Welsh Baritone Bryn Terfel, German Soprano Christiane Karg Celebrate the Art of Song

Clayton State University’s Spivey Hall (www.spiveyhall.org), the Southeast’s premier recital hall renowned internationally for its superior acoustics and the excellence of its classical, jazz and world music artists, today announced April programming details for the 25th anniversary season’s Spivey Series.  Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel and Bavarian soprano Christiane Karg each bring their transcendent interpretations of the Germanic Lieder tradition to the Spivey stage, as well as captivating songs from the British Isles, France and beyond.

“Spivey Hall is proud to be one of North America’s leading presenters of outstanding international vocalists in recital,” noted Executive and Artistic Director Sam Dixon. “The superb acoustics and sightlines of our hall create an immediate connection between artist and audience that is tremendously gratifying. There’s no sound as personal as that of the human voice. Once you’ve experienced classical singing at its best, you’ll never forget how deeply it can move you.”

Several of Spivey’s Season 25 Series wrap in April with climactic performances. The Vocal Series culminates with compelling soloists in two separate solo recitals. Christiane Karg partners with “A-list collaborative pianist” (Divamensch)  Malcolm Martineau (April 2), and Bryn Terfel performs with Russian pianist Natalia Katyakova, “one of the most highly regarded collaborators of her generation,” (Broadway World) (April 30). The Strings Series wraps with the return of Takács Quartet, “one of the most eloquent ensembles in the string-quartet world” (The Plain Dealer), whose musicians close their program with guest pianist Garrick Ohlsson, the first and only American pianist to win the coveted gold medal at the prestigious International Chopin Competition (April 16).  The Julian Lage Trio provides the final concert in both the Guitar Series and the Jazz Series, performing selections from its latest critically-acclaimed release Arclight (April 23).

April also includes local Spivey favorites The Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra whose membership combines Atlanta metro professional and amateur musicians with music educators and students to give lively performances for its loyal fans and friends (April 26).

In addition to the series concerts, Spivey Hall patrons can enjoy six concerts presented by the Clayton State University Department of Visual and Performing Arts and the Division of Music, featuring some of its most talented musicians and performers. With musical styles ranging from jazz to music drama, and many concerts free to the public, music enthusiasts are sure to find a performance to fit any budget and musical interest.

With free parking and close proximity to Atlanta, Spivey Hall’s 392-seat auditorium is the perfect option for an intimate music experience. For full program details for all performances, tickets or more information, call the Spivey Hall Box Office at (678) 466-4200, or visit www.spiveyhall.org. In addition to the standard ticket pricing indicated for each performance, there is a 50 percent discount available to students and Georgia educators with ID. Discounted tickets are available only through the box office, which is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Spivey Hall 25th Season Series

Christiane Karg, soprano

Malcolm Martineau, piano

Saturday, April 2, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

German soprano Christiane Karg is “the complete package” (The Press, York). “She looks right into the eyes of her listeners. She exudes a delightful, unfussy charisma.” Performing with pianist Malcolm Martineau, whom the New York Observer called “one of the world’s finest accompanists,” she makes her eagerly-awaited North American recital debut at Spivey Hall with a program showcasing her beautifully expressive voice and critically acclaimed mastery of Lieder. The evening will feature  selections from 19th century Austrian composer Hugo Wolf’s Italian Song Book and Spanish Song Book, plus French songs including charming vignettes by  Francis Poulenc;  Henri Duparc’s sumptuous “Romance de Mignon” and “Invitation au voyage;” and Maurice Ravel’s Five Popular Greek Songs.

Tickets are priced at $50 (with discounts for subscribers, groups, students and Georgia educators), and are available for purchase now.  A pre-concert talk with Clayton State University music professor Dr. Kurt-Alexander Zeller begins at 6:30 p.m. and is included in the ticket price.

Program Web Notes providing detailed background and synopsis information will be available prior to the concert at www.spiveyhall.org.

Christiane Karg and Malcom Martineau’s Spivey Hall performance is made possible through the generosity of Spivey Hall Friends Concert Sponsor Richard F. Tigner.

Takács Quartet

Garrick Ohlsson, piano

Saturday April 16, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

Recognized as one of the world’s great ensembles, five-time Grammy nominee (and 2002 Grammy winner) Takács Quartet plays with a unique blend of drama, warmth and humor, combining four distinct musical personalities to bring fresh insights to the string quartet repertoire. Edward Dusinberre (violin),

Károly Schranz (violin), Geraldine Walther (viola) and András Fejér (cello) are joined by celebrated pianist (and fellow Grammy winner) Garrick Ohlsson for an inspiring evening of chamber music.

