This week’s On the Scene calendar highlights Ballet Idaho, Readings and Conversations.
Idaho Statesman staff
Lean into the chilly week ahead and warm yourself with these performing arts- and culture-focused events. Ballet Idaho celebrates its 50th season, The Cabin brings a scintillating conversation to the stage and classical pianists perform.
Ballet Idaho opens its 50th Anniversary Season with “Mozart in Motion.” Quinn Wharton Ballet Idaho
‘Mozart in Motion’
Get your Mozart on with Ballet Idaho this weekend. This company has been ingrained in Boise’s and Idaho’s cultural fabric for 50 years now, and this concert really showcases how far the company has come. This golden season opener brings “Mozart in Motion,” a program filled with four pieces new to Idaho audiences and all to the music of Mozart.
George Balanchine’s “Divertimento No. 15,” set to Mozart’s composition of the same title, is one of the titan works of the American ballet repertoire. Created by the genius choreographer in 1952 for his New York City Ballet, it’s what dancers today call a “naked ballet,” meaning that the simple purity of its movement, puts the artist’s technique on display.
The rest of the program offers more contemporary twists on the prolific classical composers’ music:
Chicago’s PARA.MAR Dance Theatre’s artistic director Stephanie Martinez makes her Idaho debut with “Kiss,” a piece that ranges from tense introspection to joyous celebration.
Lar Lubovitch’s American groundbreaking contemporary classic “Concerto 622” was originally created in 1986. The lively and inventive piece, set to Mozart’s Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra, contains a deeply compassionate male duet that became a touchstone during the American AIDS crisis. Ballet Idaho performed excerpts from it in 2021. Now, you can experience the full work with performances by guest artists Brett Perry and Jacob Beasley.
Ballet Idaho Artistic Director Garrett Anderson makes his main stage choreographic debut with “Seen/Unseen.”
7:30 p.m. Nov. 4, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5, 2 p.m. Nov. 6, Morrison Center, 2201 Cesar Chavez Drive, Boise. $41-65 for individual tickets at MorrisonCenter.com. Full season tickets (includes “The Nutcracker”) $183-$247; three-show season (no “Nutcracker”) $130-$173, at BalletIdaho.org.
Readings & Conversations: The Cabin’s literary series continues with this on-stage discussion between two pretty big brains: Writer, religious scholar, documentarian, and podcaster Reza Aslan, who has explored some of the civilization’s most captivating and pressing questions, and actor, producer Rainn Wilson. Known as Dwight from “The Office,” Wilson also co-founded SoulPancake, a “digital media company designed to explore life’s big questions, celebrate humanity and champion creativity.” This is a perfect pairing for this on-stage discussion that makes literature come alive.
The Stars of Steinway classical recital series brings award-winning pianists Wynona Wang and Daniel Hsu to Boise for an all-out, all-Rachmaninoff intimate performance at 4 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Cathedral of the Rockies, 717 N. 11th St., Boise; and 4 p.m. Nov. 6 at Dunkley Music, 3410 N. Eagle Road, in Meridian. On the program is Rachmaninoff’s Suite for Two Pianos. $15 suggested donation at the door.
Light & Shadow
The Treasure Valley Artists Alliance brings together area artists for exhibits and more. TVAA
The Treasure Valley Artists Alliance brings together the creative talents of more than 100 area artists of all media. The group’s latest show “Play of Light and Shadow” features the work of 20 artists that explores “form, shading, depth, and contrast.” You can see it at the Nampa Civic Center, 311 3rd St. S., anytime the building is open now through Jan. 10, 2023.
Make a plan
The Boise Phil presents “Rhapsody in Blue” with Van Cliburn Piano Competition finalist Fei-Fei and the orchestra performing George Gershwin’s American masterpiece. Also on the program is Grant Still’s Festive Overture, featuring the Boise Phil Youth Orchestra seniors, and Florence Price’s Piano Concert (Fei-Fei). 1 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. at the Morrison Center. $31.93-$96.59. Students w/ID are half off in advance or $15 at the door. 208-344-7849, boisephil.org.
This story was originally published November 4, 2022 at 10:25 AM.
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