Arts World Financial Center Announces Winter 2011 Season, 12/22

This winter, Arts World Financial Center is taking a trip back in time to 17th Century Italy, the Silent Film Era, mid-20th Century New York City and beyond with an eclectic line-up of music, theater, film, and dance, organizers announced today.

Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra will kick off the season with the world premiere of Robert Moses Astride New York, featuring acclaimed actor Rinde Eckert as New York City's iconic and controversial "Master Builder." Composed by Gary S. Fagin, the orchestra's musical director, the work offers an impressionistic meditation on the legacy of Moses, whose uncompromising vision produced many of the parks, highways, and bridges that shape New York City's landscape. (January 15)

The season will culminate with New York Classical Theatre's three-week production of The Rover, a 17th Century Restoration comedy that will take audiences on a rousing journey throughout the World Financial Center's 3.5-acre complex. Set during Carnival (Mardi Gras) in Naples, Italy, this costume drama by Aphra Behn -- the first professional female playwright in the English language -- will strike a special chord with New Yorkers celebrating both Mardi Gras and Women's History Month. (March 2-6, 8-13, 16-20; with a special performance on Fat Tuesday, March 8)

"The line-up for our winter season brings history to life in fresh, surprising, and exciting ways," said Debra Simon, Artistic Director of Arts World Financial Center. "We are proud to bring these world-class artists and performers to audiences for free."

Other winter season highlights include:
Hailed by Time Out New York as one of NYC's top five venues for cult films, the Winter Garden will host New Sounds Live: Silent Films/Live Music, featuring Masters of Slapstick, three shorts featuring Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd, as well as screenings of Speedy (1928) and The Black Pirate (1926) all accompanied by the Alloy Orchestra performing live, original scores. (February 2-4)

For Valentine's Day, the Hector Del Curto Tango Orchestra will recreate the romantic tradition of orquesta tipica with lessons followed by a passionate performance from some of the world's leading tango musicians and dancers. (February 14)

The New York Opera Society pays tribute to Black History Month with a focus on renowned singer and political activist Paul Robeson. The concert features baritone Kenneth Overton (Porgy and Bess) booming African-American spirituals and "worker songs." (February 16)

Community events, such as the knitting and crafting club World Financial Center In The Loop (1/21, 2/18, 3/18), are open to the public and also free.

What: World Financial Center Winter 2011 Season
Where: 220 Vesey St
Phone: 212.945.0505
URL: http://www.artsworldfinancialcenter.com/
Cost: Free

The full schedule of winter 2011 season events, including dates and times, follow:

MUSIC
WORLD PREMIERE
KNICKERBOCKER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
VISIONS AND VOICES
Saturday, January 15
7pm
Winter Garden

The power and spirit of New York City are celebrated when the Knickerbocker Chamber Orchestra inaugurates its third season with the premiere of Music Director Gary S. Fagin's composition, Robert Moses Astride New York, featuring visionary performer Rinde Eckert as master builder Robert Moses. The musical festivities continue with an All-American program of works by Euday L. Bowman, Charles Ives, and Aaron Copland. The Brooklyn Youth Chorus joins the cavalcade, singing music by Bob Dylan, Leonard Bernstein, and James Taylor in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., and the evening wraps up with a joyous carousel and public dance for the audience.

NEW YORK OPERA SOCIETY
A TRIBUTE TO Paul Robeson
Wednesday, February 16
7pm
Winter Garden

In honor of Black History Month, New York Opera Society presents baritone Kenneth Overton in a concert tribute to Paul Robeson, one of America's most powerful singers. A 20th Century Renaissance man, Robeson was internationally renowned as a singer, actor, writer, and political activist. This concert features many of Robeson's most famous and inspirational songs, as well as African-American spirituals, classical vocal pieces, and "worker songs."

FILM
NEW SOUNDS LIVE: SILENT FILMS/LIVE MUSIC with ALLOY ORCHESTRA
Curated by John Schaefer, host of WNYC Radio's New Sounds and Soundcheck

Wednesday-Friday, February 2-4
7pm
Winter Garden

ALLOY ORCHESTRA is a three-man musical ensemble, writing and performing live accompaniment to classic silent films. Working with an outrageous assemblage of peculiar objects, including their famous "rack of junk," and electronic synthesizers, Alloy thrashes and grinds soulful music from unlikely sources.

