December at the University Musical Society Includes MESSIAH, WILLIAM TELL, and More
By: BWW News Desk Oct. 10, 2014
The University Musical Society (UMS) kicks off the holiday season on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 with the annual Ann Arbor community tradition of Handel's Messiah, featuring the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra and the UMS Choral Union, conducted by Jerry Blackstone. On Tuesday, December 9, UMS presents Teatro Regio Torino Orchestra and Chorus in its first-ever American tour; the ensemble will perform an opera in concert of Rossini's William Tell in Hill Auditorium. The month's offerings wrap up on Thursday, December 11 with a high definition broadcast from the National Theatre, London of David Hare's Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry and starring Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan.
Tickets to all events on sale now
How to Order:
? 734-764-2538
? In person: Michigan League (911 North University Avenue)
? At the performance venue: beginning 90 minutes before performance start time
? Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., closed Sunday
2014 Holiday Guides: UMS Gift Certificates
UMS offers Gift Certificates, available in any amount and valid for five years from the date of purchase. Wrapped and delivered with a personal message, UMS Gift Certificates make fantastic gifts. Gift Certificates may be purchased in person at the Michigan League or by phone at 734-764-2538. Info: http://ums.org/tickets/gift-certificates
December 2014 Performances & Events
HANDEL'S MESSIAH JERRY BLACKSTONE, conductor
ANN ARBOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA UMS CHORAL UNION
JANAI BRUGGER, soprano
DAVID DANIELS, countertenor
COLIN AINSWORTH, tenor
DAVID PITTSINGER, bass-baritone EDWARD PARMENTIER, harpsichord SCOTT VANORUM, organ
Saturday, December 6, 8 pm
Sunday, December 7, 2 pm
Hill Auditorium (825 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor)
Endowed support from the Carl and Isabelle Brauer Fund
Media Partners: Michigan Radio 91.7 FM and Ann Arbor's 107one FM
The holiday season in Ann Arbor is never officially underway until Handel's Messiah is performed at Hill Auditorium. An eagerly anticipated holiday season tradition, these performances are ultimately the heart and soul of UMS, dating back to the organization's founding. The performances connect audiences not only with the talented artists on stage, but also with the friends and family who attend each year. In a true community tradition, the performance features the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, the 175 voices of the Grammy Award-winning UMS Choral Union (2006 "Best Choral Performance"), conductor Jerry Blackstone, and two U-M alumni as soloists - soprano Janai Brugger and countertenor David Daniels.
Getting to Know Handel's Messiah: 4 Fast Facts
At Messiah's crowded premiere in Dublin in 1742, women were asked to wear dresses "without Hoops" in order to make "room for more company." Even Mozart and Beethoven were humbled by Handel's genius. Mozart said "Handel knows better than any of us what will make an effect. When he chooses, he strikes like a thunderbolt," and Beethoven called Handel "the greatest composer that ever lived." Messiah was originally composed to be performed around Easter and didn't become a Christmas favorite until the early 19th century. Handel's Messiah has been performed in its entirety every year at UMS since 1941. And in most years prior to 1941, either the entire work or excerpts were performed.
Video Asset: A history of Handel's Messiah at UMS: http://bit.ly/1l7EWzS
Previous UMS Appearances: Handel's Messiah has been performed annually by the UMS Choral Union since 1941. Before 1941, Messiah was performed in its entirety or in excerpts most years since UMS's founding.
OPERA IN CONCERT: ROSSINI'S WILLIAM TELL TEATRO REGIO TORINA ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS
GIANANDREA NOSEDA, conductor DALIBOR JENIS, baritone (William Tell) ANGELA MEADE, soprano (Matilde) JOHN OSBORN, tenor (Arnoldo) MIRCO PALAZZI, bass (Gualtiero)
Tuesday, December 9, 7:30 pm
Hill Auditorium (825 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor)
Endowed support from the Susan B. Ullrich Endowment Fund Media Partners: WGTE 91.3 FM and WRCJ 90.9 FM
William Tell was Rossini's final opera, despite the fact that the composer lived for nearly 40 years after composing it. Its premiere was triumphant, but the opera's epic scale and vocal demands have resulted in few revivals. Recognized immediately from its famous, galloping overture, William Tell dramatizes the life of the Swiss folk hero whose expert marksmanship with a crossbow becomes legendary. A grand opera in every sense, William Tell thrills with its passionate arias, superb ensembles, and sweeping orchestral splendor. This concert version introduces four operatic soloists to local audiences alongside the 200-member orchestra and chorus of the Royal Theatre of Turin, one of the most renowned opera houses in Italy.
Getting to know William Tell: 3 Fast Facts
1. This will be the Royal Theatre of Turin's first ever North American Tour.
text box anywhere in the document. Use the Drawing Tools tab to change the formatting of the
2. The famous overture of William Tell became the theme of The Lone Ranger
3. The concert will feature prominent American opera singers Angela Meade and John Osborn
Artist Info: http://www.teatroregio.torino.it/en
Video Asset: Teatro Regio Torino performs during a flash mob: http://bit.ly/1l7Go5w
Previous UMS Appearances: This is a UMS debut performance for Teatro Regio Torino Orchestra and Chorus, as well as conductor Gianandrea Noseda.
NATIONAL THEATER LIVE:
DAVID HARE'S SKYLIGHT STEPHEN DALDRY, director
STARRING BILL NIGHY AND CAREY MULLIGAN
Thursday, December 11, 7 pm
Michigan Theater (603 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor)
An HD cinema broadcast presented in partnership with the Michigan Theater.
Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan feature in the highly anticipated West End production of David Hare's Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry and broadcast live from London's West End by National Theatre Live.
On a bitterly cold London evening, schoolteacher Kyra Hollis (Carey Mulligan) receives an unexpected visit from her former lover, Tom Sergeant (Bill Nighy), a successful and charismatic restaurateur whose wife has recently died. As the evening progresses, the two attempt to rekindle their once passionate relationship only to find themselves locked in a dangerous battle of opposing ideologies and mutual desires. Skylight was originally produced at the National Theatre in 1995, before transferring to the West End and Broadway, and won an Olivier Award for Best Play.
FAMILIES, TAKE NOTE: UMS Kids Club allows students in grades 3-12 to attend any UMS event with their parents at significantly reduced ticket prices. UMS will set aside a limited quantity of Kids Club tickets for every event in the season. Tickets are $10 per student and $20 per adult.
Kids Club tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis for every event in the season. Seating is subject to box office discretion. UMS guarantees at least 30 tickets for each event (select performances for multiple performance runs). Kids Club tickets must be picked up at will- call with the student present. Unless the Kids Club allotment is sold out, Kids Club tickets will be offered at the door; however, we recommend ordering in advance. Kids Club tickets are made possible with the generous support of Toyota.
Comprehensive December 2014 Calendar of Events
Saturday, December 6, 8 pm UMS Performance: Handel's Messiah Hill Auditorium, $
Sunday, December 7, 2 pm Tuesday, December 9, 7:30 pm Thursday, December 11, 7 pm
UMS Performance: Handel's Messiah Hill Auditorium, $
UMS Performance: Rossini's William Tell Hill Auditorium, $
NT Live Screening: David Hare's Skylight
Michigan Theater, $
Comments
Videos