. Brooklyn - 30 Lafayette Avenue Communication s Depa rtment Academy Brooklyn NY 11217-1486 Elena Park of Telephone: 718.636.4111 Melissa Cusick Music Fax: 718.857.2021 Amy Hughes Tamara McCaw Kila Packett 718.636.4129 [email protected] News Release BAM and Mark Morris Dance Group Celebrate 20 Years of Extraordinary Work by Mark Morris with Five Programs During BAM' s 2001 Spring Season, March 6-25

The three-week, sixteen-dance season features two New York premieres- Four Saints in Three Acts and Sang-Froid- as well as repertory favorites Falling Down Stairs; Gloria; Grand Duo; L 'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato, and more

All works are performed to live music

Mark Morris Dance Group 20th Anniversary Season Choreography by Mark Morris

BAM Howard Gilman House Falling Down Stairs (1997) and other dances, Mar 6 & 10 at 7:30pm Gloria (1981, revised 1984) and other dances, Mar 7 & 9 at 7:30pm Four Saints in Three Acts (2000) & World Power (1995), Mar 13 , 16 & 17 at 7:30pm Grand Duo (1993) and other dances, Mar 15 & 20 at 7:30pm L 'Allegro, i1 Penseroso ed il Moderato (1988), Mar 22-24 at 7:30pm; Mar 25 at 3pm Tickets: $20, 35, 50

BAMdialogues with Mark Morris Mar 16 and 23 at 6pm Mark Morris Dance Center, 3 Lafayette Avenue T ickets: $8 ($4 for Friends of BAM)

BAMcinematek presents The Hard Nut (1 992) and The Hidden Soul ofHarmony (1990), Mar 8 ' I BAMcafe Live presents pianist Ethan Iverson on Mar 1 and cellist Matt Haimovitz on Mar 8 BROOKLYN, January 23,2001 (revised 2/8/01)- From March 6-25, Brooklyn Academy of 0 Music (BAM) and Mark Morris Dance Group celebrate 20 years of extraordinary work by American choreographer Mark Morris as part of BAM' s 2001 Spring Season. Morris has become 0 one of the world' s most distinguished artists, creating more than 90 dances for Mark Morris Dance (\J Group as well as two dozen commissions for major ballet and opera companies around the globe. • more .. . rtn eason -.

Mark Morris Dance Group 2 Over a three-week period, BAM and Mark Morris Dance Group present five programs featuring sixteen dance pieces, 1 including two New York premieres, all performed to live music. The 20 h anniversary celebration also features supplementary events, including films, BAMdialogues, performances at BAMcafe, and an education program for public school students. Thirteen performances (see schedule above) will take place at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House (30 Lafayette Avenue). BAM's 2001 Spring Season is sponsored by Philip Morris Companies Inc. Tickets for 1 the 20 h anniversary season, priced at $20, $35, and $50, are available by calling BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or Ticketmaster at 212.307.4100 and through BAM's web site at www.bam.org.

Mark Morris Dance Group (MMDG) was formed in 1980 and gave its first concert that year at the Merce Cunningham Studio in New York City. The company's touring schedule steadily expanded to include cities in both the U.S. and Europe; in 1986, MMDG made its first national television appearance for PBS' "Dance in America" series. In 1988, MMDG was invited to become the national dance company of Belgium. The company returned to the United States in 1991 as one of the world's leading dance companies, performing across the U.S. and at major international festivals. Audiences have also become accustomed to MMDG's regular and frequent appearances in Boston; Fairfax, VA; Berkeley, CA; London; and the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, MA. In addition to a full international touring schedule, MMDG has completed four film projects featuring Morris' dances: Falling Down Stairs, an Em my Award-winning collaboration with cellist Yo-Yo Ma for PBS; , which has aired 1 numerous times on A&E; The Hard Nut for PBS (which will be screened at BAM Rose Cinemas during the 20 h anniversary celebration-see details below); and a new hour-long documentary for London's Southbank Show, featuring a behind-the-scenes look at the company and the creation of Four Saints in Three Acts.

