Hudson Opera House :: Event Calendar

September - October 2010 Events

Bon Appetit!
Theater. Opera. Chocolate.
8 shows only!
September 10/11 & 15/16/18 & 22/23/24 All shows at 8:00 p.m.

See, hear, taste Julia Child's arrival in France in 1948, and how she discovered her life's passion. Featuring Lee Hoiby's Opera, Leonard Bernstein's recipe song cycle La Bonne Cuisine and a taste of chocolate cake from local pastry chefs! A collaboration with Walking the Dog Theater, Diamond Opera Theater/Hudson Opera House. Directed & Conceived by Benedicta Bertau of Walking the Dog Theater. Performances take place at the Basilica Industria/Hudson. Buy Tickets for BON APPETIT! Photo by Daniel Region.

Daniel Kelly Emerge Trio
Friday, September 17, 8:00 p.m.

Award-winning composer and pianist Daniel Kelly is an innovative musical voice in New York City jazz and improvised music scene. He has collaborated in performance and on disc with a wide range of artists. Daniel's most recent CD for Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records, Emerge, features three-time Juno winner, Chris Tarry on bass and one of New York City's most in-demand drummers, Jordan Perlson.$15 per person, $12 HOH members.

Transition & Aszmara
Saturday, September 18, 8:00 p.m.

HOH presents Transition Ensemble: a fusion of Jazz with modern and traditional music of the Middle East. Souren Baronian (Reeds) and Haig Manoukian (Oud), and Swiss singer and percussionist Cornelia Kraft create a sound that is unique. At HOH, Transition joins with the oriental dancer Aszmara, one of New York's finest dancers who combines Modern Dance with traditional Arab and Turkish dance. $15 per person, $12 HOH members.

Faunal Respirations
Installation / Performance by Ryder Cooley
Saturday, October 9, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Ryder Cooley will create a phantasmal world inhabited by drawings, animals, sounds, props and projections in the 2nd floor theatre of HOH. An ambient performance with live music on singing saw, accordion, voice and ukelele. C. Ryder Cooley is an inter-discliplinary artist, musician and performer. Weaving together chimeric images with found props and forgotten objects, she creates cinematic performances and installation spaces. Currently she is based in Hudson, NY and plays in the band Fall Harbor.

Stories of Adventure,
Travel and Tricksters from Around the World
Len Cabral
Saturday, October 16, 2:00 p.m.

Through humor, movement, song and poetry, Len Cabral has given new life to old stories for over twenty-five years. Len will share stories from his Cape Verdean heritage, folk tales from around the world as well as personal stories. So bring the kids and come sit for a Spell and listen to stories being told by an east coast raconteur. Free and open to the public.

The Saddest Music Ever Written:
The Story of Samuel Barber's "Adagio for Strings"
Thomas Larson
Sunday, September 19, 2:00 p.m.

In the first book to explore Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, music and literary critic Thomas Larson tells the story of the prodigal composer and his seminal masterpiece: from its composition in 1936, when Barber was just twenty-six, to its orchestral premiere two years later, led by the great Arturo Toscanini, and its fascinating history as America's secular hymn for grieving our dead. Older Americans know the Adagio from the funerals and memorials for Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy, Albert Einstein, and Grace Kelly. Younger Americans recall the work as the antiwar theme of the movie Platoon. Still others treasure the piece in its choral version under the name "Agnus Dei." More recently, mourners heard the Adagio played as a memorial to the victims of the 9/11 attacks. Barber's Adagio is truly the saddest music ever written, enrapturing listeners with its lyric beauty as few laments have.

ArtsWalk Reading Series
Sunday, October 9, 1:30 - 6:30 p.m.

In collaboration with the Columbia County Council on the Arts and ARTSWALK, HOH hosts an afternoon of readings. 1:30 p.m., Mary-Beth Hughes, Author of the novel Wavemaker II and the story collection Double Happiness and Louis Asekoff, Author of the poetry collections Dreams of a Work; North Star and The Gate of Horn. At 3:00 p.m., Lynne Tillman, Author of the novels American Genius: A Comedy; No Lease on Life, and Cast in Doubt and the story collection This is Not it, among many other books and Wayne Koestenbaum, Cultural critic and author of Hotel Theory and The Queen's Throat: Opera, Homosexuality, and the Mystery of Desire and the poetry collections Best-Selling Jewish Porn Films and The Milk of Inquiry, among many other books. And at 5:00 p.m., join Justin Spring, Author of the biographies Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade and Fairfield Porter: A Life in Art, among many other books in conversation with Brooks Peters, Writer, editor, bookseller and author of the blog "An Open Book."

Poetry Reading
Lee Gould
Stuart Bartow
Barbara Louise Ungar
Saturday, October 10, 2:00 p.m.

