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News Release

Last modified: Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Performances will celebrate IU's cultural heritage Oct. 13-21

Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello to headline Homecoming concert

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 29, 2007

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Musical performances by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, André Watts, Marietta Simpson and David Baker, and comedy by David Sedaris will highlight the cultural offerings of Indiana University's "Celebrate IU" week Oct. 13-21.

Dylan, a seminal figure of both rock and folk music, is touring with Costello, another singer-songwriter whose music spans several musical genres. They will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at IU's Assembly Hall, 1001 East 17th St. Tickets will go on sale to the public on Sept. 7. The show is being presented by the Indiana Memorial Union Board and the IU Auditorium.

Earlier this summer, the IU Alumni Association announced that it was expanding traditional homecoming events to a full week as a celebration all of IU's eight campuses. More than 30 special events and activities are expected to draw thousands of students, alumni and IU supporters to most IU campuses.

"As plans for Celebrate IU started coming together, even I was pleasantly surprised at the wealth of performances that will take place in the space of a week. We're accustomed to outstanding offerings from the Jacobs School of Music, great shows in the IU Auditorium and beautiful exhibits in our galleries and libraries, but I think we've outdone ourselves this time, and I think it's going to be a terrific week," said Stephen L. Ferguson, president of the IU Board of Trustees.

Dylan's influence on popular music is said to be incalculable. His recordings have earned Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Awards, and he is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame. One of Time magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century, he has continued to perform and release acclaimed recordings well into his fifth decade in music.

Costello has followed his musical curiosity in a career spanning nearly 30 years. Perhaps best known for his performances with The Attractions and The Imposters, and for concert appearances with pianist, Steve Nieve, his recordings include "My Aim is True," "This Year's Model," "Imperial Bedroom," "Blood and Chocolate" and "The River in Reverse." His varied collaborations include those with Burt Bacharach, The Brodsky Quartet, Paul McCartney, Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter, The Charles Mingus Orchestra, and record producer and songwriter T Bone Burnett.

Celebrate IU's artistic and cultural offerings will begin at IU Bloomington on Tuesday, Oct. 16, with a performance by humorist David Sedaris, a regular contributor to The New Yorker, Esquire and the author of three collection of essays -- Naked, Me Talk Pretty One Day and Dress Your Family In Corduroy and Denim. In 2001, he received the Thurber Prize for American Humor and was named Time humorist of the year. Sedaris will share newly-penned, unpublished stories with the audience. He will appear at the IU Auditorium at 8 p.m.

The Jacobs School of Music will play a major role in the week-long celebration, including two major events on Thursday, Oct. 18. The inauguration ceremony for IU President Michael A. McRobbie, beginning at 3 p.m. at the IU Auditorium, will include celebratory fanfares composed by Professor of Music David Dzubay and performances by faculty colleagues Sylvia McNair and Christopher Young. A movement from Respighi's Pines of Rome, will be performed by the IU Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Professor of Music David Effron.

Later that day, internationally celebrated pianist and Jacobs School faculty member André Watts will be featured soloist with the IU Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert at 8 p.m. at the IU Auditorium, 1211 E.Seventh St. The orchestra, conducted by Effron, will perform works by Dimitri Shostakovich and Ludwig Van Beethoven, before joining with Watts in a performance of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A Minor.

A day earlier, the IU Wind Ensemble, conducted by Professor of Music Stephen Pratt, will perform at 8 p.m. at Auer Hall, 1201 E. Third St.

In addition to the Homecoming Concert, the IU Opera Theater production of Susannah will open on Friday, Oct. 19, and continue with performances on Oct. 20, 26 and 27. It will feature guest maestro Steven Smith and guest stage director Michael Ehrman collaborating on Carlisle Floyd's compelling opera about hypocrisy, intolerance and the consequences of both. Popular local dancer and teacher Tamara Loewenthal will choreograph the square dancing. For more information, including about tickets, visit https://www.music.indiana.edu/opera.

At 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, Distinguished Professor of Music David N. Baker will lead the IU Jazz Band in concert, "A Big Band Celebration with Miles, Quincy, and Marietta," at the IU Auditorium. Mezzo-soprano and Associate Professor of Music Marietta Simpson will be the soloist. One of the most sought-after mezzo-sopranos on the classical music scene today, she joined the Jacobs School in 2005.

"The Jacobs School of Music is honored to perform its role in the inauguration of the 18th president of Indiana University with a variety of concerts that reveal the strength of IU's place in the international cultural world," said Gwyn Richards, dean of the IU Jacobs School of Music. "We join the university community, Indiana and the world of higher education in celebrating the appointment of Michael A. McRobbie as our new president."

"Seussical the Musical" also will be performed Oct. 9-13 at n the Ruth N. Halls Theatre of the Lee Norvelle Theatre and Drama Center. The show, which features familiar characters from the mind of Dr. Suess such as the Cat in the Hat. Horton the Elephant and Yertle the Turtle, will open with performances on Oct. 5 and 6. More information is available at https://theatre.indiana.edu/productions/2007/lntdc/1-seussical/index.html.

At IU South Bend, the new resident ensemble, the Euclid Quartet, which is dedicated to performing contemporary music, will give the first concert of its residency on Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. in the Northside Recital Hall.

In addition to the music performances, Celebrate IU week also will feature several special visual art exhibits, including an exhibit featuring works of art by faculty from IU Bloomington and other IU campuses. The exhibit will be located at the Henry Radford Hope School of Fine Arts, 1201 E. Seventh St. An exhibit about past IU presidential inaugurations will at the Lilly Library, 1200 E. Seventh St.

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