WFU announces 2000-2001 Secrest Artists Series

Wake Forest University’s Secrest Artists Series will feature one of opera’s brightest stars as well as world class chamber music and an Irish fiddler in its five-concert 2000-2001 season.

Flutist Eugenia Zukerman and harpist Yolanda Kondonassis will open the series on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall. Zukerman, who is a novelist and arts correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning” in addition to being an acclaimed concert flutist, will perform the music of Bach, Gershwin and other composers with world- renowned harpist Kondonassis. Cited by The New York Times for her “powerful playing and musicianly energy,” Kondonassis has been featured on CNN and PBS as well as NPR’s “All Things Considered.”

The Takýcs String Quartet will be the second featured event in the series on Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall. Formed in 1975 by Gabor Takacs-Nagy, Karoly Schranz, Gabor Ormai and Andras Fejer while they were studying at Budapest’s Liszt Academy, the quartet performs around the world. The group’s program will include their signature Bartok as well as a Beethoven quartet and Smetana’s “From My Life.”

Bang on a Can, new music pioneers, will perform on Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. in Brendle Recital Hall. The group is part classical ensemble, part rock band and part jazz band. The musicians met at the Bang on a Can Festival in 1987. The unusual instrumentation includes clarinets and saxophones, electric guitar, cello, bass, keyboard and percussion.

Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves will perform with the Winston-Salem Symphony on Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. in Wait Chapel. She will also give two more performances with the symphony at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem. Graves, who made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the role of Carmen, will sing excerpts from Bizet’s most famous opera. She will also perform excerpts from her Metropolitan Opera role in “Samson and Dalila.” She appeared in both productions opposite Placido Domingo. Graves’ performance will also include jazz and blues tunes.

Violinist Eileen Ivers, probably best known for her performances with Riverdance, will conclude the Secrest series on March 22 at 8 p.m. in Wait Chapel. Ivers and her Irish band will perform traditional Celtic music and more contemporary world music. She has performed with Patti Smith, the Hothouse Flowers and Hall and Oates.

Season tickets for the Secrest Artists Series are $97 and are available through the Secrest office by calling 336-758-5757. Individual tickets will be available Sept. 4 and will be $18, $13 for senior citizens and non-Wake Forest students. Individual tickets for Denyce Graves’ concert will be $35, $25 for senior citizens and non-Wake Forest students. Group discounts are available. Pre-concert lectures are scheduled in conjunction with each event and begin 45 minutes before each concert.