PEACH WEEKENDER | MUSIC
Symphony explores vice in classics concert
2/21/2018
Vocalist Hillary Gardner and pianist Ehud Asherie showcase works from their new album 'The Late Set' on Thursday at the Toledo Museum of Art GlasSalon.
The Toledo Symphony’s next Classics Series concert is a musical exploration of vice as they welcome soprano Storm Large of Pink Martini fame. Under the baton of guest conductor Anja Bihlmaier, assisted by male vocal ensemble, the Hudson Shad Quartet, and poetic performer and master of ceremonies Nicholas Adamski, the pastiche of music will include six works.
Slated are Richard Rodgers’ Carousel Waltz, Franz Lehar’s Gold and Silver Waltz, Jacob Gade’s Jealousy, Camille Saint-Saëns’ Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah, and Kurt Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins. The latter is a sung ballet commissioned by Edward James for his dance company and his wife, the dancer Tilly Losch. Weill managed to convince James to allow him to include a singing role for his then estranged wife, the famed German chanteuse, Lotte Lenya.
The pieces detail the story of protagonist Anna as she travels to seven American cities on a quest to earn money for her family (represented by Husdson Shad Quartet). In each, she succumbs to a different mortal sin. Large will perform the role of Anna.
The program is at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St. Tickets are available at 419-246-8000 or toledosymphony.com.
■ The Toledo Symphony has received a $10,000 National Endowment for the Arts grant to support its North Star Festival programming celebrating Toledo’s connection to the Underground Railroad.
Three festival events are scheduled this week. A neighborhood concert, “Reaching for Our Stars,” in honor of Black History Month begins at 5 p.m. Sunday at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 1119 Bancroft St. For tickets, call 419-241-4544.
A free instrument petting zoo with members of the symphony and youth orchestra performing music inspired by spirituals is at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Kent Branch Library, 3101 Collingwood Blvd.
Toledo Symphony artistic administrator Merwin Siu discusses the upcoming “Romance and Spirituals” concert at 6:30 p.m. March 1 at the West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 W. Sylvania Ave. For more information, call 419-246-8000 or visit toledosymphony.com.
■ Vocalist Hillary Gardner and pianist Ehud Asherie showcase works from their new album The Late Set, a collection of songs by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, and Harry Warren at 8 p.m. Thursday at the GlasSalon, Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St. Tickets are $10 for museum members and $15 for nonmembers. Call 419-255-8000 or visit toledomuseum.org.
■ A free screening of the documentary Touch the Sound, exploring the life of deaf Scottish percussionist Evelyn Glennie, happens at 7 p.m. Friday in the Little Theatre, Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St. Call 419-255-8000 or visit toledomuseum.org.
■ Toledo Jazz Orchestra hosts its annual “Mardi Gras: Celebrity Wait Night” fund-raiser 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Toledo Club, 235 14th St. Tickets are $40 at toledojazz.org.
■ The Children’s Choir of Northwest Ohio performs a free concert “Every Voice Matters,” at 7 p.m. Friday at Zoar Lutheran Church, 314 E. Indiana Ave., Perrysburg. For more Information, visit ccofnwo.org.
■ Piano students of BGSU piano faculty member Robert Satterlee give a free recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Wildwood Manor House, 5100 Central Ave.
■ The Owens Concert Band “Winter Pops Concert” offers music from musicals, marches, and John Williams’ movies at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Owens Community College Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg. For more information, call 567-661-7081 or visit owens.edu.
■ Cellist Brian Snow performs at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Bryan Recital Hall. The New Music ensemble performs 8 p.m. March 1 in Kobacker Hall. Both events are in Moore Musical Arts Center, BGSU. For more information, visit bgsu.edu.
■ The Motortown All-Stars, features vocalists drawn from the ranks of the legendary groups that made the Motown Sound famous 7:30 p.m. Friday at the River Raisin Centre for the Arts, 114 S. Main St., Monroe. Tickets are $23-$25 at 734-242-7222 or riverraisincentre.org.
■ Ann Arbor legend Mr. B hosts his annual jazz Birthday Bounce at 8 p.m. Saturday; tickets are $10-$35. Michigan Opera Theatre presents Americans in Paris, a vocal-chamber concert in anticipation of Ricky Ian Gordon’s opera based on the lives of Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas at 4 p.m. Sunday; tickets are $10-$25. Tenor David Tayloe accompanied by pianist Kevin Bylsma gives a recital at 8 p.m. Tuesday; tickets are $5-$30. All three events are at the Kerrytown Concert Hall, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. For information, call 734-769-2999 or visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com.
■ The BGSU College of Musical Arts holds audition days for prospective music students Friday and Saturday. Audition times and application forms can be found at bgsu.edu/musical-arts/prospective-students.
■ The 30th annual Student Composer Contest sponsored by Craig’s Keyboards and the University of Toledo is accepting entries. This year’s category is original compositions for organ or for trumpet and organ. Two entry levels are available: high school student or college student. Deadline for submission is March 12. More information and entry form at utoledo.edu/al/svap/music/.
Send classical music and dance items at least two weeks in advance to classics@theblade.com.