The company, which has principally made BAM its New York performance venue, wiJI open its first permanent headquarters a block away from BAM this spring. MMDG gave its first performance at BAM in 1984; the 2001 Spring Season engagement marks the company's sixteenth BAM appearance over fifteen years. In addition, all programs will feature live musical accompaniment; MMDG's 350111 consecutive performance with live music will occur during the season.

About the five programs

The MMDG season opens with Falling Down Stairs (1997) and other dances, a program that includes the New York premiere of Sang-Froid (2000), a piece for nine dancers set to a compilation of Chopin piano music performed by Ethan Iverson. The evening begins with Falling Down Stairs, set to Bach' s Suite No.3 for solo cello performed by Matt Haimovitz; the work features fifteen dancers dressed in flowing costumes by designer Isaac Mizrahi. The program also includes Silhouettes ( 1999), a work for two dancers with music by Richard Cumming, and Home ( 1993 ), set to a commissioned score performed live by singer/songwriter Michelle Shocked and bassist Rob Wasserman. MMDG will perform the program on March 6 and 10 at 7:30pm.

MMDG continues its anniversary season with Gloria (1981, revised 1984) and other dances, an evening of repertory c lassics. The centerpiece of the program is Gloria, set to Vivaldi's celebrated Gloria in D Major- the first dance MMDG ever performed at BAM. The evening also reprises two works presented during BAM's 1995 Next Wave Festival, Lucky Charms (1994) and Bedtime (1992). Lucky Charms is set to Jacques !bert's Divertissement for orchestra. Bedtime, set to lieder by Franz Schubert, is a work for twelve dancers, including Morris himself. Rounding out the program is the duet Beautiful Day ( 1992), set to a cantata attributed to Bach. The conductor for the evening is Craig Smith. The company performs the program on March 7 and 9 at 7:30pm.

The pairing of Four Saints in Three Acts (2000) & World Power (1995) underscores Morris' interest in 20th century American composers. His vibrant version of Virgil Thomson's opera, Four Saints in Three Acts, receives its New York premiere at BAM. Backed by Thomson' s collage of American music- including marches, rags, Baptist hymns, and folk tunes- Morris creates a statiling vision of the opera, which depicts the lives of sixteenth-century Spanish saints. With a libretto by Gertrude Stein, Morris' Four Saints was hailed by Alastair Macaulay (Financial Times) as "a marvelously poetic work whose peculiarly meandering way with time is rendered timeless and stingi ngly bright by the dancers." Four Saints will be conducted by Craig Smith and features soprano Jayne West and baritone William Sharp, among others. World Power (a dance presented at BAM during the 1995 Next Wave Festival) provides a dark contrast

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Mark Morris Dance Group 3 to Four Saints' exuberance, as the work looks to the East with a score for gamelan orchestra by Lou Harrison, a frequent MMDG collaborator. MMDG performs the program on March 13 , 16, and 17 at 7:30pm.

The fourth program, entitled Grand Duo (1993) and other dances, features Morris himself in Peccadillos (2000), a solo set to children's piano music by Erik Satie. (Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the world premiere of the piece during White Oak Dance Project' s BAM engagement in spring 2000.) Also featured is Dancing Honeymoon (1998), an antic septet set to a medley of 1930s pop tunes ("You Were Meant for Me," "Do Do Do," "Two Little Bluebirds," and others); The Office (1994), a work for seven dancers with music by Antonin Dvorak; and Mosaic and United ( 1993 ), a dance set to two string quartets by Henry Cowell, which had its world premiere at BAM. The evening closes with a favorite of the MMDG repertoire, Grand Duo, a dance inspired by Lou Harrison's rousing score for violin and piano; Grand Duo was presented at BAM in 1993 and 1997. Music is performed by MMDG Music Ensemble directed by Ethan Iverson. The company performs the program on March 15 and 20 at 7:30pm.

