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An Appalachian Summer Festival; This Week’s Events Include Arts, Concerts, Lectures and More; Lyle Lovett Sold Out

by Madison V. Fisler

July 22, 2013. An Appalachian Summer Festival is well underway, with concerts, plays, lectures, art workshops and much more available all month long for the community to enjoy. This week, there are ensembles, a ballet, lectures and even a youth competition coming to Appalachian State University to indulge the creative and cultural mind. 

This week’s An Appalachian Summer Festival lineup is as follows:

Monday, July 22

  • Creative Freedom through Intuitive Painting at the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts: In every person there lies a desire for creative expression which will be unlocked in this workshop through collage and painting techniques. Using acrylic paints and pouring techniques developed by the instructor, this course will expand and strengthen participant’s intuition and creativity.
  • Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: Reflections: Part Three at the Rosen Concert Hall: Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach was Johann Sebastian Bach’s 9th son.  Generally considered to be a transitional composer, “Reflections: Part Three” will take us from Bach’s Baroque era with its famous Trio Sonata format, to a string trio by Beethoven (who was terribly frustrated that he could never write a fugue that could compare to the elder J.S. Bach), and finally to the ever popular Piano Trio by Mendelssohn, Bach’s promoter-in-chief.

Wednesday, July 24

  • Lunch and Learn: The Balachine Legacy with Robert Weiss at the Turchin Center: Artistic Director of the Carolina Ballet, Robert Weiss discusses the legacy left by the “father of American ballet” George Balanchine. He will discuss Balanchine’s impact on the art and the business of dance in the United States, and how his legacy survives through his work, the company he founded, the New York City Ballet and the tradition that so many artists strive to continue to this day. These informative seminars provide opportunities to deepen your knowledge about different aspects of the Turchin Center’s exhibitions and festival programming. Join us every Wednesday during the month of July for in depth, lunch-time talks with the experts. Bring a bagged lunch and broaden your knowledge of the arts.
  • Broyhill Chamber Ensemble: Reflections: Part Four at the Rosen Concert Hall: “Reflections: Part Four” will demonstrate the development of the Trio form from the Baroque era to the Classical, followed by the blooming of the Piano Quartet form, not only by simply adding an instrument, but by making all voices equal partners. The concert and the chamber series will come to a close and full circle from the opening program by adding yet one more instrument to perform Robert Schumann’s rousing Piano Quintet.

Thursday, July 25

  • Carolina Ballet: A Balanchine Celebration Featuring Rubies at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts: Making their debut at the festival last summer, Carolina Ballet returns by popular demand with A Balanchine Celebration featuring Rubies. Rubies is one of the three “plotless” ballets that make up the larger program Jewels that premiered at New York City Ballet in 1967. All three ballets are set to the music of different composers. George Balanchine selected music by Igor Stravinsky for Rubies and it is the most American of the three works, evoking the rhythms of American jazz. Balanchine said, “I have always liked jewels…I like the color of gems, the beauty of stones and it was wonderful to see how our costume workshop, under Karinska’s direction, came so close to the quality of the real stones (which were of course too heavy for the dancers to wear!)”

Friday, July 26

  • Independent Films from Around the World: 11 Flowers at the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts: Pre-film talk with Dr. John Pfeifer begins at 8 p.m. and will last approximately 30 minutes. Eleven-year-old Wang Han lives with his family in a remote village in Guizhou province. Life is tough, but they make the most of what little they have. When Wang is selected to lead his school through their daily gymnastic regimen, his teacher recommends that he wear a clean, new shirt in honor of this important position – a request that forces his family to make a great sacrifice. But one afternoon, soon after Wang is given the precious shirt, he encounters a desperate, wounded man, who takes it from him. The man is on the run, wanted by the authorities for murder. In no time, the fates of Wang and the fugitive are intertwined.

Saturday, July 27

  • 27th Rosen Sculpture Walk: The Sculpture Walk will begin at the Catherine J. Smith Gallery in the Schaefer Center for the Performing Arts.
  • An Evening with Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group: A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. Since his self-titled debut in 1986, Lovett has evolved into one of music’s most vibrant and iconic performers. His oeuvre, rich and eclectic, is one of the most beloved of any living artist working today. Coupled with his gift for storytelling, the Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. Lovett has been touring in support of Release Me since its release in February. The album was #1 for several weeks on the Americana charts. Produced by Nathaniel Kunkel and Lovett, Release Me represents the end of an era as it was his last record for Curb/Universal Music Group after being on the label for his entire career. Release Me is quintessential Lyle, mixing a smart collection of originals and songs written by some of his favorite songwriters that show not only the breadth of this Texas legend’s deep talents, but also the diversity of his influences, making him one of the most infectious and fascinating musicians in popular music.

Sunday, July 28

  • Rosen-Schaeffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists at the Rosen Concert Hall: After successfully debuting the competition in 2011, the festival, in partnership with the Hayes School of Music, proudly presents the third season of the Rosen-Schaffel Competition for Young and Emerging Artists. During the spring of 2013, contestants submitted recordings of their work and a panel of judges selected eight finalists to compete in a public performance. During the final round on July 28, jurors will choose three top prizewinners and the audience will select and Audience Choice Award Winner. The first prize winner, in addition to a cash prize, will receive the opportunity to perform with conductor Gerard Schwarz and the Eastern Festival Orchestra during the following season of An Appalachian Summer Festival.