Buffalo Philharmonic And Lehrer Dance Presents AN AMERICA SIDDHARTHA: THE WAY WITHIN, 2/14

Lehrer Dance and the Buffalo Philharmonic have collaborated many times, but their most ambitious project to date is planned for later this season.

The athleticism and grace of Lehrer Dance combines with the musicianship of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in a thought-provoking and exciting new piece, "An American Siddhartha: The Way Within." The piece is a modern re-telling of Herman Hesse's classic novel about self-discovery, "Siddhartha," using Lehrer Dance's signature style and classical masterworks by composers such as Bach, Mozart, Schoenberg, and Brahms. BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta will conduct.

"I am an enormous fan of Jon Lehrer and his dancers, and am thrilled to collaborate with them again. The "American Siddhartha" project is a profound artistic inspiration and the musicians and I are proud to be a part of this groundbreaking production," Falletta said.

The performance is part of the celebration of Lehrer Dance's tenth anniversary. It takes place at the UB Center for the Arts on Feb. 24, 2017. Tickets go on sale Friday and range from $45 to $55, with a VIP ticket including a post-concert reception available for $90. Student tickets are also available for $20.

"Our dance deals with the universal theme of finding oneself amidst a world of chaos and outside influences. The idea of finding peace from within and not from "without" is timeless, superseding any religious, social, economic, or cultural differences," said Jon Lehrer, Founder and Artistic Director of Lehrer Dance. "The characters and story line in Siddhartha lend themselves to great interpretation through Lehrer Dance's signature athletic, artistic, and highly expressive style of dance."

Lehrer and BPO Resident Conductor Stefan Sanders collaborated to develop the piece, spending hours listening to music and reading the novel closely.

"The music takes the same type of journey that Siddhartha takes on his search for enlightenment. The music has sort of mirrored this story of Siddhartha trying to find his true nature," Sanders said, noting that the music also progresses through historical styles. The piece opens with Renaissance-era vocal music, features music from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th Century periods, and closes with a return to consonance in a modern vocal work as Siddhartha completes his journey.

Sanders will conduct the program's first half, which features pieces meant to introduce some of the sub-themes in the work: love, friendship, and fidelity.

To order tickets, contact the UB Center for Performing Arts at (716) 645-2787 or www.ubcfa.org.

As Buffalo's cultural ambassador, the Grammy Award-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the leadership of music director JoAnn Falletta presents more than 100 concerts each year. Since 1940, the orchestra's home has been Kleinhans Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark with a reputation as one of the finest concert halls in the United States. During the tenure of JoAnn Falletta, the BPO has rekindled its history of radio broadcasts and recordings, including the release of 37 new recordings on the Naxos and Beau Fleuve labels. For more information about the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, visit www.bpo.org.

Lehrer Dance is Buffalo's very own internationally touring professional Dance Company. Under the direction of Jon Lehrer, the company showcases Jon's unique choreography and embodies his definitive style. Jon's extensive background in both the modern and jazz dance idioms fosters choreography that is organic, artistic, accessible and often humorous, reflecting life experience and the human condition. Now celebrating their 10th Anniversary Season, Lehrer Dance has already received much national and international attention and critical acclaim. At home in Buffalo, Lehrer Dance is committed to producing new original works through collaboration and partnership with the area's finest cultural organizations.

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