Buffalo, NY – ArtsCanisius will open its fall 2024 season on Saturday, September 7 with “Follow Your Bliss – Shared Sounds.” The event will take place at 4:00 p.m. in the Montante Cultural Center and feature performances filled with innovative musical exploration. ArtsCanisius is hosting the program in collaboration with A Musical Feast. Established in 2006 by retired Concertmaster of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Charles Haupt, the organization brings contemporary and classical music performances, combined with poetry and dance programming, to the Greater Buffalo Community.
The concert will begin with an introduction by Peter Hall, long-time WNED radio host and current co-host of WBFO’s “Theater Talk.” Hall will present SUNY Distinguished Professor Emerita Ann C. Colley, who will showcase her video work “Down to the Seas Again.” This piece intertwines the dynamic soundscapes of her solitary walks along the English seaside with the evocative music of Benjamin Britten.
Following Colley’s presentation, UB Professor Jonathan Golove will perform Britten’s “FUGA” from his first suite for solo cello. Originally composed for the renowned cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, this piece reflects both Russian folk themes and the coastal imagery of Britten’s East Anglian home.
Golove and UB Professor Tiffany DuMouchelle will then offer a meditative interpretation of Kaija Saariaho’s “Changing Light,” featuring cello and soprano. This contemplative work mirrors the rhythmic motions of the sea while delving into profound reflections on life’s meaning.
The first half of the concert will conclude with a performance by world-renowned violinist Charles Castleman and pianist Claudia Hoca. They will present Franz Schubert’s “Rondo Brilliant” for piano and violin. Castleman, known for his Medalist status in the Tchaikovsky and Brussels competitions, and Hoca, celebrated for her collaborations with the Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, will bring their renowned artistry to this performance.
The evening will close with Julius Eastman’s powerful “Gay Guerilla.” Originally scored for four identical instruments and premiered with four pianos, this percussion piece has been reimagined by Buffalo-based new music specialist Stephen Solook. Solook’s adaptation for vibraphone with loop pedal maintains the work’s minimalist essence while enhancing its auditory richness.
Tickets to “Follow Your Bliss – Shared Sounds” are available at the door or can be purchased online. General admission is $20; seniors are $15; students, faculty and staff are $5. For more information, contact Yvonne Widenor, director of ArtsCanisius, at @email.
ArtsCanisius presents lectures and concerts by professional artists and musicians, including members of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Canisius faculty, as well as student recitals.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
