From Classical Greece to the Roman Empire, the classic arts scene in New York is never quiet. Here is just a sampling of some of the classic arts events happening this week.
American Ballet Theatre revives Frederick Ashton's production of Léo Delibe's Sylvia at the Metropolitan Opera July 8-12. Known for its rich symphonic score, Sylvia tells a mythical love story between Sylvia, a huntress and follower of the goddess Diana, and Aminta, an Arcadian shepherd. The score was admired by Tchaikovsky, who regarded it as being a greater work than his own Swan Lake.
American Modern Opera Company's Run AMOC* festival at Lincoln Center's Summer for the City continues this week with four different programs: Dance in the Park will be presented on Hearst Plaza July 9 and 10, featuring music and dance in an "immersive soundscape of art," performed and choreographed by Julia Eichten and Bret Easterling to music by Strauss and Juniper. Matthew Aucoin's Music for New Bodies will be performed July 10 and 11 at David Geffen Hall, directed by Peter Sellars. The vocal symphony, based on the poetry of Jorie Graham, will feature soprano Song Hee Lee, soprano Meryl Dominguez, mezzo-soprano Megan Moore, tenor Paul Appleby, and bass-baritone Evan Hughes. Aucoin will conduct the performances.
On July 12, AMOC* founding members Or Schraiber and Coleman Itzkoff will perform The Cello Player on Hearst Plaza. The dance piece features costumes by Victoria Beck, and choreography by Schraiber and Yiannis Logothetis. Finally, July 13, AMOC* will present the New York premiere of Doug Balliet's Rome is Falling, directed by Julia Eichten with musical direction by Matthew Aucoin. Described as "a zany lesson on the absurdity of what can happen when influential people lose power," the piece features tenor Paul Appleby, soprano Ariadne Greif, countertenor Chuanyuan Liu, and baritone Jorell Williams, as well as the Young People's Chorus of New York City.
Violinist Joshua Bell, cellist Steven Isserlis, and pianist Jeremy Denk team up this week to give two concerts of music by Gabriel Fauré at the 92nd Street Y. The July 9 and 12 concerts will feature a variety of chamber works including sonatas, duets, trios, quartets, and two piano quintets for which violinist Iréne Duval and violist Blythe The Engstroem will join in.
The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's annual Summer Evenings series kicks off this week with concerts July 8 and 12. The first concert will feature pianists Evren Ozel and Gilles Vonsattel, violinist Julian Rhee, and cellist Dmitri Atapine playing works by Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, and Nadia Boulanger. The second concert will feature violinists Bella Hristova and Arnaud Sussman, violists Matthew Lipman and Paul Neubauer, and cellist Nicholas Canellakis playing works by Purcell, Muffat, Mozart, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn.
Dance company Pilobolus’ Joyce Theatre residency concludes this week. The company presents Other Worlds Collection, featuring the New York City premiere of Flight, created by Renée Jaworski and Matt Kent in collaboration with Connor Chaparro, Hannah Klinkman, Darren Robinson, and Jessica Robling. The performances will also include Pilobolus' interpretation of Martha Graham's Lamentation, and more works from the company's repertory.
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