Culture Picks: July 8

I like this month’s mixed bag—hope you like it, too! Decoda, Dorrance Dance, and of course CMS are familiar names to PAC audiences, and Ted Rosenthal has performed here too, as part of a concert that featured a group of jazz pianists.

Against the Grain Theatre presents Sāvitri
Until Sunday, July 18
On-demand
Based on the ancient Hindu legend from the Mahābhārata, AtG’s Sāvitri is a contemporary 40-minute film of the outdoor chamber opera by Gustav Holst. If you’re a fellow fan of behind-the-scenes insights, you can also see the pre-show chat on YouTube. With subtitles in English, French, and Hindi.
Click here to access Sāvitri.

Decoda presents Second Sundays with Decoda
Episode 5: Bone Deep
Sunday, July 11, 4pm
Live Zoomcast
Decoda returns to the world of new music, going deep – BONE DEEP. The centerpiece this week is the premiere of a new work for solo bassoon with electronics by Ross Wrightman, performed by Decoda Artistic Director Brad Balliett. Drawing on the concept of “bone conduction,” Ross’s piece is a visceral exploration of the bassoon from the inside out – including contact microphones, processing through a drum head, and the sound of teeth. We will also be joined by composer/conductor Joseph Jones to hear a brand-new Fanfare written for Decoda Artistic Director Paul Murphy, as well as selections from Decoda’s archive curated by our guest composers. With Brad Balliett, host/bassoon/composer; Paul Murphy, host/trumpet; Ross Wightman, composer/electronics; Joseph Jones, composer.
View the Bone Deep Zoomcast here.

Ted Rosenthal / Houston Person
Sunday, July 11, 7:30 – 9pm
Livestream from “Ted’s Place”
In addition to returning to live performances, jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal continues to broadcast live from “Ted’s Place.”
Visit Ted’s Place

CMS presents Evenings at the Frederick R. Koch Foundation Townhouse: Mozart, Martinů, Spohr, Handel
Thursday, July 12, 2021, 7:30pm
On-demand at ChamberMusicSociety.org
CMS presents a series of eight free, digital performances in the weeks leading up to its return to Alice Tully Hall in October. Every Monday evening from July 12 to August 30, audiences can enjoy a one-hour performance by CMS artists. The eight concerts were recorded this spring, produced and directed by Art Docs, with the generous support of the Frederick R. Koch Foundation, at the Frederick R. Koch Foundation Townhouse, a historic property built by F.W. Woolworth. Each performance will be streamed on the CMS website and Violin Channel and will remain on demand in their Watch & Listen section for one year.
Access CMS: Mozart, Martinů, Spohr, Handel

Jacob’s Pillow presents Dorrance Dance Plays the Pillow
Online premiere with live chat July 15, 7:30pm
Digital screening July 15-29
In a site-specific world premiere, Dorrance Dance explores the unique and enchanting environment of the Pillow grounds. These special daytime performances will take audiences on a roving journey that showcases the Pillow’s campus in a never-before-seen (nor-heard) way.
Free with RSVP on the Jacob’s Pillow website.

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Culture Picks is a weekly feature celebrating the performing arts. The arts are back and there is so much to take in, both live and virtual. PAC staff member Coni Guhl is here to help you sort through it all. Each week we will post her curated selection of events featuring the artists you know and love from The PAC Center Series, plus a sampling of stellar local experiences. Enjoy!

All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.