Center Stage
Prestigious honorees and nominated performances fill the 10th annual Tribute to the Classical Arts.
by David Lee SimmonsThe honoring of both ends of the teaching spectrum is but one of the highlights of the 10th annual Tribute to the Classical Arts, which will be held Wednesday, Feb. 5, at the Hotel Monteleone.
Dean Angeles, Director of Orchestra and String Education at Loyola University since 1980, will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. AngelesÕ love of music helped him rise from reform school to university professor; he has former string students teaching around the world. The Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra, celebrating its 10th anniversary, will receive the Arts Education Award for training young classical musicians in New Orleans and on the Northshore.
Benefactor Jeri Nims -- whose recent donations to UNO and NOCCA made her Gambit WeeklyÕs 2002 co-New Orleanian of the Year -- will receive the Arts Patron Award. And finally, Moses Hogan -- best known for bringing the American Negro spiritual to symphony orchestras around the world -- will receive the Outstanding Contribution Award. Southern-New OrleansÕ Roger Dickerson will present the award to HoganÕs parents; Hogan was recently felled by a serious stroke.
WDSU-TV anchorman Norman Robinson will serve as master of ceremonies for the luncheon, which provides 14 awards honoring achievement in classical music, opera and dance for the previous year.
The Tribute is made possible through the support of Gambit Weekly, WWNO 89.9 FM Radio, the Hotel Monteleone, WerleinÕs for Music, Coleman E. Adler & Sons, Uptown Costume & Dancewear, and Smith & Wollensky Restaurant. Tickets are $25 and seating is at tables for 10. Reservations may be made by calling Gloria Powers at 486-5900, ext. 136. Seating is limited.
SPECIAL HONOREES
Lifetime Achievement Award for 2003 -- Professor Dean Angeles
Arts Patron Award -- Jeri Nims
Arts Education Award -- Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra
Outstanding Contribution Award -- Moses Hogan
CLASSICAL MUSIC & OPERA NOMINATIONS
Best Classical Music Performance
Piano Perfection
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor; Lilya Zilberstein, piano
Beethoven and Blue Jeans
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor; Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Oliveira Plays Brahms
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra
Klauspeter Seibel, conductor; Elmar Oliveira, violin
Best Chamber Music Performance
Program of Beethoven, Baker and Schumann
Loyola Piano Trio
Valerie Poullette, violin; Allen Nisbet, cello; H. Jac McCracken, piano
'The Complete Piano Sonatas of Ludwig van Beethoven'
Peter Collins
St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church
'From Holy Week to Easter: A Concert of Music for Solo Trumpet and Organ'
Gary Benoit (trumpet) & Rev. Carl Davidson (organ)
St. Louis Cathedral
Best New Classical Music Performance
(Contemporary -- written in the past 25 years)
'Symphony No. 4' (world premiere), from Psalm of Peace
Stephen Dankner, composer
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre
'A Concerto for Flute and Orchestra,' from Giants of the Night
David Amram, composer
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra featuring James Galway and David Amram
Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts
'Water Night'
Eric Whitacre, composer
Louisiana Vocal Arts Chorale; Sara Lynn Baird, conductor
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Best Opera Production
Die Fledermaus (Johann Strauss)
Directed by David Morelock for the Loyola Opera Workshop
Porgy and Bess (George Gershwin)
Directed by Dorothy Danner for the New Orleans Opera Association
Turandot (Giacomo Puccini)
Directed by David Morelock for the New Orleans Opera Association
Creative Achievement in Opera
Don Darnutzer
Lighting design for Tosca
New Orleans Opera Association
John Ware
Direction of Gianni Schicchi
Xavier University Opera Theater
Jay Lesenger
Direction of Salome
New Orleans Opera Association
Best Choral Arts Presentation
Brahms German Requiem
Loyola Chorus
Meg Hulley, director
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
A Silver & Blue Christmas
UNO Privateer Chorus & UNO Chorale
Sean Wallace, director
Recital Hall, UNO Performing Arts Center
Carmina Burana (Carl Orff)
Symphony Chorus of New Orleans
Steven Edwards, music director
Orpheum Theatre
DANCE NOMINATIONS
Best Ballet Production
Fall Concert
Loyola Ballet
Laura Zambrano, director
Roussel Hall, Loyola University
Giselle
Jefferson Performing Arts Society
Harvey Hysell and Diane Carney, artistic direction
Jefferson Performing Arts Center
Hansel & Gretel
Delta Festival Ballet
Joseph Giacobbe, director
Mahalia Jackson Theatre of Performing Arts
NOCCA/Riverfront Annual Dance Concert
Miguel Lopez, Dance Dept. chair; Jan Miller, classical ballet instructor
Lupin Hall, NOCCA/Riverfront
Best Modern Dance Production
An Evening of Dance
Newcomb Dance Company
Dixon Hall, Tulane University
Humid: A Confederacy of Dances 4
A Confederacy of Dances
Contemporary Arts Center
Ready ... Set ... Flow!
Happensdance, Spring Concert
Lupin Hall, NOCCA
Best Ethnic Dance Performance
Alianza Flamenca
Saturday nights at El Matador
Devyani Dancers at Passions of Juno
TwiRoPa Mills
'Mohini Attam,' from Dramarama
Sunanda Nair and disciples
Contemporary Arts Center
Best Choreography (new work)
Megan Zuchowski
'Gold'
Loyola Fall Concert
Adele Myers & Dancers
'Swallowed by Lipstick,' from An Evening of Dance
Newcomb College
Jeanne Jaubert
'Bourbon Street Story,' from Ready É Set É Flow!
Happensdance
Lupin Hall, NOCCA/Riverfront
