By Preston Wittwer

Season tickets on sale June 5

The Brigham Young University College of Fine Arts and Communications announces its 2012-2013 Performing Arts Series season, featuring professional musicians, dancers and theatre-makers from as far as India and the United Kingdom and as close as Salt Lake City.

Most performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. Individual tickets will be available at the Fine Arts Ticket Office, (801) 422-4322 or at byuarts.com/tickets. Season ticket packages will be available for purchase Tuesday, June 5.

Fall 2012

To begin the season, Mandy Patinkin, Emmy-winning TV star and Tony Award-winning Broadway legend, will perform “Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual” with an evening of popular songs, old favorites, and Broadway classics Friday, Aug. 31, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Patinkin is most recognized for originating the part of Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Evita,” his role on the CBS TV series “Chicago Hope,” and as the ever-quotable Inigo Montoya from the film adaptation of “The Princess Bride.” Single tickets go on sale July 16.

Scotland’s Puppet State Theatre travels across the world to BYU to present “The Man Who Planted Trees” Thursday and Friday, Sept. 27 and 28, with two matinee performances Sept. 28 and 29, in the Pardoe Theatre. The multi-sensory theatrical adaptation of Jean Giono’s environmental classic tells the inspiring story of a shepherd who plants a forest, acorn by acorn, transforming a barren wasteland. Single ticket sales begin Aug. 13.

Pairing with the BYU Chamber Orchestra Wednesday, Oct. 3, in the de Jong Concert Hall, the Beijing Dance Academy will present an encore production of a joint performance held in Beijing in May 2011. Students from both institutions come together to present a program of contemporary dance, inspired by traditional movement and music in the most significant collaboration ever undertaken between BYU and a Chinese arts institution. Single tickets go on sale Sep. 4.

Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company will present a dynamic and accomplished six-person ensemble performance Thursday, Oct. 4, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Celebrated choreographer Paul Taylor established his dance company to ensure his works would be seen throughout the world and his latest production will present his renowned choreography, showcasing a wide range of athleticism, humor and emotion. Single tickets will be available starting Sep. 4.

The London-based chamber choir Tenebrae will perform Thursday, Nov. 1, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Founded and Conducted by Nigel Short, a former member of the King’s Singers, Tenebrae presents a blend of the passion of a cathedral choir with the precision of a chamber ensemble. Utilizing movement and light to exploit the unique atmosphere of the venue, the carefully chosen singers enable the audience to experience the power and intimacy of the human voice at its very best. Single tickets go on sale Oct. 1.

The Utah Symphony will perform Thursday, Nov. 15, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Conducted by Thierry Fischer with violinist Hilary Hahn, the symphony will play Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 in C major “Jupiter”; the Adagio from Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 10 in F-sharp major; and Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35. Single ticket sales begin Oct. 15.

Winter 2013

The winter season begins with a performance by the Aulos Ensemble Friday, Feb. 8, in the Madsen Recital Hall. Founded in 1973, the Aulos Ensemble was one of the first American “original instrument” ensembles. The group’s accomplishments over the past four decades have given it pre-eminence in the early music movement and established the ensemble’s five musicians as highly acclaimed and celebrated presenters of European Baroque music traditions. Single tickets go on sale Dec. 3.

Returning for a second concert, the Utah Symphony will perform Thursday, March 7, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Led by conductor Andrew Grams, the symphony will perform selections from Charles Ground’s opera “Faust”; Aaron Copland’s ballet “Appalachian Spring”; Igor Stravinsky’s ballet “Jeu de cartes”; and George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.” Single ticket sales begin Feb. 4.

New York’s Aquila Theatre Company will present “Cyrano de Bergerac” Tuesday, March 12, in the de Jong Concert Hall. The company, known for producing innovative classical theatre and attention to movement and visual arts, will stage Edmond Rostand’s funny and poignant play about one man’s quest for love. Single tickets go on sale Feb. 11.

Regarded worldwide as one of India’s foremost dance companies, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble will stop in Provo during their annual U.S. tour to perform “Samhara” Thursday, March 14, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Nrityagram’s acclaim stems from its ability to create and communicate powerful imagery and captivating movement through Odissi dance and live music. “Samhara,” a collaboration with Sri Lanka’s Chitrasena Dance Company, explores the meeting point between the Odissi and Kandyan dance techniques. Individual tickets go on sale Feb. 11.

Cape Breton fiddler Natalie MacMaster will join the BYU Folk Music Ensemble Tuesday, March 19, in the de Jong Concert Hall. MacMaster is one of the most versatile and exciting young musicians on the Folk and Celtic music scenes today. With live performances featuring foot-tapping rave-ups, heart-rending ballads and world-class step dancing, Natalie’s “traditional fusion” delivers a thrilling night of fiddling fireworks on traditional and contemporary Celtic melodies. Single tickets go on sale Feb. 19.

Spring 2013

The Performing Arts Series will conclude the season with Disney’s Choo-Choo Soul with Genevieve Saturday, May 4, in the de Jong Concert Hall. Straight from the Disney Channel to our stage! Get on board with super-hip train conductor Genevieve Goings and DC, her beat-boxing, break-dancing engineer as they travel through fantastical lands while singing soulful, contemporary, kid friendly hip-hop songs about the ABCs, 1-2-3s and learning how to be polite.

For more information on ticket sales, contact Jeff Martin at (801) 422-6340 or email je*********@by*.edu“>je*********@by*.edu.

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