonder violinist Eugene Drucker, in the pre-show creative conversation with Walton Arts Center CEO Peter Lane, said the piece makes him “break out in a sweat” prior to every single performance.

The eagerly awaited Beethoven op. 135 was the most layered, complex quartet of all. Beethoven teases, exhilarates, and mystifies – all at the same time. After all, he IS Beethoven. A great end to a great concert! The artists received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Yesterday’s concert made me feel how little I know about the world and how much there really is left to explore. I look forward to many more such experiences at the 10x10 Arts Series this year.

Thank you Iti for sharing your wonderful insight and unique perspective on the Emerson String Quartet performance!

Bringing the past into the present

The Martha Graham Dance Company was in our hall last night, and what a beautiful performance they put on.

It was a unique program that included video, pictures and narration by the Artistic Director, Janet Eilber. For someone who was not well-versed in Martha Graham's history, or dance in general, having Janet on-stage discussing Graham's life, her work and her impact was a wealth of resource and knowledge. Eilber made the show that much better. It was fascinating to have film and pictures from Graham's career, dating back to the early 1920's, played during the performance.

The New York Times published an article on another dance legend, ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov, and how he recently donated a large collection of film, pictures and other memorabilia to the New York Public Library. Baryshnikov has worked with many of the great choreographers of our time, including Martha Graham. There is actually a film in his donated collection of a time he performed for Graham. It will be interesting to see how Baryshnikov's collected works might be put to use in the future, as Graham's are - being used to facilitate the performance and enlighten a whole new generation.

Read the complete New York Times article here.

TheatreSquared receives 2011 National Theatre Co Award

Northwest Arkansas just got one more reason to be proud of our area. Our regional professional theatre company, TheatreSquared, (based in Fayetteville) received the 2011 National Theatre Company Award from the American Theatre Wing, which is the founder of the Tony Awards. For more information on what this means, read the entire press release on TheatreSquared's website.

In case you haven't been to one of TheatreSquared's perfomances, here are some key points on what makes them unique:

- They are a professional theatre. This means that everyone that works on their productions - actors, directors, designers, crew - are all paid on a national scale. This also means the actors are professionals, are trained & have devoted their careers to theatre.

- Auditions for TheatreSquared are held nationally in Chicago, New York and Northwest Arkansas.

- Productions are conceived and produced here in Northwest Arkansas. All the design, direction and rehearsals are done in Fayetteville.

- Arts-in-education is a big part of TheatreSquared's mission. In 2010, more than 5,000 students and teachers benefited from T2's outreach programs.

- TheatreSquared is one of only two professional companies in the state of Arkansas, and are currently the only ones producing theatre year-round.

Northwest Arkansas is fortunate to have this theatre company as part of our arts landscape. If you have not had a chance to check out one of their performances - take a look at their schedule and find one that tickles your fancy. You won't be disappointed!

Getting to know Emerson String Quartet

We are a little over a week away from the kick-off of our 10x10 Arts Series. Emerson String Quartet is our first performance of the series, and their concert is Sunday, October 9 at 3:00pm. 

Emerson is comprised of violinists Eugene Drucker and Philip Setzer who alternate in the first chair position, and by violist Lawrence Dutton and cellist David Finckel. In order to better understand some of the faces behind the Quartet, we recently sent them a series of questions to answer. 

From Phil Setzer:

1. Any musical collaborations from the past or visions of a collaboration that we might be surprised to hear about?

We performed “Yesterday” and “Lady Madonna” with Paul McCartney at a benefit concert a couple of years ago for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall camps. It was fun to meet Sir Paul and actually perform with him and it was great to do this for our friend Paul Newman who sadly left us soon after.

2. How has classical music evolved over your career and how has that affected the quartet?

Classical music will always exist. There is much written about how classical music is dying, but we have travelled recently to Asia and South America where we were literally mobbed by young music students who, if not all the professional musicians of tomorrow, will certainly be a big percentage of the audience!

3. What are the last 3 songs you listened to on your Ipod?

-Schubert’s “Du bist die ruh” with Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau and Gerald Moore 

- Ives songs with with Jan Degaetini and Gil Kalish

- Beatles “Ticket to Ride”

From Eugene Drucker:

1. What part of the performance are you most excited to shared with audience members? Why?

It's hard to pick just one part of the performance as my favorite. I'm excited to share Haydn's last complete quartet, Op. 77 #2, with the audience. It's full of vitality in the outer movements and in the minuet, though there is a much more placid middle section in that second movement (minuet). The third movement is an ingenious set of variations.   

It's also exciting for us to see an audience's reaction to a new piece. The Jalbert was written for us and premiered in Houston a few months ago; since then, we've played a handful of performances. Audiences will respond to the wistful atmosphere of the first and third movements, as well as the propulsive energy of the second and fourth. Here, as in the Haydn, the third movement is a set of variations, this one on a theme based on an old Huguenot melody.  

The Beethoven quartet is the culmination of the groundbreaking explorations that the composer, by now profoundly deaf, made in his five late quartets. This is the last multi-movement work in any genre that he completed. In the first movement, Beethoven seems to bring us back into the sound world and gestural landscape of Haydn and Mozart, but the scherzo is a wild ride; the slow movement -- once again, a set of variations -- is, like the slow movements of the other late quartets, one of the deepest utterances in our quartet literature, and the finale contrasts a brooding slow introduction with a joyous and assertive fast movement.

2. All this touring…what’s your least favorite form of transportation/traveling?

I don't love all the time spent in airports and on often crowded airplanes. Sometimes I will opt to drive a distance of 4 or 5 hours rather than fly 1 hour, because the time spent traveling door-to-door, with all the waiting time before the flight, is almost as long. This is especially true if the only reliable flight between two cities leaves early in the morning; I would prefer to set my own schedule whenever possible.

3. You’re in music as a career, clearly you love sound…what’s your favorite sound?  

I love the sound of a great singing voice, either operatic and/or that of a great Lieder singer. We string players try to emulate great singers when possible and appropriate. I also love the sound of a great orchestra in symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms or Mahler, to name just a few of the orchestral composers whose music has thrilled me.

We loved reading their responses and hope you will as well.  If you would like to find out more about the Emerson String Quartet, head over to their website and check them out. They are a fascinating group that have been making music together for three decades. Walton Arts Center is excited to bring this world-renowned quartet to Northwest Arkansas!