Peak Performances

Romeo Castellucci is one of Europe’s best-known directors, a firebrand known for productions that are as thought-provoking as they are visually stunning. He returns to Peak Performances with the American premiere of “Democracy in America,” freely inspired by the work of Alexis de Tocqueville. Castellucci conjures majorettes who stir the crowd’s enthusiasm for democracy in America, colonial settlers who confound the native Americans, and a puritan couple who struggle to farm a barren land.

This dance concert reprises two works honored with performances at the Kennedy Center as part of the National American College Dance Festival. Sara Hook’s abstract and deeply moving To Seldom Spire is set to Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor, Opus 64; Frederick Earl Mosley’s Oh, My Love is a romantic suite inspired by classic torch songs sung by Cyndi Lauper. The concert also features work by guest artists, Bill T. Jones and Abby Zbikowski, and dance faculty including Christian von Howard, Kathleen Kelley and Maxine Steinman.

The MSU Symphonic Band and MSU Campus Band present an entertaining evening of music making.

Will be performing Elgar’s Concerto for Cello with 2018 concerto competition winner Kevin Maa.
Schumann’s Concert Piece for 4 Horns & Orchestra with members of the Cali School horn faculty Michelle Baker, Kyle Hoyt, guest artist David Peel, and student soloist Nicole Rodriquez. And Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite (1919 version).