WEEKENDER | MUSIC

Symphony, opera celebrate black history

2/14/2018
BY WAYNE F. ANTHONY
SPECIAL TO THE BLADE
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    To celebrate Black History Month, the Toledo Symphony, the Toledo Opera Association, and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library are teaming up in a three-month festival of music known as the North Star Festival.

    The Blade/Katie Rausch
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  • To celebrate Black History Month and Toledo’s rich history as a safe haven along the Underground Railroad, the Toledo Symphony, the Toledo Opera Association, and the Toledo Lucas County Public Library are teaming up in a three-month festival of music known as the North Star Festival. The endeavor explores the musical contributions of black Americans on our nation’s history.

    “Lift Ev’ry Voice” explores the Toledo’s Underground Railroad history through music, narrated story, and the screening of the word-less story book Unspoken by Henry Cole. The event takes place at 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. Thursday at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St., and is sold out.

    Other North Star Festival events include:

    • A free preschool story time featuring members of the symphony takes place at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 22 at the Sanger Branch Library, 3030 Central Ave. Registration is required.

    • “Reaching for Our Stars” is a symphony neighborhood celebration of Black History Month at 5 p.m. Feb. 25 at St. Martin De Porres Catholic Church, 1119 Bancroft St. For tickets, call 419-241-4544.

    • A free instrument petting zoo features Toledo Symphony and Youth Orchestra members performing music inspired by spirituals at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Kent Branch Library, 3101 Collingwood Blvd.

    • A free conversation on the upcoming symphony concert “Romance and Spirituals” features artistic administrator Merwin Siu, at 6:30 p.m. March 1 at the West Toledo Branch Library, 1320 W. Sylvania Ave.

    • A free open rehearsal of the Toledo Symphony concert “Romance and Spirituals” is at 1:15 p.m. March 11 at the Main Library of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, 325 N. Michigan Ave.

    •  “Romance and Spirituals,” a Toledo Symphony chamber concert, explores the music of the Underground Railroad at 7 p.m. March 11 at the Main Branch Library, 325 N. Michigan Ave. For tickets, visit toledosymphony.com.

    • Legendary soprano Kathleen Battle joins the Toledo Symphony, the Clarence Smith Community Chorus, and the Voices at BGSU in “The Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey” at 7:30 p.m. March 16 at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St. For tickets, visit toledosymphony.com.

    • The Toledo Symphony and the Toledo Opera present Douglas Tappin’s new opera, I Dream, on the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., at 7:30 p.m. April 6-7 and at 2 p.m. April 8 at the Valentine Theatre, 400 N. Superior St. For tickets, visit toledoopera.org.

    Finally, the series ends with the Toledo Symphony performing Classical Ellington at 8 p.m. April 20-21 at the Toledo Museum of Art Peristyle, 2445 Monroe St. Complete information can be found at 419-246-8000 or toledosymphony.com.

    Storm Large of Pink Martini performs American Songbook classics with the Toledo Symphony at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Stranahan Theater.
    Storm Large of Pink Martini performs American Songbook classics with the Toledo Symphony at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Stranahan Theater.

    Storm Large of Pink Martini fame performs “The Crazy Arc of Love,” an evening of classics from the American Songbook with the Toledo Symphony at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Stranahan Theater, 4645 Heatherdowns Blvd. 419-246-8000 or toledosymphony.com.

    ■ A concert lecture, EAR | EYE: Listening and Looking, explores the connection between contemporary music and art at 7 p.m. Friday. A Black History Month Celebration African-Americans in Times of War features soprano Margaret Barron exploring music on the topic at 3 p.m. Sunday in the Great Gallery. Both concerts are at the Toledo Museum of Art, 2445 Monroe St. For more information, call 419-255- 8000 or visit toledomuseum.org.

    ■ Pianist Valrie Kantorski and the Zin Quartet present a free all-Robert Schumann program of the Three Fantasy Pieces, op. 73, and the Piano Quintet, op. 44, on the St. Tim’s Discovers concert series at 3 p.m. Sunday at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 871 East Boundary St., Perrysburg. For more information, call 419-874-5704 or visit saint-timothy.net.

    ■ PRIZM Duo, soprano Janet Brehm Ziegler and percussionist Aaron Ziegler, present an afternoon of contemporary music including two world premieres on the second annual Accent of the Arts! Concert Series at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Mainstage Theatre, Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Owens Community College, 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg. For more information, call 567-661-7081 or visit owens.edu/arts.

    ■ BGSU is hosting a full slate of events this week. Violinist Mark Fewer hosts a free master class at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in Bryan Recital Hall. The University Band and the Concert Band perform at 8 p.m. Thursday in Kobacker Hall; tickets are $10-$13.

    Duo Pianists Philip Moll and Ursula Oppens host a free master class at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Bryan Recital Hall. They give a duo performance with the BG Philharmonia 8 p.m. Saturday in Kobacker Hall; tickets are $10-$13.

    The seventh annual David D. Dubois Piano Competition for high school pianists holds a semifinal round at 9 a.m. Saturday in Kobacker Hall. Admission is free.

    Mantra Percussion performs contemporary music at 8 p.m. Monday in Kobacker Hall. The BGSU Horn Club gives a recital at 8 p.m. Monday in Bryan Recital Hall.

    College of Musical Arts faculty perform chamber works at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Bryan Recital Hall. The Graduate Brass Quintet performs at 8 p.m. Feb. 22 in Bryan Recital Hall.

    All performances are in Moore Musical Arts Center, Bowling Green State University. For tickets and more information, call 419-372- 2181 or visit bgsu.edu/musical-arts.

    ■ The Adrian Symphony presents “Movies, Music, Sport” at 8 p.m. Saturday at Dawson Auditorium, Adrian College, Adrian. The film-inspired concert features vocalist Sophie Madorsky in music from great sports movies. Tickets are $12-$29 and available by calling 517-264-3121 or visiting adriansymphony.org.

    ■ “Winter Dreams,” a chamber music benefit recital to support the Dexter Community Orchestra’s Youth Artist Competition begins at 2 p.m. Saturday; tickets are $15. Project 206, an avant-garde jazz ensemble exploring the world of electronic jazz performs at 4 p.m. Sunday; tickets are $5-$30. Thomas Meglioranza sings the complete Schubert Winterreise at 8 p.m. Tuesday; tickets are $5-$30. All three events are at the Kerrytown Concert House, 415 N. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor. For more information, call 734-769-2999 or visit kerrytownconcerthouse.com.

    Send classical music and dance items at least two weeks in advance to classics@theblade.com.