UIndy Arts UIndy Web

Selections from the UIndy Permanent Collection
Nov. 9- Dec. 4
9:00 AM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Gallery

Baroque, Handbell & Piano Ensembles
Sunday, November 22
7:30 PM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Ruth Lilly Performance Hall

Student-Directed Theatre Productions
Sunday, November 22
8:00 PM
Esch Hall
Studio Theatre

Indianapolis Baroque Orchestra: Bach Project
Monday, November 23
7:30 PM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Ruth Lilly Performance Hall

Baroque, Handbell & Piano Ensembles
Monday, November 30
7:30 PM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Ruth Lilly Performance Hall

Voices of Worship
Tuesday, December 1
7:30 PM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Ruth Lilly Performance Hall

African Drum Ensemble
Wednesday, December 2
7:30 PM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Ruth Lilly Performance Hall

Student-Directed Theatre Productions
Thursday, December 3
8:00 PM
Esch Hall
Studio Theatre

Student-Directed Theatre Productions
Thursday, December 3
10:00 PM
Esch Hall
Studio Theatre

A Christmas Celebration
Friday, December 4
7:30 PM
Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center
Ruth Lilly Performance Hall

UIndy Celebrates Maestro Raymond Leppard's 80th Birthday

Concertgoers "filled the Ruth Lilly Performance Hall to show their appreciation of all the good work that Maestro Leppard has done here in Indianapolis," wrote NUVO's Chantal Incandela, aptly describing the September 17, 2007, Gala 80th Birthday Celebration concert at the University of Indianapolis Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center. Audience members from Indianapolis and beyond gathered to recognize Raymond Leppard -- UIndy's Artist-in-Residence since 1994 -- with music of Mozart, Schubert, and Gustav Holst, as well as a conversation with the venerable Maestro about his current projects, his early years in music, and why he calls Indianapolis home.

After a greeting from University President Beverley Pitts, this once-in-a-lifetime Birthday Celebration concert began with Maestro Leppard conducting the Festival Orchestra in the St. Paul's Suite of Holst: the energetic rhythms of the opening Jig, the soaring violin solos of the Intermezzo, the ingenious combinations of the finale earning praise for its performance "with much gusto and liveliness." In Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 14 in E-flat Major, K. 449, soloist Richard Ratliff "demonstrated how very well he plays Mozart;" critics described his interpretation as crisp and clean and the orchestra's collaboration sensitive. Mozart's K. 449 projects a wide range of mood and expression, with the propulsive vigor of the opening movement's rising gestures, the Andantino's restrained lyricism, and the final rondo's dramatic outbursts. This performance must have resembled Mozart's premiere in 1784, when he wrote to his father about "extraordinary applause."

Franz Schubert's Mass in G Major concluded the evening with soprano Kathleen Hacker, tenor Christopher Freeze, baritone Mark Gilgallon, and the University of Indianapolis Celebration Chorus all joining the Festival Orchestra conducted by Maestro Leppard. Dating from 1815-a most productive year for Schubert-this popular Mass setting features inspired lyricism combined with a spontaneous youthful vigor. Again, praise was well deserved for a "lush, warm, and entirely satisfying" sound, bringing out the rich harmonic colors and captivating melodic lines.

Hosted by Paul Krasnovsky, the post-intermission conversation with Maestro Leppard never failed to lend insight into his good humor and extraordinary career, touching on his student days at Cambridge, his relationship with Glyndebourne, and his upcoming projects: Handel, Monteverdi, and Cavalli with the English Chamber Orchestra, music he used to love to do with large continuo forces. According to Maestro Leppard, the critics thought "I got very old fashioned … one of the reasons for my coming to America." In October, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will present its own birthday celebration concert with Maestro Leppard conducting music of Ravel and Elgar's Symphony No. 1-the first major work he conducted with the ISO as a guest in the early 1980s. And what about Mr. Leppard's first visit to Indianapolis? He recalls, "After 5 o'clock there wasn't anybody about [downtown]. Not a drunk, not a dog, not anything!" But he remembers the orchestra's players, how warmly they received him and how hard they worked. And then, "something happened to Indianapolis; it suddenly came to life again. It is now a most wonderful city-full of life and wonderful people. I love living here."

As one of the most respected international conductors of our time, Raymond Leppard has appeared with nearly all the world's leading orchestras in his nearly six decades on the podium. Educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, he has conducted more than 170 recordings, earning five Grammy awards, a Grand Prix Mondial du Disque, a Deutsche Schallplattenpreis, and an Edison Prize. In addition to a long association with Glyndebourne and Covent Garden, he has led numerous performances at the Metropolitan opera, New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera. Mr. Leppard has also garnered international recognition as recipient of prestigious honors including the Commander of the Order of the British Empire, the Indiana Governor's Arts Award, and the title of Commendatore from the Italian government. Now Conductor Laureate of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Maestro Leppard has recently traveled to the orchestras of Warsaw, Budapest, Granada, the Scottish National Opera, Stuttgart Opera, the Manhattan and Juilliard Schools, and the Colorado Symphony.