Lehrer Dance and the Buffalo Philharmonic Present AN AMERICAN SIDDHARTHA: THE WAY WITHIN, 2/24

Lehrer Dance and the Buffalo Philharmonic have collaborated many times, but their most ambitious project to date takes place on Feb. 24.

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 Siddartha" 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 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 classic Lehrer Dance pieces set to music such as Pachelbel's Canon in D and movements from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. These pieces introduce some of the sub-themes in the work: love, friendship, and fidelity.

The program is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and by the Catherine M. and Paul W. Beltz fund for Artistic Excellence and Innovation.

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 38 new recordings on the Naxos and Beau Fleuve labels. For more information about the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, visit www.bpo.org.

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