Free for All From A&L and More

Several no-cost events are on their way from UCSB’s Arts & Lectures, all with tie-ins to full presentations as part of its current season. The classical corner comes up big this season, first with violinist Nicola Benedetti leading a masterclass on Thursday, January 29, at Geiringer Hall, the morning after her concert at Campbell Hall. Jessica Guideri, assistant professor of Violin and concertmaster of the Santa Barbara Symphony, hosts the event where three students will perform and receive coaching. 

Later that evening, while superstar Joyce DiDonato won’t be on hand during A&L’s launch of its Winter Book Giveaway at Santa Barbara Wine Collective, you can pick up a copy of The Selected Poems of Emily Dickinson and hear readings of her verse. It’s a preview of the singer DiDonato’s and Time for Three’s presentation of Emily – No Prisoner Be, a semi-staged song cycle opening at the Granada a week later. Composed by Pulitzer Prize winner Kevin Puts, Emily explores themes of identity, freedom and nature through Dickinson’s poetry and DiDonato’s mezzo-soprano magic.

Get your tango on in a Community Dance Class with Tango After Dark on Saturday afternoon January 31 at Carrillo Ballroom, where Gérman Cornejo’s world-class tango dervishes work with dancers of all levels in authentic Argentinian Tango. Then check out the company’s two performances at the Lobero on February 1. 

Back at Geiringer, bass-baritone Davóne Tines leads a masterclass on February 4, just 12 hours after the conclusion of his concert with the ensemble Ruckus at Hahn Hall the prior evening. Isabel Bayrakdarian hosts, with four students getting tips from Tines. 

At the same on-campus venue of Geiringer, pianist Bruce Liu actually holds his masterclass the morning of his concert in the evening of February 12, with professor Paul Berkowitz hosting the event featuring three student performers. 

Finally, A&L has a free screening of “Dance on Film” – Tiler Peck: Suspending Time. This deep exploration follows one of ballet’s most celebrated artists as she faces a career crossroads and will be succeeded by a brief discussion on legendary American choreographer Jerome Robbins with Professor of Dance Studies Ninotchka Bennahum. The February 18 event at the Granada serves as a preview to the spectacular Ballet Festival: Jerome Robbins, curated by Tiler Peck, who leads an all-star cast in a two-night tribute to Robbins on March 3-4. 

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