Portland Press Herald from Portland, Maine • 33

D2 GO Portland Press Herald Thursday January 15 2009 Ready set go 7 DAYS UN STU TO DO TODAY JAN 15 PCA Great first artistic guest of 2009 is the European touring opera com pany Teatro Lirico The company presents starring soprano Kellen Esperian who has performed opposite Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras The cast will be supported by the Sofia Sym phony Orchestra and Chorus University of Southern Maine music professor Ellen Chicken ing a soprano herself will offer an view with a pre performance lecture at 6 pm Call PortTix at 842 0800 or go to wwwporttixcom for tickets When: 7:30 pm Where: Merrill Auditorium 20 Myrtle St Portland How much: $38 $46 and $53 RIDAY JAN 16 Portland Players Portland Players opens 2009 with the comedy Cage aux the production on which the movie was based Unlike the movie the Broadway musical is set on the rench Riviera but the story is essentially the same Portland production runs riday through eb 1: Call 799 7337 for tickets When: 8 pm ridays and Saturdays 2:30 pjn Sundays Where: Portland Players 420 Cottage Road South Portland How much: $17 for all seats opening night Tickets for all other shows are $20 $18 for se niors and $15 for students and college students with ID Red Molly All female Americana trio Red Molly has received a ton of accolades for its latest album and Other released last year The album was picked for a number of flop album lists including the Americana Music Associa Ton 1 00 for 2008 Go to wwwredmollycom for a link to 'near aucuo uau iodo zz oozo or go to wwwstonemountain artscentercom for tickets Courtesy of PCA Great Performances Modern dance company Diavolo performs in Rockport on Monday and in Portland on Jan 23 A DOUBLE DOSE DIAVOLO DANCERS Modern dance company Diavolo is not your ordinary dance company The company of 10 is led by artistic director Jacques Heim who choreographed for Cirque du Soleil With a number of won drous props the danc ers use ballet acrobatics theater and gymnastics to wow audiences The company performs in Rockport on Monday and in Portland on Jan 23 Call (888) 707 2770 for tickets to Monday's show Call PortTix at 842 0800 or go to wwwporttixcom for tickets to the show on Jan 23 When: 4 pm Monday 8 pm Jan 23 Where: Strom Auditorium Camden Hills Regional High School 25 Keelson Drive Rockport Monday Merrill Auditorium 20 Myrtle St Portland Jan 23 How much: $20 to $40 $8 for youths ages 18 and younger Monday $30 $34 and $42 $20 for students on Jan 23 When: 8 pm Where: Stone Mountain Arts Center 695 Dugway Road Brownfield How much: $20 The Refugees The all female trio'the Refu gees featuring local singer songwriter Cindy Bullens has been playing together for a couple of years and now the women are releasing their first album as a group is set for release Tuesday The trio will be on tour in sup port of the album with a stop in Portland on riday Go to wwwtherefugeesmusiccom unboundhtml to hear audio clips from the new album Call 761 1757 or go to wwwonelong fellowsquarecom for tickets When: 8 pm Where: One Longfellow Square State and Congress streets Portland How much: $12 in advance $15 day of show Mushers Bowl The Bridgton annual Mushers Bowl Winter Carnival gets under way riday and runs through Jan 25 Activi ties include dodge ball ice golf and ping pong tournaments wine tasting a talent search and variety show dogsled races and various competitions a star gazing show and more Go to wwwmushersbowlcom for a complete schedule When: Various times riday through Jan 25 Where: Various locations Bridgton area How much: $1 festival but tons MV and EE Matt Valentine and Erika Elder are on tour in support of their new album set for release on Tuesday The duo describes their sound as a combination of Indian raga and electrical experimental ism Go to wwwmyspacecom mveebummerroad to hear au dio They will be joined by Attar Cups and the Red This is an 18 and older show Tickets at Bull Moose Music stores When: 9:30 pm Where: Space 538 Congress St Portland How much: $8 reeport Players and Paint Rimes Productions present not for children riday through Jan 25 The production is a minimalist (no sets and few props) showcase of five short plays by American playwrights Tickets at the door or at wwwfcponlineorg When: 7:30 pm ridays and Saturdays 2 pm Sundays Where: reeport Performing Arts Center 30 Holbrook St How much: $10 Ave Maris Stella The 20 member a cappella ensemble Ave Maris Stella presents its annual Musike for the Nywe Yeare series of concerts The group celebrates the new year with selections from pre medi eval times to the 20th cen tury Tickets at the door Go to wwwavemarisstellaorg for information When: 7:30 pm riday 3 pm Sunday and Jan 25 Where: St Episcopal Church White Street Rock land on riday irst Church Church Street Belfast on Sunday St Thomas Episcopal Church Chestnut Street Cam den on Jan 25 How much: $10 suggested donation SATURDAY JAN 17 The Low Anthem Roots rock trio the Low An them has been gaining steady recognition since forming in 2006 The Providence based band just won the award for Best New Act at the Boston Mu sic Awards and its latest album