Arts & Events

Flash: Berkeley Symphony Conductor Injured; Replacement Scheduled for Tomorrow Night

Wednesday April 25, 2012 - 05:48:00 PM

According to an article by Sue Gilmore in the Contra Costa Times, Berkeley Symphony conductor Joana Carneiro will not be able to conduct tomorrow night's Berkeley Symphony concert at U.C. Berkeley's Zellerbach Hall because she has injured her shoulder. -more-


New: Berkeley Symphony on Thursday: Gabriela Lena Frank premiere, Kodaly, Bartok

By Ken Bullock
Tuesday April 24, 2012 - 07:08:00 PM

Berkeley Symphony, conducted by Joana Carneiro, finishes its season this Thursday at UC Berkeley's Zellerbach Auditorium, with a world premiere of Berkeley's Gabriela Lena Frank's 'Holy Sisters,' commissioned by the Symphony, with soprano Jessica Rivera, whom the piece was written for, and the San Francisco Girls Chorus--as well as Zoltan Kodaly's 'Dances for Galanta' (premiered in Budapest, 1933) and Bela Bartok's 'Music for Strings, Percussion & Celesta' (premiered 1937, in Basel). -more-


Press Release: How Democratic is California?
22nd Annual California Studies Conference in Oakland This Saturday

From Richard Walker
Tuesday April 24, 2012 - 12:21:00 PM

A day-long investigation into what can be done to restore the power of the people

Democracy” is supposed to be the guiding ideal of American politics: a belief in popular sovereignty and representative government. Yet recent developments, from the USA Patriot Act to the Citizens United decision and from enrichment of the 1% to financial collapse, have shaken our faith in democracy. It leads us to ask: what is the present state of Democracy in California and what should be done to restore the power of the people?

In an effort to stimulate ideas and discussion on this timely subject, the California Studies Association will convene scholars, community activists, journalists, policy specialists, historians and writers for a multi-faceted discussion on the responsibilities and challenges of becoming full participants in this nation’s democracy. We hope to engage the general public in a broad but facilitated on how democracy has failed and prevailed in the recent history of our state as well as current movements, issues, and topics such as "Elections and Exclusions," "Citizenship and its Discontents," and "Popular Protest and its Enemies." -more-


5 Bay Area Artists at the Berkeley Arts Festival

By Bob Brokl
Monday April 23, 2012 - 04:00:00 PM

The Berkeley Arts Festival continues at the historic Acheson Building, 2133 University Ave., in Downtown Berkeley, with a new group of artists, though Labor Day. -more-


EYE FROM THE AISLE: “What shall we do with Russia?”—Tony Winner at Shotgun Players

By John A. McMullen II
Friday April 20, 2012 - 04:19:00 PM
Christy Crowley, Nesbyth Rieman, Nick Medina, Joe Salazar, Caitlyn Louchard.

Voyage by Tom Stoppard at Shotgun Players is a beautifully produced, very dense play by arguably the greatest living playwright. It is the first play in the trilogy “Coast of Utopia” which won the Best Play Tony Award in 2007. This first segment is a historical drama of Russia from 1833 to 1844—a time of Revolution in Europe. -more-


Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra Performs Dvorak Requiem

By Elaine Hooker
Friday April 20, 2012 - 04:32:00 PM

The Berkeley Community Chorus & Orchestra will give three free performances next month of the rarely heard “Requiem Mass, Op. 89” by Antonin Dvorak.

The concerts will be Saturday, May 5, at 8 p.m.; Sunday, May 6, at 4:30 p.m.; and Sunday, May 13, at 4:30 p.m. All concerts will be at St. Joseph the Worker Church, 1640 Addison St., Berkeley. The church is wheelchair-accessible. -more-