RIVER CITY BRASS BAND 
FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2012    7:30 P.M.

In 1981, something special happened – a musical renaissance took place in Pittsburg, Pennsylviana. Under the baton of conductor Robert Bernat, the River City Brass performed their inaugural concertat Carnegie Music Hall on November 21, 1981.  It was an evening of musical excellence and determination to bring about the revival of the grass-roots tradition of the American brass band. RCB features 25 brass players and 3 percussionists.  This configuration allows the Band to present a sweeping repertoire: American tunes, Big Band swing and jazz, music from Broadway and Hollywood, classical and contemporary masterworks and traditional marches.

DAMN YANKEES – Broadway Musical 
THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012   7:30 P.M.

Home runs, hit songs and a sizzling temptress named Lola have made DAMN YANKEES a Musical Comedy favorite.  Written by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross (of “The Pajama Game” fame), this frothy tale of a baseball fanatic who sells his soul to the Devil to help his favorite team, the Washington Senators, win the pennant race against the New York Yankees.  DAMN YANKEES is  a devilishly good time musical … filled with hit songs like “Whatever Lola Wants” and “You Gotta Have Heart”.  In time, Joe Hardy learns that there is more to life than home runs. Its sassy and winning ways earned this baseball tale 7 Tony Award home runs including Best Musical.

WROCLAW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA 
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2012  7:30 P.M.

Established in 1954, the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra is widely embraced for its diverse repertoire, which spans various musical eras from Baroque to Contemporary.  Called “first-rate and “excellent” by Gramaphone magazine, the Polish orchestra was awarded a Gold disc for its recording Symphonically Perfect.  The evening, headed by acclaimed conductor Jacek Kaspszyk and award winning cello soloist Maciej Mlodawski, will feature a program including Dvorak’s 7th Symphony in D minor and Dvorak’s cello concerto in D Minor.

The Orchestra performs regularly presenting around 100 programmes per season.  Its repertoire is exceptionally varied. The orchestra has given performances in renowned concert hall throughout the world as well as a concert in New York’s St. Patrick Cathedral in memory of Pope John Paul II.

RIGOLETTO,  Verdi’s Opera  
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2012   4:00 P.M.

Composed by Giuseppe Verdi in 1851, RIGOLETTO is an intriguing study of the contrasts between good and evil.  Destinies collide as the womanizing Duke of Mantua and his vengeful court jester RIGOLETTO, weave a fascinating drama of seduction, betrayal, curses and vendettas ending with the tragic death of an innocent young woman.

The opera is performed by Teatro Lirico D’Europa, the company which has presented several PCMA operas including last season’s brilliant TURANDOT.  Teatro Lirico has developed a firm history of success in eleven consecutive seasons of major American tours.

SWAN LAKE, MOSCOW FESTIVAL BALLET SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 2012  7:30 P.M. 

The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 when legendary principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet Sergei Radchenko sought to realize his vision of a company which would bring together the highest classical elements of the great Bolshoi and Kirov Ballet companies in an independent new company within the framework of Russian classic ballet.

The Moscow Festival Ballet Company will perform SWAN LAKE, one of the most famous of ballets.This full-length ballet in four acts performed to  the music of Tchaikowski had its premier March 4, 1877 at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow.