FAC announces 2003-04 season

The 2003-04 Fine Arts Center season lineup includes the Chinese acrobatic and martial arts show "Chi."

illed as a "ticket to a world of artistic excellence, the Fine Arts Center's 2003-04 season boasts a variety of dance, theater and classical music as well as jazz, world and popular music performances.

     The season begins Oct. 2 with Danilo Perez & Trio, led by a gifted musician and composer renowned for his unique and revolutionary blending of American jazz with African-based rhythms of the Caribbean and the Latin influences of Central and South America.

    Musical theater fans can enjoy "The Music Man," Meredith Wilson's nostalgic all-American salute to music, romance and fast-talking flim-flam on Oct. 9.

     Using a variety of puppet styles, Théâtre de l'Oeil tells the story of Pretzel, a friendly character whose chivalry draws the audience into a fabulous adventure of returning a star back to the sky in a performance of "The Star-keeper" on Oct. 15-16.

     "Rent," the Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, comes to the Concert Hall stage for two performances on Oct. 22-23.

     The inventiveness of the Pilobolus dance troupe joins forces with the artistry of the St. Lawrence String Quartet for a joint performance on Nov. 5.

     Considered for many years to be one of the world's finest string quartets, the Talich Quartet will perform Nov. 8 at Bowker Auditorium. Famed for their interpretation of Czech music, violinists Jan Talich, Jr. and Petr Macecek, violist Vladimir Bukac and cellist Petr Prause also have a very wide-ranging repertoire.

     Performing Siberian dances to live music, the Krasnoyarsk National Dance Company will captivate audiences with its vivid character portrayals, musical movements and fanciful patterns of the choreographic design on Nov. 13.

     The spring semester lineup begins Feb. 5 with "Chi," a fusion of acrobatics and martial arts from Shanghai, China. Combining these disciplines with enchanting music, stage design and spectacular lighting, "Chi" is a journey beyond space and time to discover a harmony between humankind and nature and to the celebration of life itself.

     Heralded as one of today's most dynamic and exciting young string quartets, the Pacifica Quartet will perform Feb. 12 in Bowker Auditorium. The quartet's members are Simin Ganatra, violin; Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; and Brandon Vamos, cello.

     The 15-strong all-male dancers of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo bring a new spin to classical ballet on Feb. 26, with their parodies and performances of much loved works such as "Swan Lake," "The Dying Swan" and "Paquita."

     The Dave Holland Big Band, winner of this year's Grammy for best large jazz ensemble, rolls into town on Feb. 28.

     The Salzburg Marionette Theater, renowned for its performances to recordings of 18th and 19th century operas made by the world's leading orchestras and singers, returns for two performances of Mozart's "The Magic Flute" and Rossini's "Barber of Seville" on March 3-4.

     Full-fledged opera buffs can enjoy Opera Verdi Europa's first North American tour with an Amherst stop that will showcase "Cavallerica Rusticana" and "I Pagliacci" on March 7.

     Minnesota's Guthrie Theater will stage Shakespeare's "Othello" on April 2-3.

     Rockapella, the undisputed kings of contemporary a cappella music, will perform April 7.

     Artistic director Edward Villella's acclaimed Miami City Ballet comes to campus April 20 for a George Balanchine Centennial Celebration featuring an all-Balanchine/Stravinsky program.

     The season concludes April 30 with the Amherst debut of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich. Conducted by David Zinman, the internationally renowned orchestra of over 100 players will be joined by Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes for an all-Brahms concert in performances of Piano Concerto No. 1 and Symphony No. 2.

    Subscription tickets, ranging from $45 to $15 general public are on sale with single event tickets available starting July 15. A brochure with a complete description of programs can be obtained by calling the FAC Box Office (5-2511). An online version also is available (www.fineartscenter.com/centerseries).

     Subscribers purchasing three or more events in price range A and B qualify for a 15 percent discount, and for youth 17 and under, tickets are $10, and $15 for theater and popular events. Five College students also receive substantial discounts, and a 10 percent senior citizen or UMass employee discount is available on single ticket purchases only. Price range C tickets are $15 for all Center Series events. The Fine Arts Center also provides tickets to area non-profit, human services organization through its Angel Ticket program.