Park Ave Armory Begins 2012 Season With Tune In Music Fest

Dedicated to presenting works that cannot be realized in traditional institutions, Park Avenue Armory's season includes commissions of monumental, immersive installations by visual artists Tom Sachs, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, and Ann Hamilton; epic music experiences, including the second annual Tune-In Music Festival, celebrating the 75th birthday of the iconic Philip Glass, as well as the New York Philharmonic in a program exploring the sonic qualities of the Armory's cathedral-like acoustics; the legendary Trisha Brown Dance Company bringing a restaging Astral Converted; and, "Under Construction," a salon series featuring Armory Artists-in-Residence and friends.

With its soaring 55,000-square-foot Wade Thompson Drill Hall and array of dramatic period rooms, the Armory's unique spaces catalyze artists to create-and the public to experience-unconventional work in all genres that could not be mounted elsewhere in New York City.

Park Avenue Armory's 2012 and 2013 seasons are sponsored by Citi.

"Our mission is to give artists and performers the freedom and support to create works of extraordinary imagination, and our second full season represents a breadth and depth of artists at the peak of their creative prowess," stated Rebecca Robertson, President and Executive Producer of Park Avenue Armory. "At the Armory, our spaces become a partner in the creative process, resulting in unparalleled experiences for both our artists and our audiences."

"Park Avenue Armory has built one of the most exciting cultural organizations in New York City, and we are delighted to be kicking off our two-year premier corporate sponsorship with some terrific events in 2012," said Peter Charrington, CEO of Citi Private Bank, North America. "The building itself is a National Treasure, and the artistic programs are bold, imaginative and cutting edge. We look forward to hosting many wonderful and thought-provoking events here."

http://www.armoryonpark.org/

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

TUNE-IN MUSIC FESTIVAL
Philip Glass: 75
February 23-26, 2012
Co-curated by Philip Glass, the Armory's second Tune-In Music Festival celebrates the iconic composer's extraordinary impact upon the musical and intellectual life of his times on the occasion of his 75th birthday. The series of five concerts features his own music, as well as music, poetry, and art created and performed by his muses, collaborators, and artists he has influenced, and uses the Armory's Wade Thompson Drill Hall, with its cathedral-like acoustics and informal character, to set the scene for an immersive and intimate concert environment. The programs are:

Kaddish
Thursday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m.
As a friend and frequent collaborator with the great Allen Ginsberg, Philip Glass's affinity and reverence for the late poet will be honored with a world premiere commissioned by Park Avenue Armory and featuring a score by Grammy Award Winning jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, original visual designs by "Gonzo" artist Ralph Steadman, and the conceptual energy of legendary music producer Hal Willner, who will also be a narrator along with actress Chloe Webb. Conducted by Frisell, an eight-piece ensemble will accompany a reading of Ginsberg's Kaddish. One of the greatest works to emerge from the Beat Generation, the poem is a sprawling, propulsive lament to Ginsberg's mother and a reflection on his own estrangement from Judaism.

Philip Glass and Patti Smith: The Poet Speaks
Friday, February 24, at 7:30 p.m.
Longtime collaborator Patti Smith and Philip Glass present "The Poet Speaks" in a rare New York appearance. The two musical icons will perform original work individually and together, with music and readings celebrating their favorite poets including Ginsberg and William Blake. The evening culminates in a reading of Ginsberg's epic Wichita Vortex Sutra¸ set to music by Glass and recited by Smith.

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