Spring 2013 Schedule

January 31

River North Dance Chicago

A&S Auditorium

“Pure high-velocity, red-hot, pedal-to-the-metal drive and raw theatricality”—Chicago Sun Times

Founded in 1989, River North is one of Chicago’s leading dance companies, and one of the most popular national repertoire companies, which began touring internationally in 2008, earning rave reviews; Zuger Zeitung described River North as a “furious modern jazz troupe,” which Wolfsburger Nachtrichen described as “fantastically unreal, but very enticing.” Alas, Zuger and Wolfsburger were both eliminated in the second round at Wimbledon (well, no, they’re actually newspapers). “From high drama to low comedy, from torch songs to lyrical love duets, and from abstract modernism to jazzy ballroom style—River North . . . is a contemporary company that can do it all, with technical splendor to boot” (Chicago Sun Times).

General Public $28 / Students & Seniors $24

www.rivernorthchicago.com

FEBRUARY 8

Eldar Djangirov, jazz

Fine Arts Concert Hall

“Maybe he made a pact with Lucifer to be the greatest pianist ever”—Jazz Times

No kidding. He played on Marian McPartland’s “Piano Jazz” program on NPR when he was 12, signed with Sony at the age of 17, and has played with such jazz greats as Billy Taylor, Wynton Marsalis, Nicholas Payton, Ron Carter, and Dave Brubeck, who described him as “a genius.” Born in the Soviet Union, Eldar, as he is known (because nobody can spell Jangerof), learned jazz from his dad’s extensive record collection, especially jazz greats from the 40s—indeed, although he has a style of his own, in his inventiveness and sheer virtuosity, he’s more reminiscent of Art Tatum than of later jazz pianists. And he plays Bach too, . . . like nobody you’ve ever heard before.

www.eldarmusic.com

February 22

NoTA, a cappella

A&S Auditorium

First there was TV’s Glee, where all the high-school students were in their mid twenties, perhaps because they spent all of their time singing and dancing, which, somehow, they did without rehearsing; then there was NBC’s Sing-Off, where eight a cappella groups competed night after night. And suddenly, Americans discovered what college campuses knew all along: a cappella singing. No drums, no guitars, no double bass, just the human voice. And if you saw Sing-Off, where the Whiffenpoofs appeared shortly before appearing here, then you’ll remember Nota as the Grand Prize Winners, who describe their genre as a blend of salsa, hip hop, reggaeton, R&B, meringue, and jazz. We’re actually flying them here directly from their home in Puerto Rico.

General Public $24 / Students & Seniors $20

www.notavocal.com

February 28

Stephen Hough, piano

Fine Arts Concert Hall

“The most perfect piano playing conceivable”—Guardian

We like introducing you to performers at the beginning of their careers, but we also like to feature accomplished artists, and Stephen Hough is certainly that. He has played with every major orchestra you can think of, on all the continents, has over 50 CDs to his credit, which have earned him 8 Grammy nominations and 8 Gramophone awards (including a “Gold Disc” for “the best recording of the last 30 years”). He also composes, writes about music regularly for the Guardian and the Times, and has even written a book on theology. Oh, and he has a MacArthur “genius” award. Simply put, he’s one of the best pianists in the world, and the world recognizes this.

General Public $22 / Students & Seniors $18

www.stephenhough.com

March 7

Aquila, theatre ("Cyrano de Bergerac")

Arts & Sciences Auditorium

We welcome the return of Aquila, a classical theatre company whose mission is to bring “the greatest works to the greatest number,” a variation of Jeremy Bentham’s famed “pleasure principal” (Bentham being the British Utilitarian philosopher whose preserved body is on daily display at the University of London, during term time—ah, there will always be an England). Aquila reaches the greatest number by extensively touring, having played in such diverse venues as Carnegie Hall, the ancient stadium at Delphi, the White House, and, once again, culminating in Laramie last year at the A&S Auditorium. This year’s production is Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac.

General Public $26 / Students & Seniors $23

www.aquilatheatre.com

APRIL 9

Ray Chen, violin

Fine Arts Concert Hall

“His tone is silken, his technique faultless, his musicianship persuasive as well as controlled and poetic”—Guardian

In 2008, Ray Chen won the Yehudi Menuhin Competition, in 2009, the Queen Elisabeth Competition (you get a lot of money, and you get to borrow a Strad), and the Young Concert Artists International Competition (you get to borrow another Strad); his first CD was named “CD of the Week” by both the Chicago Tribune and the Times; his debut appearances at Ravinia and Schleswig-Holstein, where he played with the Munich Philharmonic, earned him standing ovations; and he was profiled in both The Strad and Gramophon magazines as “the one to watch.” Clearly, Chen has already launched a major career, and he hopes one day to have a violin of his own.

General Public $20 / Students & Seniors $17

www.raychenviolin.com

All Performances Begin at 7:30 PM

Please Contact the Fine Arts Box Office for Individual or Season Tickets (307-766-6666)

Sponsors

	University of Wyoming Cultural Programs is a division of the College of Arts & Sciences, assisting the College in its broad educational mission by presenting a rich, balanced program of music, theater, and dance, featuring performances by artists of national and international distinction.
	The Surprise Holiday and River North Dance Chicago performances and residencies are sponsored, in part, by a grant from the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF).
	The Eldar Djangirov concert is cosponsored by UW's American Studies Department as part of its commitment to educating the community about the great variety and diversity of American art and culture.
	The Holiday Performance by Surprise Guests concert is cosponsored by the Laramie Hilton Garden Inn & Convention Center.
	The NOTA concert is cosponsored by Friday Night Fever.
	The Time for Three concert is cosponsored by Student Activities Council.
	The UW Cultural Programs performance series is generously supported by the office of the President at the University of Wyoming.
	The Quatour Ebene concert is cosponsored by D&L Music.