To celebrate the 80th birthday of one of America’s greatest living composers, the University of Kansas School of Music will host three performances on Feb. 16 and 18 in honor of John Corigliano.
Corigliano will visit KU as a composer-in-residence and attend the Feb. 18 performances. Having written more than 100 scores, Corigliano has received a Pulitzer Prize, the Grawemeyer Award, numerous Grammy awards and an Academy Award.
Corigliano’s work will be the centerpiece of the Eighth Annual Scholarship Concert on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. at the Lied Center of Kansas. The KU Symphony Orchestra will perform Corigliano’s “Red Violin,” developed from the themes of the “Red Violin” film score for which he won an Oscar in 1999. KU Choirs will perform Corigliano’s “Fern Hill,” a work based on the 1945 poem by Dylan Thomas. The work will feature guest mezzo-soprano Kristee Haney, a KU alumna who has recently performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall and on a European tour with the New York City Opera. The concert also will include Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” inspired by the main character from “One Thousand and One Nights.” The KU Symphony Orchestra will be conducted by David Cho, music director for the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Paul Tucker, KU director of choral activities, will conduct the KU Choirs.
Earlier on Feb. 18, KU’s world-class faculty artists will perform a Kansas Virtuosi concert at 2:30 p.m. in Swarthout Recital Hall on KU’s Lawrence campus. The concert, which is free, will feature Corigliano’s work.
The KU Wind Ensemble, conducted by Paul W. Popiel, KU director of bands, will give a concert on Friday, Feb. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lied Center. A concert highlight will be the world premiere of the wind ensemble version of Corigliano’s “Stomp,” which was transcribed for wind ensemble by KU doctoral student Brooke Humfeld. The concert will also feature John Mackey, a former student of Corigliano, as a composer-in-residence. At 7 p.m., the Liberty High School Wind Ensemble, conducted by Eddie Owen, will open the concert.
Tickets for the Feb. 18 Scholarship Concert at the Lied Center are $13.50 for adults and $11 for children, seniors and students. The annual Scholarship Concert highlights the importance of music scholarships and honors the donors who generously provide scholarship support to the KU School of Music.
Tickets for the Feb. 16 KU Wind Ensemble concert at the Lied Center are $8 for adults and $6 for seniors, students and children.
Tickets can be purchased at the Lied Center Ticket Office, by phone or at 785-864-2787. The Lied Center concerts will be streamed live at https://livestream.com/liedcenter.