My God Charlie was selected as one of the Top 12 DIY Albums in Perform ing Songwriter magazine The management reports a mention in Rolling Stone maga zine later this month as part of the feature Go to the Go section of wwwpressheraldcom to hear audio from the new album The trio will be joined by Subject Bias Call 761 1757 or go to wwwonelongfellowsquarecom for tickets When: 8 pm Where: One Longfellow Square State and Congress streets Portland How much: $10 in advance $12 at the door Larkin Grimm hard to pin down just what kind of music Larkin Grimm performs The young singer songwriter multi instrumen talist lived in a commune as a young child then ran wild when the family moved to the Blue Ridge Mountains Her music seems to capture the variety of her life Go to the Go section of wwwpressheraldcom to hear audio from her new album which features Portland based band ire on ire Beat Circus and Chriss Sutherland join her Saturday at Space This is an 18 and older show Tickets at Bull Moose Music stores When: 9:30 pm Where: Space 538 Congress St Portland How inuch: $7 Carolyn Currie Southworth first concert venture worked out bril liantly last month when local singer songwriter Carolyn Cur rie performed under the star dome Because it went so well (the show sold out) the folks at the planetarium asked Currie back for another concert which takes place Saturday Space is limited Call 780 4249 for tickets When: 8 pm Where: Southworth Planetari um almouth Street University of Southern Maine Portland How much: Advance tickets are $8 ($4 for children) At the door tickets are $10 ($5 for children) Please see READY Page D3 Young pianist PSO handle Gershwin with style and dash By CHRISTOPHER HYDE The young American pianist (Orion Weiss returned to the stage of Merrill Auditorium on Tuesday night for a splendid rendition of Con certo in with the Portland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Robert Moody As in his original appearance playing a Mozart concerto Weiss revealed a talent more devoted to the music than to vir tuosity although he had plenty of that too The first movement of the con certo seemedya little subdued as if both the orchestra and the soloist were feeling their way into the music Nevertheless it brought out aspects not usu ally heard in more performances especially by jzz pianists who do not sympa thize with classical aspirations The initial theme stated by the percussion section was memorable enough to link the first and final movements together in a way that even Brahms would have approved Things really came together in the adagio and andante which was pure 1920s Manhattan from the Staten Island ferry to a 3 am coffee shop as pictured by Edward Hopper Impressive throughout was the mastery of novel orchestra tion emphasized in interpretation No wonder Stravinsky who flirted with jazz himself called it a masterpiece The jazz violin solo by con certmaster Charles Dimmick for example was just right in every way The final allegro agitato with its rapid repeated notes and playful tossing of a theme from piano to orchestra and back also showed consider able power and sonority ending with a bang and a standing ova tion from the capacity crowd Encores after such a perfor mance detract from its impact but low key improvisa tional playing of an by Samuel Barber sounded like Gershwin himself doodling at the piano I have seldom heard the Port land Symphony in such brilliant form as in the Shostakovich Sjrophony No 10 in minor (Op 93) that followed interims Courtesy of PSO 7 jr 1 Orion Weiss CONCERT REVIEW PORTLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA WITH PIANIST ORION WEISS WHERE: Merrill Auditorium Portland WHEN: Jan 13 sion Still the varia tions on dong the Wicked Witch is relief at having outlived Stalin) were a bit too long in an audito rium unprepared for unusually warm weather That said the superb writing and contrasting moods of the symphony which requires the utmost in orchestral ability were enough to keep the audi ence alert except perhaps for the funereal opening moderato which the composer seem to know how to end set tling for a weird whistling in the dark The portrait of Stalin that fol lows is one of the most violent pieces of music ever written executed by the PSO with such power as to be the ultimate argument for the necessity of live music I was also impressed by the dance like third movement It contains one of characteristic waltzes but this one is for real full of tempered joy rather than sarcasm The Russian bear is dancing The lighter mood continues into the finale which even con tains snatches of what seems like bird song as well as some inspired writing for the bassoon and other woodwinds Christopher Classical Beat column appears in the Maine Sunday Telegram He can be reached at: cassbea tiinetscapenet GO fffS Portland Press Herald Thursday January 15 2009 CALENDAR Continued from Page D14 Saturday Larkin Grimm with Beat Circus and Chriss Sutherland: 18 plus show Space Portland $7 wwwspace538org 9:30 pm Saturday Greenhead wwwmyspacecom greenheadmusic Gritty Portland free 10 pm Saturday ear Nuttln Band with Sidecar Radio Tickets at Bull Moose Music stores