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Throughout the month of May, performing arts events at Santa Clara University will be as plentiful as spring flowers.
The university's spring performing arts schedule kicks off May 9 with the department of theater and dance performing Wonderful Tennessee by the Irish playwright Brian Friel, who is known for his drama Dancing at Lughnasa. Wonderful Tennessee, despite what the title may infer, takes place in Ireland and concerns a group of friends who contemplate a trip to a reputedly idyllic island off the coast of Ireland, and spend a good deal of time waiting—a bit Godot-like—for a ferry that will take them there. Performances take place May 911 and May 1317.
On May 16, the Santa Clara University Choral Ensembles perform Mozart's Requiem K.626. The Requiem was Mozart's last work, and, left uncompleted at the composer's death, was shrouded in sufficient mystery to fuel many intriguing theories on both the identity of who commissioned the Requiem and the nature of Mozart's demise.
The Santa Clara University Jazz Ensemble offers its spring concert on May 23. The ensemble will perform a mix of classic and contemporary jazz selections. The concert will feature special guest percussionist James Kassis, a faculty member at the university. Kassis has also performed with orchestras throughout Northern California and with such artists as Charlie Hunter and Gene Harris.
For their May 29 concert, the Santa Clara University Chamber Singers perform a few centuries' worth of music with a program of chamber choral music that ranges from the Renaissance to the present day.
The Department of Theatre and Dance presents The King Stag May 30June 1 and June 37. The play, written by 18th-century Venetian playwright Carlo Gozzi, tells an epic fable of courtly love—and court treachery—in the broadly comic and colorful Commedia Dell'arte style.
The Santa Clara University Orchestra closes out the month on May 31 with a concert conducted by Emily Ray, a university faculty member and the music director of the Mission Chamber Orchestra. The orchestra will perform a selection of symphonic works featuring international themes.
June will bring a special musical event. The university's Art of the Song Festival, which takes place June 67, will include master classes, guest artists, poets, composers and faculty in recital.
All events take place at Santa Clara University's Center for the Performing Arts on the university campus, Santa Clara. For more information, call the box office at 408.554.4015.
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