MMDG's 20th anniversary season at BAM concludes with four performances of the Olivier Award-winning L 'Allegro, if Penseroso ed if Moderato (1988), Morris' evening-length masterwork created for 24 dancers, four vocal soloists, and full chorus and orchestra, with a lush set designed by Adrienne Lobel. Morris' realization of Handel's 17 40 work was hailed by Anna Kissel goff (TheN ew York Times) as "a glorious outpouring of dance invention and humanistic imagery" at its New York premiere during BAM's 1990 Next Wave Festival. Conductor Jane Glover will lead the work at BAM, which also features sopranos Jayne West and Jeanne Ommerle, tenor Glenn Siebert, and baritone Stephen Salters. Morris' movement, variously dreamlike and exultant, brings Handel's splendid ode to life. MMDG performs L 'A llegro on March 22-24 at 7:30pm and March 25 at 3pm.

BAMdialogues with Mark Morris

Inaugurated during the 1997 Next Wave Festival, BAMdialogues is an informal pre-performance series presented by BAM Education & Humanities. As part of the MMDG celebration, BAM Education & Humanities will present two BAMdialogue sessions with Mark Morris. Preceding the March 16 Four Saints in Three Acts performance, a discussion between Mark Morris and filmmaker Steven Watson takes place at 6pm. Morris will be the center of a second BAMdialogue with Wendy Lesser on March 23 at 6pm, preceding the L 'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato performance. The Mark Morris BAMdialogues wi II take place at the new Mark Morris Dance Center at 3 Lafayette Avenue. Admission to all BAMdialogues is $8 ($4 for Friends of BAM); for tickets and information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100 or visit www.bam.org.

Related BAMcinematek programming

To enhance the Spring Season experience, BAMcinematek, BAM Rose Cinemas' repertory program, presents On Stage/On Film-a diverse selection of films complementing mainstage programs. In conjunction with Mark Morris Dance Group's 20th anniversary season, BAMcinematek presents two films plus a special post-screening Q&A on March 8. At 6:50pm, BAMcinematek presents The Hidden Soul ofHarmony (1990) directed by Nigel Wattis, a documentary about the choreographer's staging of L 'A llegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato. The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Mark Morris. At 8:50pm, BAMcinematek presents The Hard Nut (1992) directed by Matthew Diamond, a film version of Morris' witty version of The Nutcracker.

BAM Rose Ci nemas tickets, priced at $9 ($6 for Cinema Club members, seniors, and students with valid ID Monday­ Friday), are available one week prior to screening at the BAM Rose Cinemas Box Office or through Moviefone (777- FILM). A dinner and movie package is available for only $30 (at the box office only). For more information, call the BAMcinematek hotline 718.636.4157 or visit the BAM web page at www.bam.org. (For cinema press information, call Molly Gross at 718.636.4129 x3.)

Related BAMca(¢ Live programming

The BAA1cafe Live series at BAMcafe (30 Lafayette Avenue) presents a diverse roster of musicians and spoken word artists on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. ln conjunction with the MMDG 20th anniversary season, BAMcafe

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Mark Morris Dance Group 4

Live presents MMDG musical director and pianist Ethan Iverson on Thursday, March I at 9pm. Iverson, a three-time member of The New York Times' " Ten Best of the Year" list, will be joined by Bill McHenry (tenor saxophone), Joe Martin (bass), and Jeff Williams (drums). In conjunction with his Bach solo cello suite performance in Mark Morris' Falling Down Stairs, Matt Haimovitz debuts at BAMcafe with a solo cello recital on Thursday, March 8 at 9pm. Haimovitz' recording Suites and Sonatas for Solo 'Cello was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque and Le Diapason d'Or. BAMcafe Live events have no cover charge; there is a $10 food/drink minimum. For information and updates, call 718.636.4139. (For BAMcafe Live press information, call Tamara McCaw at 718.636.4122 x2.)

Credits

BAM's 2001 Spring Season is sponsored by Philip Morris Companies Inc. Programming in the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House is supported and endowed by The Howard Gilman Foundation. BAM's new media partner is Lucent Technologies. Official Broadcast Sponsor is Bloomberg Radio AM 1130. Major sponsorship is provided by Forest City Ratner Companies Inc. and HSBC Bank USA. BAM Dance support is provided by The Harkness Foundation for Dance. Live music for the season is supported by the Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, administered by the American Music Center.

