Sunday, January 20th @ 4:00pm

Art to Poetry to Music

Where: Bechtler Museum of Modern Art (420 S. Tryon St, Charlotte)

Event description: Join us for Art to Poetry to Music, part of the Music and Museum series at the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, on Sunday, January 20, 2013, a collaboration between Opera Carolina, the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, and the Confucius Institute of Pfeiffer University.

Art to Poetry to Music explores Chinese cultural arts by featuring performances by Chinese musicians and a demonstration of traditional Chinese calligraphy. A cash-bar reception featuring complimentary hors d'oeuvres from Hissho Sushi begins at 5:30 p.m. in the museum lobby.

Art to Poetry to Music Performers
Sun Yu, bass-baritone
Hong Zhao, master calligrapher and philologist
Xue’er Ding, guzheng musician
Emily Jarrell Urbanek, pianist
Tanja Bechtler, cellist
Marvin Ridge High School Women's Ensemble (Union County, NC)

Sun Yu is one of China’s most celebrated opera singers and has performed lead operatic roles on many of the world’s top stages. He trained at the China Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. Yu’s credits include roles in Parsifal, La Traviata, Don Giovanni, Carmen, Madam Butterfly and Savage Land.

ART
Connecting the concert to artwork in the Bechtler collection, two pieces by American Abstract Expressionist Mark Tobey will be on view and discussed during the event. Tobey experimented with Chinese calligraphy which led to a technique he dubbed “white-writing.” By using a stylus filled with paint, he would “write” on the canvas in a seemingly chaotic yet deeply spiritual manner.

TICKETS
The performance begins 4 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults/$5 for children age 10 and under. Purchase tickets online, by phone 704.353.9200 or at the visitor services desk.

PARKING
Music and Museum concertgoers receive discounted parking at the Levine Center for the Arts garage located at the Duke Energy Center, 550 South Tryon Street. The visitor entrance is located on West Stonewall Street. Visitor parking is offered on levels P1 and P2. Bring parking tickets to the museum for discount validation.


Media sponsorship for the Bechtler's Music and Museum series is provided by 89.9FM WDAV Classical Public Radio.

Funding for Art to Poetry to Music was provided by a grant from the Community Catalyst Fund, an initiative of the Robinson Center for Civic Leadership at Foundation For The Carolinas.