The much-honored Quartet has won many top awards for its superlative recordings of Beethoven; the Spivey program includes Beethoven’s String Quartet in C major, Op. 59 No. 3, “Razumovsky,” as well as the lyrical Langsamer Satz by Second Viennese School master Anton Webern.  Ohlsson joins the Quartet on stage to close the program with Edward Elgar’s eloquently rhapsodic Quintet for Piano and Strings in A minor, Op. 84.

Tickets are priced at $64 (with discounts for subscribers, groups, students and Georgia educators), and are available for purchase now.  A pre-concert talk given by Clayton State music professor Dr. Kurt-Alexander Zeller begins at 6:30 p.m. and is included in the ticket price.

Program and Audio Web Notes providing detailed background and synopsis information, will be available prior to the concert at www.spiveyhall.org. Audio Web notes are online program notes enriched by short music samples that give patrons the chance to hear what the program notes are talking about.

Takács Quartet and Garrick Ohlsson’s Spivey Hall performance is made possible through the generosity of Spivey Hall Friends Concert Sponsors Drs. Bryan and Norma Edwards  and Don Russ.

Julian Lage Trio

Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

With American jazz guitarist and composer Julian Lage on Telecaster, Scott Colley on bass and Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion, the Julian Lage Trio draws influence from jazz, folk, classical and country music as well as operating as sonic laboratory for exploring the integration of acoustic and electric instruments in an improvising context. On the Spivey stage, the trio will perform selections from its latest release, Arclight, already garnering rave reviews from critics for “jazz that glows with a simple intensity that throws light on what’s possible with six strings and an unlimited imagination” (London Jazz News).

Tickets are priced at $40 (with discounts for subscribers, groups, students and Georgia educators), and are available for purchase now.

The Julian Lage Trio’s Spivey Hall performance is made possible through the generosity of Spivey Hall Friends Concert Sponsors George and Stephanie Shepherd.

Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra

Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Dr. Richard Bell, conductor

Atlanta-based Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra is devoted to meeting the cultural needs of audiences and performers in the Southern Crescent area of the city. The orchestra presents An Evening At Pops under the baton of CSU faculty conductor Dr. Richard Bell, featuring light classics along with music from stage and screen.

Tickets are priced at $10 for adults and $5 for students and educators, and are available for purchase now.

Bryn Terfel, bass-baritone

Natalia Katyukova, piano

Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m.

A compelling artist celebrated for his extraordinary gifts of communication, Welsh bass-baritone Bryn Terfel has performed in all the great opera houses of the world, and is especially recognized for his indelible portrayals of Figaro, Falstaff and Wotan.  But Spivey audiences will hear Terfel in the intimate world of song where his talents as singer and actor can be at their most poignant. His program includes Welsh and English songs plus German Lieder by Franz Schubert and Richard Schumann, and Jacques Ibert’s Chansons de Don Quichotte. The Guardian says of Terfel’s Lieder recitals, “The voice itself is hypnotic enough. But there’s so much more: beautiful phrasing, and a feeling for the sense of each word that can make translation unnecessary.”  Terfel ‘s collaborator is Russian pianist Natalia Katyukova, who plays “with pearly tone and a delicate ear to Terfel’s musical line, echoing him and supplying her own feathery support” (Boston Classical Review).

Tickets are priced at $80 (with discounts for subscribers, groups, students and Georgia educators), and are available for purchase now.

Program and Audio Web Notes providing detailed background and synopsis information, will be available prior to the concert at www.spivey.org. Audio Web notes are online program notes enriched by short music samples that give patrons the chance to hear what the program notes are talking about.

Bryn Terfel and Natalia Katyukova’s Spivey Hall performance is made possible through the generosity of Spivey Hall Friends Concert Sponsors Shelley McGehee and The Fred and Sue McGehee Family Charitable Fund.

Clayton State University

Department of Visual and Performing Arts

Clayton State University Music Drama

Dr. Kurt-Alexander Zeller, director

Dr. Michael Fuchs, conductor

NO, NO, NANETTE

Friday, April 8, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, April 9, 2016 at 7.30 p.m.

Clayton State University Dance Concert

Kathleen Kelly, choreographer

Friday, April 22, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Clayton State University Division of Music Curated Recital

Featuring student musicians

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 11:30 a.m.

Clayton State University Jazz Combo

Stacey Houghton, director

Wednesday, April 27, 2016 at 7.30 p.m.

Clayton State University Community Chorus

Dr. Michael Fuchs, conductor

Friday, April 28, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

The Clayton State University Department of Visual and Performing Arts and the Division of Music shine in six performances showcasing its most talented artists and musicians. This spring’s CSU Music Drama’s stage production is the sensational 1925 musical comedy, No, No, Nanette, with music by Vincent Youmans, lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, and book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel.

Tickets for the two Music Drama performances are priced at $10 for adults, $5 for students and free for CSU faculty, staff and students with Laker card, and are available for purchase now.

Admission to the other Division of Music performances in April is free, with no tickets required.