Photo by Olga Martschitsch
Highlights of Cal Performances director Matías Tarnopolsky's announcement today of the next season include the world premiere of a new, fully staged production of Mozart’s arrangement of Handel’s Acis and Galatea, choreographed and directed by Mark Morris; 40th birthday celebrations for the Kronos Quartet, with a world premiere commission from composer Aleksandra Vrebalov and filmmaker Bill Morrison.
There will be more than a dozen multiperformance residencies, including the return of the Vienna Philharmonic for three concerts (conducted by Danielle Gatti, Andris Nelsons, and Franz Welser-Möst); a personal journey by Emanuel Ax into the music of Johannes Brahms with colleagues Yo-Yo Ma and Anne Sophie von Otter; John Malkovich exploring the legend of Casanova; and Jeremy Denk curating the fourth season of Ojai North.
Also, seven prominent early music ensembles and musicians, including Jordi Savall, Hespèrion XXI, and Stephanie Blythe with Les Violons du Roy; the Bay Area’s Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra in a salute to Duke Ellington; and the Barefoot Divas bringing alive the indigenous music of Australia, New Zealand, and New Guinea.
PhotoMarco Borgrreve
Tarnopolsky continues to champion contemporary music, bringing more than 20 new works to the Bay Area from prestigious commissioning partners, including Carnegie Hall, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Ojai Music Festival.
The season opens on Sept. 29, with Fall Free for All, a free, daylong festival to introduce new audiences to music, dance, and theater presentations. Since its inception in 2010, Fall Free for All has featured more than 500 artists and ensembles performing for audiences totaling more than 30,000. Participating in the event will be, among others, the New Century Chamber Orchestra, La Tania Baile Flamenco, Theatre of Yugen, Los Cenzontles, Pete Escovedo Latin Jazz, and a family stage with percussionist Keith Terry.