General information

BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, BAM Rose Cinemas, BAMcafe, and Shakespeare & Co. BAMshop are located in the main building at 30 Lafayette Avenue (Lafayette and Ashland) in the Fort Greene section of Brooklyn. BAM Harvey Theater is located at 651 Fulton Street in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. BAM Rose Cinemas is Brooklyn's only movie house dedicated to first-run independent and foreign film and repertory programming. Award-winning Tentation Catering provides food and beverages at BAMcafe, which features an eclectic mix of spoken word and live music on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights as well as Sounds ofPraise (live gospel music with a soul-food buffet) on selected Sundays. A package including dinner in BAMcafe and a movie ticket to BAM Rose Cinemas is available for only $30 (at the box office only).

Subway: 2, 3, 4, 5, D, Q to Atlantic Avenue B, M, N, R to Pacific Street; G to Fulton Street, C to Lafayette Avenue Train: Long Island Railroad to Flatbush A venue BAMbus: Departs from Whitney Museum at Philip Morris, 120 Park Avenue at 11 42 d Street, one hour prior to most performances. Car: Commercial parking lots are located adjacent to BAM.

For ticket and BAMbus information, call BAM Ticket Services at 718.636.4100, or visit www.bam.org. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at 2 12.307.4100.

#### at BAM It's always from music, always, always, always. The one exception being "Behemoth," which has no music at all. I listen to music because I love it and occasionally something sticks out that I think would be a good dance. That's where I start. I study the score and listen, think, then make up a dance. Usually, it's the music that determines who is in it, how long it is and what it's like. I do almost no choreographic homework; I do only musical homework. Mark Morris Interview Salon, Richard Covington

1992 1984 December November-December Mark Morris Dance Group Mark Morris Dance Group The Hard Nut 1995 Gloria, 1990 based on "Nutcracker and December 0 Rangasayee, June Mouseking" by E.T.A . Hoffman Mark Morris Dance Group Championship Wrestling after Monnaie Dance Group I and the work of Charles Burns Program A Roland Barthes Mark Morris Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra Somebody's Coming to See Me, Dido and Aeneas 1986 Tonight, 1998 1993 A Spell, June November October May The Office, Mark Morris Dance Group Mark Morns Dance Group Monnaie Dance Group/ Mark Mark Morris Dance Group with Bedtime, Medium, Marble Halls, Morris members at White Oak Dance Project Program 8 Dido and Aeneas Pieces en Concert, L'AIIegro, it Penseroso Dances to American Music World Power. Stabat Mater ed if Moderato, Mosaic and United, Lucky Charms, 1999 New Love Song Waltzes, Home, Rondo, Mark Morris Dance Group with 1987 Pas de Poisson, Three Preludes, Jesu, Meine Freude, Yo-Yo Ma and December Wonderland, Grand Duo Grand Duo Mikhail Baryshnikov Nixon in China Love Song Waltzes Falling Down Stairs, Mark Morris, Choreography December 1996 The Argument, , Director 1991 Mark Morris Dance Group May Rhymes with Silver John Adams, Mus1c September The Hard Nut Mark Morris Dance Group Alice Goodman, Libretto The Death of K/inghoffer based on "Nutcracker and Orfeo ed Euridice 2001 Mark Morris, Choreography Mouseking• by E.T.A. Hoffman D1rected and Choreographed by March 1988 Mark Morris Dance Group and the work of Charles Burns Mark Morris Mark Morris Dance Group May John Adams, MUSIC Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra Twenthieth Ann1versary Season Mark Morris Dance Group Alice Goodman, Libretto 1997 Four Saints in Three Acts New Love Song Waltzes, Peter Sellars, Director April World Power Fugue and Fantasy, Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra Mark Morris Dance Group L'AIIegro, if Penseroso Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, In Honor of the Divine ed if Moderato One Charming Night. LDu Harrison Falling Down and other dances Strict Songs Program A Grand Duo and other dances Stnct Songs. Gloria and other dances Rhymes with Silver, Grand Duo, Gloria and other works Program 8 I Don't Want to Love, One Charming N1ght, Mosa 1c and United, Gloria