STANFORD LIVE’S INAUGURAL SEASON AT BING CONCERT HALL BEGINS JANUARY 11, 2013

Stanford Live will begin its inaugural season at the long-awaited Bing Concert Hall on Friday, January 11 at 8:00 p.m. with a celebratory Opening Night Concert featuring master of ceremonies Anna Deavere Smith, Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony with special guest mezzo-soprano Frederica Von Stade, the St. Lawrence String Quartet(SLSQ), Stanford Chamber Chorale and members of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra andStanford Philharmonia Orchestra. The opening will kick off a weekend of events, including a free “Bing Fling” Community Open House, two performances by Los Lobos, an afternoon concert by the SLSQ and a free “Music of the House” showcase for Stanford’s Department of Music.

Stanford Live’s programs during the Opening Weekend of Bing Concert Hall will enable a wide range of audiences (approximately 4,500 people) to experience Bing in a multitude of ways—casually and formally—throughout and around the venue. High-profile performers will be welcomed alongside artists from campus and the community.

Friday, January 11

Stanford Live and Bing Concert Hall will debut in grand style with a celebratory Opening Night program customized to the unique qualities of Stanford, Bing Concert Hall and the region. Prior to the 8:00 p.m. performance, Stanford Taiko—one of Stanford’s flagship ensembles—who ceremonially launched the hall’s groundbreaking event in May 2010, will lead a procession into the foyer from the outside arcade. Customized “Bing Tone” lobby chimes have been created by Sasha Leitman ’05 (of the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics) to then signal the audience to walk into the auditorium.

Actor, author and former Stanford faculty member Anna Deavere Smith will preside as master of ceremonies, introducing performers at key moments. To showcase the hall’s audio systems, electronic Fanfares have been created by faculty composers Chris Chafe and Fernando Lopez-Lescano from the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). The concert will continue with Stanford’s Ensemble-in Residence, the Grammy-nominated St. Lawrence String Quartet, performing Haydn’s String Quartet in F, Op. 77 No. 2. Stanford Live then welcomes the San Francisco Symphony, led by Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas in John Adams’ Short Ride in a Fast Machine, Lou Harrison’s The Family of the court, from Pacifika Rondo and Debussy’s La Mer. As a special guest, mezzo-soprano Frederica Von Stade will join MTT and the Symphony in “Take Care of this House” from Leonard Bernstein’s 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The concert will conclude with the Stanford Chamber Chorale performing Hail Stanford, Hail. Other works to be announced will feature members of the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Stanford Philharmonia Orchestra. The performance is sold out but a limited number of student tickets will be available through a lottery.

Saturday, January 12

On Saturday, the community is invited to experience the just-opened Bing Concert Hall in a daylong Open House called “Bing Fling” with free performances by Stanford and community-based artists who have been active partners over the years. “Bing Fling” will be highlighted by two main stage presentations: “Sing the Bing” at 1:00 p.m. with Cantabile Youth Singers, Ragazzi Boys Chorus and Stanford Talisman; followed by “Play the Bing” at 3:00 p.m., featuring the Gunn High School Jazz band, the Stanford Laptop Orchestra (SlOrk) and Stanford Taiko. Throughout the day, the hall’s rehearsal studio will feature a celebration in photographs and film called “Building the Bing.” The main stage performances are free but tickets are required.

The day will culminate with two specially priced, one-hour evening performances by Los Lobos, at 7:00 and 9:00 p.m., on the stage of Bing Concert Hall. Celebrating 40 years together, the roots-rock legends perform their Acoustic En Vivo program with selection from their Latin catalogue.

Sunday, January 13

Stanford’s Grammy-nominated St. Lawrence String Quartet—violinists Geoff Nuttall and Scott St. John, violist Lesley Robertson and cellist Christopher Costanza—launch their annual Sundays with the St. Lawrence series at 2:30 p.m. Joined by guest pianist and frequent collaborator Stephen Prutsman, the SLSQ performs Thuille’s piano Quintet No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 20; Haydn’s Quartet in G, Op. 77 No.1; and R. Murray. Schafer’s Quartet No. 3.

Later that evening, at 7:00 p.m., Stanford’s Department of Music will be showcased in a program entitled “Music of the House.” With expertise ranging from early music to electronic music, Stanford’s music faculty boasts a wealth of accomplished soloists, composers and ensembles who will take the Bing stage—including the Stanford Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra (led by conductors Robert Huw Morgan and Jindong Cai), Stanford Choral Union, Stanford Jazz Sextet, Stanford Woodwind Quintet, Stanford Wind Ensemble, SLOrk and composers Mark Applebaum and Jarek Kapuscinski.The program will feature Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloe Suite No. 2; Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music Robert Muczynski’s Quintet for Winds, op. 45; Giancarlo Aquilanti’s Divertimento for Band, Mark Applebaum’s Aphasia, Miles Davis’ “All Blues” and more to be announced. The performance is free but tickets are required.