Stuart Bartow is the author of two full-length poetry collections, Whelk (Pgymy Forest Press, 2001) and Reasons to Hate the Sky (WordTech, 2008), as well as four chapbooks, including The Stars Belong to No One, winner of the Owl Creek Chapbook Prize (1994) and The Perseids, winner of the Palanquin Prize from the University of South Carolina (1997). This year his poem, "Shinto," won the California State Poetry Society's annual poetry contest. He has published innumerable poems in various journals, and is a seasoned reader; he can be heard bimonthly on WAMC's Vox Pop poetry show, reading work of his own and others. He is professor of English at Adirondack Community College in upstate New York, where he teaches British and World Literature.

Lee Gould will be reading from her new chapbook Weeds from Finishing Line Press. Marie Ponsot calls Gould's poems "radically lively" catching "both reality and the wildness under it..." while Peg Boyers refers to Gould's "vibrant, accessible often darkly funny free verse."
After teaching at Goucher College, Lee retired to the Hudson Valley where she continues to teach, write poems and reviews, gardens, makes far too much jam and explores the marvels of Columbia County and Hudson where she serves on the Democratic Party Committee. Her poems and reviews have appeared in Quarterly West, The Gay and Lesbian Review, the Berkshire Review, Chronogram, Magma, Phoebe, Passager, Women and the Environment and other journals.

Barbara Louise Ungar's most recent poetry collection, Charlotte Bronte, You Ruined My Life, was a 2009 finalist for the National Poetry Series and Sarabande Books' Morton Prize. Her last book, The Origin of the Milky Way, won the 2006 Gival Press Poetry Award, the Adirondack Center for Writing Award for Best Book of Poetry 2007 (co-winner), a silver Independent Publishers Book Award, and an Eric Hoffer Notable for Poetry Award. She is also the author of Thrift (WordTech Editions 2005), and the chapbooks Sequel (Finishing Line Press 2004) and Neoclassical Barbra (Angel Fish Press 1998), as well as the monograph Haiku In English (Stanford 1978, reprinted in Simply Haiku 2007-9). A professor of English at the College of Saint Rose in Albany, she lives in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Save the Dates...

HOH Gala
Saturday, September 25, 2010

Winter Walk
Saturday, December 4, 2010

Local Self Portraits
June 12 through August 14

HOH presents a show of self-portrait paintings, photographs and sculpture curated by Richard Roth. The artists' styles run the gamut, from primitive to photo realist, documentary to minimalist to abstract expressionist. What they have in common is geography: They all live and work, exhibit work, or spend their leisure time in Hudson or Columbia County. Artists include Marina Abramovic, Richard Artschwager, Donald Baechler, R. O. Blechman, McWillie Chambers, Mihail Chemiakin, Lynn Davis, Judy Glantzman, Musho Rodney Alan Greenblat, Nancy Hagin, Phyllis Hjorth, Ellsworth Kelly, Dylan Kraus, Annie Leibovitz, Barbara Lehman, Reggie Madison, Gerard Malanga, Maria Manhattan, Richard Minsky, Sedat Pakay, Ken Polinskie, Lucio Pozzi, Eric Rhein, Dan Rupe, Edwina Sandys, Barbara Slate, Tim Slowinski, Ed Smith, Bill Sullivan, Earl Swanigan, Benjamin Swett, Franklin Tartaglione, Tony Thompson, and Arthur Yanoff. A limited edition, full-color catalogue for the exhibition is available for purchase, sponsored by Stair Galleries of Hudson. Click here to purchase.

Jonathan Wallen
Portraits from Rwanda
August 21 through September 25

HOH presents a photography exhibition by Jonathan Wallen featuring portraits shot during his travels in Rwanda. An opening reception with the artist is on Saturday, August 28 from 6 - 8 pm.

Theatre Arts Workshops for Teens
with Carol Rusoff
Mondays and Tuesdays, 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

beginning September 27 & 28

Theatre Improv Workshop
Participants will discover and explore their talents using theatre improvisation, ensemble exercises, and games. Seeking participants interested in all aspects of theatre production - directing, acting, singing, dancing, designing, writing, are all welcome and no previous experience is necessary - just curiosity, creativity, and enthusiasm!

Production Workshop Tuesdays, beginning September 28 HOH welcomes dedicated and able teens to participate in every aspect of theatre production for a December debut of a fully mounted show. No previous theatre experience is necessary, but passionate interest is. Auditions, rehearsal schedule, show to be announced and discussed at first session, Tuesday September 28, 4:30-7.

Song Session
with Sheri Bauer Mayorga
Thursdays, 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, August 5, & 12

This workshop centers around the learning basic choral vocal technique, familiarization with song anthologies (both traditional folk and classical from around the world), learning how to bring a song to life, and working on material in preparation for a community sing at the end of the workshop. Open to adults and youth ages 13 and up. $5 adults, free for youth.

Summer Creative Writing for Teens
with Kathe Izzo
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday
July 12, 13 & 14, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Student writers ages 13-18 explore their own voice and style through writing games and activities designed to bring their writing to the next level. The end of writer's block forever. Excellent for all writing genres. Led by poet Kathe Izzo.

