LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 17, 2012) − Be transported to the "City of Lights" as the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts continues its series of lectures and performances titled "Music, Arts and Culture in Paris," a collaboration with the UK College of Arts and Sciences. The series, which began in the fall semester, features several events on the art, music, theater, opera, history and culture of Paris in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Unless otherwise noted, series events are free and open to the public and will be presented at the Niles Gallery, located in the Lucille C. Little Fine Arts Library and Learning Center.
"Music, Arts and Culture in Paris" returns to campus this semester with a talk on composer, organist, conductor, and pianist Camille Saint-Saëns by musicology doctoral student César Leal. "Re-centering the Arts and Re-defining Audiences: The Théatre des Champs-Élysées Cultural Experience" will be presented at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 20.
In February, Ben Arnold, director of the UK School of Music and professor of musicology, will present "The French Liszt," on the noted composer who lived and worked for many years in Paris at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. A two-day event, "The Paris Conservatoire and the Prix de Rome," will feature Juan Pablo Carreño, recent winner of the Prix de Rome and graduate of the Paris Conservatoire, with an introduction on the history of this famous prize in composition by Diana Hallman, UK associate professor of musicology, at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. A concert of music by Carreño and other Prix de Rome winners will be performed by the chamber ensemble EnVaGE, conducted by César Leal, will be presented 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at the Singletary Center for the Arts Recital Hall. Finally, February will close with two lectures related to visual art. "Why the School of Paris is Not French" will be presented by Rob Jensen, associate professor of art, at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 24, and "Displaying Africa in Paris: The Trocadero to the Quai Branly" will be presented by Monica Visoná, assistant professor of art history, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Music will be the focal point of the March events in the series. The lecture and performance "The French Mezzo Soprano" will be presented 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22. This event will feature Jennifer Lane, an internationally known mezzo-soprano and professor of voice at University of North Texas, as well as UK doctoral candidates and mezzo-sopranos Ellen Graham and Jondra Harmon accompanied by Diana Hallman and John Greer, UK Opera Theatre vocal coach. This will be followed by a keynote musicology lecture by scholar Jann Pasler presented as part of the UK Division of Musicology and Ethnomusicology Rey M. Longyear Lecture Series. Pasler, a musicologist and pianist at University of California at San Diego, will give a talk titled "The Dynamics of Identity in fin de siècle French Music" at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27.
"Music, Arts and Culture in Paris" will come to a close with one event in April. "Une soirée musicale," presented by UK School of Music faculty and students, will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17.
For more information on events related to "Music, Arts and Culture in Paris," visit the series website at: http://www.uky.edu/FineArts/paris/.
MEDIA CONTACT: Whitney Hale, (859) 257-8716 or whitney.hale@uky.edu