Port City Music Hall 'Portland $12 door $10 in advance wwwportcitymusichall com 9 pm Saturday Black Taxi with Lynwood James Bates College Benjamin Mays Center Lewiston free www batesedu 9 pm Saturday: Scott Logan with Michael Jones Life Church Gorham free 839 6354 6 pm Saturday The in store performance by local band in support its new album Bull Moose Music Lewiston free wwwbullmoosecom 4 pm Saturday Country Western and Praise Music with Sequel St Matthew's Episcopal Church Lisbon by donation 353 8453 6 pm Saturday The Lighthouse Jubilees and riends dinner precedes benefit concert Tickets are $12 $8 for ages 6 to 12 5 and under free Assembly of God Church Portland 773 7061 5 pm (dinner) 7 pm (concert) Saturday 0 Okbari with belly dancing by Jamileh 21 plus Grille and Tavern Brunswick $5 729 6574 9 pm Saturday Sweet Honey in the Rock presented by PCA Great Performances Merrill Auditorium Portland $32 $42 $27 $37 for: students 842 0800 7 pm Sunday Genticorum traditional Quebecois group One Longfellow Square Portland $15 door $12 in advance: 761 1757 8 pm Sunday Jazz breakfast music by Bill Byrne breakfast items available for purchase concert free with museum admission Portland Museum of Art $4 $10 under 6 free 775 6148 10:30 am to noon Sunday USM Youth Jazz Improvisation Weekend with jazz drummer Terri Lyne Carrington Admission is $6 for master class $6 $3 for students and seniors for the concert Corthell Concert Hall University of Southern Maine Gorham 780 5555 2 to 3:30 pm master class 7 pm concert Sunday The Luminescent Orchestrii gypsy punk string ensemble North SJar Music Cafe Portland $7 699 2994 7 pm Sunday Musike for the Nywe with Ave Maris Stella irst Church Belfast $10 suggested donation 236 9413 3 pm Sunday Susan Poulin is featured in "Shutting Up Peggy at 7 pcg Saturday at the Dunaway Center in Ogunquit' Courtesy photo Winter in the Country presented by the Down East Country Music Association Knights of Columbus Hall $6 wwwdecmaorg Noon to 5 pm Sunday Borealis String Quartet Blue Hill Congregational Church $20 suggested donation wwwblue hillconcertsorg 3 pm Sunday A Concert for a Afternoon series Cormac McCarthy and the Nerve York Public Library 363 2818 3 pm Sunday The Cambiata in store performance by local band in support its new album Bull Moose Music Bangor free wwwbullmoosecom 4 pm Sunday Jazz night Matt ogg Trio Back Bay Grill Portland 6:30 to 9 pm Monday Noonday concert The Bow and String Band Bates College Olin Arts Center Lewiston free 786 6135 12:30 pm Tuesday Outdoors Nature walks Neck arm reeport $10 barter option available 865 4363 10 to: 11 am today amily Nature Walk: Winter Survival learn how wildlife survives the winter registration required Gilsland arm Maine Audubon almouth $8 $4 for children 781 2330 ext 215 10 to 11:30 am Saturday Parent child nature walks guided one to two mile walk in the woods Neck arm: reeport $10 $5 for children 865 4363 1 to 2 pm Saturday Evening nature walks guided $10 $5 for children under age 12 barter option available Neck arm reeport 865 4363 7 to 8 pm Tuesday Special Events Black Diamond Entertainment series family entertainment Sunday River Grand Summit Resort Hotel 4 a Newry $4 $8 under Sfree wwwsundayrivercom Mad Science 7 pm today Boston Bubble Guy 7 pm Saturday Bethel Wlnterest snow sculpture exhibit and various activities including skiing snowshoeing horse drawn Seigh rides Bethel Common $1 $3 Today through Monday Mushers Bowl Winter Carnival various locations Bridgton $Tcarnival button wwv tmushersbowlcom riday through Jan 25 Northeast Conference and Trade Show vendors speakers and more Advance registration fees for the conference are $30 to $40 At the door prices are $40 to $55 for the conference $6 for the trade show (under 12 free) Augusta Civic Center www nhctscom 9 a to 6 pm Saturday 9 am to 5 pm Sunday LuzHome and celebration of Latin culture with Latin food music and dancing and art work by Virginia Hernandez North Star Music Cafe Portland free 699 2994 6 to 11 pm Saturday lamenco celebrate the anniversary with a Spanish dinner followed bya flamenco show for the Arts Gray $50 657 2244 6:30 pm (cocktails) 7:15 pm (dinner) 8 pm (flamenco) Saturday World Sky Mythology night sky mythologies of cultures throughout history Southworth Planetarium University of Southern Maine Portland 4 pW1 Sunday Martin Luther King Jr Day event include reception with and keynote address by Melissa Harris Lacewell author of Bibles and workshops performances and a read in Bates College Lewiston free 786 6400 Sunday MLK Jr breakfast celebration and ceremony breakfast with keynote speaker Marc Lamont Hill followed by a wreath laying dedication ceremony at Monument Square Tickets for the breakfast are required must bepurchased in advance Wreath laying ceremony is free Holiday Inn by the Bay Portland $8 $10 253 5074 8 am Monday Martin Luther King Jr Day and Inauguration celebration rally on the village green is followed by a children's presentation and refreshments at St Church Village Green Bar Harbor 288 4066 1 to 4 pm Monday Martin Luther King Jr? breakfast with keynote speaker Roy Partridge irst Parish Unitarian Please see CALENDAR Page D16.