A brand new Butterfly, a tempestuous diva and music for the wilderness are just some of the elements making up an intriguing and eclectic fall season for classical music in the city. The fall line-up this season offers a surprising number of interesting debuts and contemporary works.
"HMS Pinafore." No, seriously. The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players offer beautifully realized productions of classic Gilbert and Sullivan operas complete with live orchestra and elaborate sets and costumes. If "The Mikado" last season at the Ferst Center was any indication, this season's "Pinafore" at the same venue will be a lively, witty, colorful, don't-miss event. Sept. 12, Ferst Center for the Arts. www.ferstcenter.gatech.edu
Beatrice Rana. A writer for The Washington Post began a review of a recent Beatrice Rana performance with the complaint that her playing left him with "almost nothing to criticize." The Italian pianist's immaculate playing also won her both the Silver Medal and the Audience Prize at the 2013 Van Cliburn Competition. She makes her Spivey Hall debut with a program that includes Bach, Chopin and Prokofiev. Sept. 28. Spivey Hall. www.spiveyhall.org
"Wilderness Act Performance Series." The Atlanta-based ensemble Chamber Cartel presents world premieres of 11 works by Atlanta composers in a series of free performances honoring the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. The series begins with a performance at Shambhala Tibetan Meditation Center on Sept. 14 and continues with Sunday afternoon performances at Decatur's Woodland Gardens Sept. 21, Richland Road's Outdoor Activity Center Sept. 28, the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Preserve Oct. 5 and the Chattahoochee Nature Center Oct. 12. Begins Sept. 14. www.chambercartel.com
Brentano String Quartet and Vijay Iyer. The renowned Brentano String Quartet, which is beginning its tenure as the Yale School of Music's Quartet-in-Residence this fall, brings its luxuriously rich sound to Emory's Schwartz Center in October. The quartet will present work created in collaboration with contemporary composer, jazz pianist and MacArthur Fellow Vijay Iyer. Oct. 10. Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. www.arts.emory.edu
Ebène Quartet. Called "one of the standout quartets of the new generation" by The New York Times, the stylish young French musicians of Ebène Quartet make their Spivey Hall debut playing the music of Mozart, Mendelssohn and Schumann. Nov. 8. Spivey Hall. www.spiveyhall.org
"Madama Butterfly." This will be Atlanta Opera's first production with new artistic director Tomer Zvulun in complete artistic control. Nearly the entire cast, including soprano Dina Kuznetsova in the role of Cio-Cio San, will be making their Atlanta Opera debuts, and the production will feature a sliding screen for projections of photographs and video of Nagasaki Bay. Nov. 8-16. The Atlanta Opera. www.atlantaopera.org.
Kathleen Battle. The diva who became as famous for her tempestuous behavior as for the beauty of her voice gives a rare performance at the University of Georgia's Performing Arts Center. Battle will perform spirituals and hymns celebrating the roots of African-American music and the Underground Railroad. Nov. 9. University of Georgia Performing Arts Center, Athens. pac.uga.edu
About the Author
