Media Contact: Laima Gaigalas, (303) 492-4247
Public Contact: CU Concerts Box Office, (303) 492-8008

CU Concerts Announces 2007-2008 Season

BOULDER, CO – On April 2 CU Concerts will begin selling season tickets for its 2007-2008 concert season which will include a total of 35 exciting performances. CU Concerts is the overall name for the ticketed concerts that the University of Colorado at Boulder College of Music presents, including the Artist Series, Takács Quartet Series, Takács Encore Series, the CU Opera Series and the Holiday Festival.
 
Artist Series
The Artist Series features world-class soloists, ensembles, and dance companies in Macky Auditorium. The series’ concerts include a broad spectrum of performing arts including classical music, jazz, world music, and dance.

The season opens with ARTURO SANDOVAL on Thursday, September 20, 2007. Cuban-born trumpeter Arturo Sandoval was a founder of the ground-breaking band Irakere. Winner of four Grammy Awards, six Billboard Awards and an Emmy, Sandoval is internationally recognized as one of the most important figures in Latin jazz and a phenomenal classical trumpeter as well.

The Artist Series will present FIRST PERSON: STORIES FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD on Friday, October 5. This event is a collaboration between National Geographic, National Public Radio’s Neal Conan and Ensemble Galilei. Photographs projected on a large on-stage screen and Neal Conan’s narration of original texts by the world’s great explorers work seamlessly with evocative music created specifically for this project.

The Artist Series welcomes YAMATO on Sunday, October 14. The dynamic young men and women of Yamato reinterpret the ancient traditions of Taiko drumming. Hailing from Nara, Japan, Yamato returns to the Artist Series by popular demand.

On Thursday, November 8, the Artist Series presents the BOSTON BRASS. The ensemble’s lively repartee bridges classical formality to delight audiences with boisterous fun, insightful knowledge and an enthusiastic love of music.  

The series continues with TRIO MEDIÆVAL on Saturday, December 1. The brilliant young Scandinavian sopranos of Trio Mediæval specialize in a diverse repertoire that features polyphonic medieval music from England and France, contemporary works written for the ensemble, and traditional Norwegian ballads and songs. Founded in Oslo in 1997, Trio Mediæval has since released three acclaimed recordings including two on the Billboard Top 10 Bestsellers.

On Friday, January 25, 2008 LES BALLETS TROCKADERO de MONTE CARLO visit Boulder. Dancing the fine line between high art and high camp, this all-male ensemble delights audiences around the world. Parodying classical works from “Swan Lake” to “Giselle” and the choreography of Isadora Duncan, George Balanchine and Martha Graham, the Trocks (as they are affectionately known) offer irresistible evenings for dance aficionados and complete novices.

The Artist Series presents pianist PIOTR ANDERSZEWSKI on Friday, February 22. Polish-Hungarian pianist Piotr Anderszewski is widely regarded as one of the most exciting pianists of his generation. Since first coming to public attention at the 1990 Leeds Piano Competition, he received the Gilmore Artist Award and has become a familiar figure on the international concert platform.

The series continues with PERÚ NEGRO on Tuesday, March 4. “A nonstop carnival of rhythm” (LA Times), Perú Negro’s high-energy show features festive and celebratory dances interwoven with vibrant live music. Formed over 35 years ago to preserve Peru’s African heritage, Perú Negro has performed all over the world, and its second US-released album “Jolgorio” received both a Grammy and a Latin Grammy nomination.

On Saturday, April 5 the Artist Series welcomes ANDREW MANZE and the HELSINGBORG SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. In words and live musical excerpts, renowned conductor and violinist Andrew Manze will unlock the secrets and untangle the myths behind perhaps the greatest of all symphonies, Beethoven’s “Eroica.” He will then lead a full performance of the masterwork featuring Scandinavia’s Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.

The Artist Series season will conclude on Saturday, April 12 with ODC DANCE. ODC Dance is known throughout the world for its athleticism, passion and intellectual depth. The program’s centerpiece “On a Train Heading South” explores the impact of global warming.

In addition to the full ten concert series ticket package, two smaller Artist Series season ticket options are available: the Classic Artist series which features the season’s five classical performances, and the Music in Motion series which includes five jazz, dance, and world music presentations.
 
Takács Quartet
The 2007-2008 Takács Encore Series features five concerts by the Grammy winning Takács Quartet plus a special additional performance by the Vinca Quartet. All performances are held in Grusin Music Hall in the Imig Music Building. Tickets for the Takács Quartet Series on Sundays are sold out, but limited season tickets for the Encore Series are still available.

CU Opera
The award winning CU Opera will present two productions in Macky Auditorium and one in the Music Theatre during 2007-2008. Three performances of Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally’s contemporary opera “Dead Man Walking” will be held October 26, 27, and 28. This will be both a Rocky Mountain regional and collegiate premiere of this opera based on the prize-winning book by Sister Helen Prejean. Strauss’ “Die Fledermaus” will be staged March 14 and 16 of 2008. Janá?ek’s “The Cunning Little Vixen” will be presented April 24 through 27 in the Music Theatre.

Holiday Festival 2007
The annual Holiday Festival takes place in Macky Auditorium with four performances on December 7, 8 and 9. This delightful holiday program is performed by exceptionally talented students and faculty from the College of Music and features the University Symphony Orchestra, university choirs, several smaller ensembles, and soloists. Subscribers may order tickets to this annual favorite with their regular packages in advance of the general public. Tickets for non-subscribers will go on sale on Sunday, September 23, 2007.

General Information
Season tickets for all of these series are on sale beginning Monday, April 2. In addition to guaranteeing the best seating, season tickets include savings of up to 30%. Subscribers may choose from the series outlined above or the flexible Choice Option and may also add on tickets to individual events. Please see the included season ticket information sheet for more details. In order to retain seats from the previous year, renewing subscribers must order by Monday, June 11, 2007.

Single tickets for all performances (except Holiday Festival) will go on sale Monday, August 20, 2007. Single tickets for the Holiday Festival will go on sale Sunday, September 23, 2007. Tickets to any performance may be pre-ordered as “add-ons” to season tickets. For tickets or additional information, call the CU Concerts Box Office at 303-492-8008 or visit www.cuconcerts.org <http://www.cuconcerts.org> .

For full biographies and links to artist web sites, please visit http://www.cuconcerts.org beginning April 2. If you would like additional information or photographs before that time, please contact Laima Gaigalas at 303-492-4247 or gaigalas@colorado.edu .



2007-2008 CU Concerts Schedule

Artist Series
Macky Auditorium
Single Tickets: $12-$52
 
Arturo Sandoval
Thursday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.
 
First Person: Stories from the
Edge of the World
Friday, October 5, 7:30 p.m.
 
Yamato
Sunday, October 14, 7:30 p.m.
 
Boston Brass
Thursday, November 8, 7:30 p.m.
 
Trio Mediæval
Saturday, December 1, 7:30 p.m.
 
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
Friday, January 25, 7:30 p.m.
 
Piotr Anderszewski
Friday, February 22, 7:30 p.m.
 
Perú Negro
Tuesday, March 4, 7:30 p.m.
 
The Eroica Effect
Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.
 
ODC Dance
Saturday, April 12, 7:30 p.m.