Masters of Slapstick
One Week (1920) starring Buster Keaton
Back Stage (1919) starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle
Easy Street (1917) starring Charlie Chaplin
Wednesday, February 2

This trio of short films features some of Hollywood's greatest comedians. Keaton plays a newlywed trying to build a home, Arbuckle stars as a bumbling stagehand turned actor, and Chaplin is a police officer on a mission. Each of these shorts is a testament to their comedic genius and introduced audiences to some of the actors' best sidesplitting stunts.

Speedy (1928)
Thursday, February 3

Starring comedian Harold Lloyd as the eponymous hero, this film recounts Speedy's attempts to save the last horse-drawn trolley bus from greedy railway magnates. Shot on location in New York City and featuring several landmarks including Yankee Stadium, Luna Park, Columbus Circle, and the Brooklyn Bridge, this was Lloyd's last silent film and one of the works nominated for the short-lived Academy Award for Best Director of a Comedy.

The Black Pirate (1926)
Friday, February 4

In this classic tale of revenge, Douglas Fairbanks, "The King of Hollywood," is bound by honor to avenge the death of his father at the hands of a pirate gang. Disguising himself as a sea-faring adventurer, Fairbanks is able to infiltrate the murderous band, kill their captain, and escape to safety. Filmed in 1926, The Black Pirate was shot entirely in two-strip Technicolor and stars Donald Crisp, Sam De Grasse, and Billie Dove.

DANCE
THE WINTER GARDEN MILONGA
Monday, February 14
12-2pm
Winter Garden

On the most romantic day of the year, the majestic Winter Garden is transformed into a festive "milonga" featuring professional couples dancing sophisticated tango routines and lively music spun by one of the scene's top DJ's. Bring dance shoes for a brief tango lesson at 1pm. Enter a special drawing for a Valentine's gift basket from Godiva Chocolatier.

Hector Del Curto TANGO ORCHESTRA
Monday, February 14
6-9pm
Winter Garden

Hector Del Curto Tango Orchestra, led by the Argentinean bandoneónist and bandleader, transforms the Winter Garden into a grand dancing ballroom with their extraordinary orquesta tipica style. Dance lessons to lively DJ sets open the event from 6-7pm.

Niall O'Leary IRISH DANCE TROUPE
ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION
Monday, March 14
12:30pm
Winter Garden

Celebrate the culture of the Emerald Isle at the World Financial Center Winter Garden with this acclaimed, high-energy dance troupe. Led by former All-Ireland and World Champion dancer Niall O'Leary, and comprised of an international roster of performers, the Troupe blends its varied influences and experiences to create an exciting show, combining traditional forms with new choreography.

THEATER
NEW YORK CLASSICAL THEATRE PRESENTS: THE ROVER
Wednesday-Sunday, March 2-6
Tuesday-Sunday, March 8-13
Wednesday-Sunday, March 16-20
All shows begin at 7pm
World Financial Center Complex

New York Classical Theatre's three-week production of the 17th Century Restoration comedy The Rover will take audiences on a rousing journey throughout the World Financial Center's 3.5-acre complex. Set during Carnival (Mardi Gras) in Naples, Italy, this costume drama by Aphra Behn -- the first professional female playwright in the English language -- will strike a special chord with New Yorkers celebrating both Mardi Gras and Women's History Month. (March 2-6, 8-13, 16-20; with a special performance on Fat Tuesday, March 8)

COMMUNITY
WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER IN THE LOOP
Fridays: January 21, February 18, March 18
12-2pm
Courtyard

Are you a crafter? Join our knitting and crocheting club led by our very own teacher and designer, Ina Braun of Tante Sophie avait un chien knitting studio, to create garments for charitable organizations. We supply the yarn, you bring the tools! Visit our blog for project details: http://wfcintheloop.blogspot.com/.

Shoo away winter's chill with a warm scarf and a variety of choices! World Financial Center In The Loop kicks off 2011 with four projects: a beginner and an intermediate scarf pattern for knitters and crocheters each. In January and February, we'll be creating scarves for the Orphan Foundation of America's Red Scarf Project, which sends completed scarves to OFA students enrolled in colleges and trade schools across America.

About Arts World Financial Center
Since its inception in 1988, over 2.5 million people have attended more than 2,500 free performances and events at the World Financial Center, making Arts World Financial Center the East Coast's largest presenter of free, year-round performing and visual arts. With an emphasis on commissioned works, site-specific installations, and premieres, Arts World Financial Center is the home of flagship annual events like the Bang on a Can Marathon, Silent Films/Live Music curated by WNYC's John Schaefer, and Canstruction, an exhibit featuring giant sculptures made entirely from cans of high-quality food which are ultimately donated to charity.