Summer Teen Printmaking Workshop
with Amy Madden
Monday through Friday
July 26, 27, 28, 29, & 30
1:00 - 4:00 pm

A weeklong experimental process workshop with artist Amy Madden for teens ages 13 through 19. This workshop will focus on exploring unusual 2D processes, such as block printing, stencils, and batik. Projects will include large-scale mixed media works and mail art. There will be a culminating exhibition at HOH.

Author Da Chen
Saturday, August 7, 2:00 p.m.

New York Times best selling novelist, memoirist, children's book author & speaker. Da Chen grew up in the deep south of China, running barefoot in muddy fields and riding the backs of water buffaloes. As the grandson of a disgraced landowner, he was a victim of communist political persecution and hollowing poverty during the Cultural Revolution. His family was beaten, his father thrown in reform camp, and young Chen, at the age of nine, was threatened with imprisonment. Da arrived in America at the age of 23 with $30 in his pocket, a bamboo flute, and a heart filled with hope. Families of all ages.

Teen Cuisine
Led by Chef Matthew Locricchio
Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday
August 18, 19 & 20
11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Matthew Locricchio's latest book Teen Cuisine features gourmet American recipes for young, enthusiastic young chefs. Join Matthew for hands-on cooking at HOH for this three-day intensive. A must for young chefs! Led by Chef Matthew Locricchio. Ages 13 & up. Registration Required.

Hudson Community Book Group
Tuesdays, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. July 6 through August 17

In collaboration with the Hudson City School District, students ages 8 and up and their parents participate in literacy activities at HOH. Free.

Storytime, Music, & Movement with Abby Lappen
Wednesdays, July 7 through 28
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Discover new songs and sing along with some of your children's favorites. Have fun as Abby gets you moving and dancing. Parent participation encouraged. For children of all ages. Free.

Open Studio for Young Artists
Thursdays, July 8 through 29, 10:00 a.m. - noon

Come with an idea or let our resident artist help you get creative with drawing, painting, pottery and more! We provide the materials, you bring the creativity. For young artists ages 7 & up. Free.

Beginner Chess
Fridays, July 9 through August 13, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.

A beginner chess workshop with NY Chess Kids Instructor Chris Chanin for youth ages 5 to 10 years old. All necessary chess equipment and materials for the class and for the kids to take home for their own use will be provided. Registration is required and attendance at all six sessions is requested.

Keeping Our Earth Green
Nancy Castaldo
Fridays, July 9 through August 13, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m.

Keeping Our Earth Green provides readers with over 100 hands-on ways to help save the Earth. Discover facts about pollution, global warming, biofuels, and much more. Nancy will talk about experiments to do at home or in a classroom, and cool things being done to help our planet now. Become an Earth Hero - make a difference. Free and open to the public, books will be available for purchase and signing.

Short Fiction Intensive Writing Workshop
Hillary Jordan
Sundays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
June 6, 13, 20, 27, July 11, 18, 25, & August 1 (no class on July 4)

HOH offers a Short Fiction Intensive Writing Workshop with author Hillary Jordan. Participants will learn skills to sharpen their prose and make every word count, through critiquing of work as well as close reading of a wide array of masters of short fiction. Fee is $150, $120 for HOH members. Scholarship assistance is available.

Life Drawing
Summer Session
Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
July 11 - August 15

The workshop allows artists to work independently in a disciplined environment; No instructor or specific method is followed. $10 per session.

Painting Studio: Figure Painting
with Yura Adams
Sundays, 2:00 - 4:30 p.m., July 11, 18, 25, August 8 & 15

Artist Yura Adams teaches an integrated blend of traditional and contemporary practices in painting the human figure. This course is for all levels and oil, acrylic or water soluble oil paints can be used in class. For all levels, beginners and more advanced students. $100 for five sessions, $85 HOH members. Registration required.

Landscape / Plein Air Painting
with Yura Adams
Saturdays, 1:00 - 3:30 p.m., June 5, 12, 19 & 26

Artist Yura Adams returns to teach a plein air painting workshop. Participants will enjoy the experience of open air painting as they meet at different locations in Columbia and Greene Counties. The first class will meet at the gazebo in the Hudson Waterfront Park. For beginners and advanced painters. A material list will be provided upon registration. In case of rain, classes will meet at HOH. $80 for four sessions, $70 HOH members. Registration required.

Adult & Teen African Drumming
Saturdays, 10:15 to 11:15
through June 12

In collaboration with Kuumba Dance and Drum and Operation Unite. Adults $5, youth ages 12 and up free.

Family African Dance
Saturday mornings, 11:00 to noon
through June 12

In collaboration with Kuumba Dance and Drum and Operation Unite. Ages 7 to adult, under 7 parent participation required. Call 828-3612 for more information. Adults $5, youth free.