The Eastman School of Music this morning announced its 2017-18 Eastman Presents Concert Series, with seven Kodak Hall performances planned, including a collaboration between Chick Corea and Steve Gadd and a Broadway show by Patti LuPone. All shows will be in Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs Street) and start at 8 p.m. The full list of concerts is below.
Eastman Presents season subscriptions are on sale now, and can be purchased online at eastmantheatre.org, by phone at 274-3000, or in person at the theater's box office (433 East Main Street).
The school's Eastman Opera Theatre also announced its 2017-18 season this morning. The program -- which has been well-regarded in its previous seasons for its quality and willingness to tackle contemporary works -- will stage three works: the 17th century "L'incoronazione di Poppea" (November 2 through November 5); Philip Glass's and Susan Marshall's "Les EnfantsTerribles" (February 1 through February 4); and "The Light in the Piazza," which premiered on Broadway in 2005 (April 5 through April 8). More information on admission and times will be released in the fall.
Information on the Eastman School's Kilbourn Concert, Eastman-Ranlet, Fernando Laires Piano, and World Music Series will be announced next week.
2017-18 Eastman Presents Concert Series
Corea/Gadd Band (Friday, October 13): Collaborations between giants Chick Corea and Steve Gadd (an Irondequoit native and Eastman graduate, if you missed that) have gone back to the early 1970's, when Gadd joined Corea's fusion band, Return to Forever. At Kodak Hall, the pianist and drummer will co-lead a band for the first time.
Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia (Monday, October 23): Founded in 1908, the orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia was the first Italian orchestra to be devoted exclusively to the symphonic repertoire. Under the direction of Antonio Pappano, and featuring pianist Beatrice Rana, the orchestra will perform Verdi's "Aida," Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No.3, and Respighi's "Fountains of Rome" and "Pines of Rome."
O'Connor Band with Mark O'Connor (Friday, January 19): Violinist Mark O'Connor leads this Grammy-winning Americana band, which includes Maggie O'Connor and Kate Lee on fiddle, and Forrest O'Connor on mandolin and guitar. The group will be joined by guitarist Joe Smart and bassist Geoff Saunders. The O'Connor Band's latest album, "Coming Home," won the 2017 Grammy for best bluegrass album. Forrest O'Connor and Kate Lee (a Webster native) were just in Rochester performing as the duo Wisewater.
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (Saturday, February 17): The British Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment has made it its specialty to perform on period-specific instruments, while maintaining a democratic approach to running the group -- neither a single conductor nor a specific musician is really in charge of the group's operation. During this concert, featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti, OAE will perform Mozart's "Don Giovanni" Overture, and Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major and Fourth Symphony.
Marian McPartland Centennial Celebration (Friday, March 23): From 1978 to 2011, jazz pianist Marian McPartland hosted "Piano Jazz" on National Public Radio, ultimately featuring some of the greatest jazz musicians of the last 50 years, like Dizzy Gillespie, Bill Evans, and Mary Lou Williams. McPartland herself performed several times at the Eastman School. Special guests (to be announced) will perform a tribute to McPartland, who passed away in 2013.
Che Malambo (Tuesday, April 17): All-male Argentinian dance company CheMalambo blends together footwork, rhythmic stomping, drumming, and song for a celebration of the South American gaucho tradition.
Patti LuPone (Sunday, April 29): Tony-award winning actor Patti LuPone will perform "Don't Monkey with Broadway," a program of classic Broadway show tunes.