Our bi-weekly Culture Picks feature is back after an extended holiday pause. So what happened while we were on break? Oh, yes—Oscar nominations and GRAMMY Awards for Purchase alums! They are highlighted below, along with a collection of exceptional classical music events.

A24 MUSIC presents
Son Lux, Mitski, David Byrne “This Is A Life” (Official Audio)
Purchase alum Mitski
collaborated with Son Lux and David Byrne on “This Is A Life” for the Oscar-nominated film Everything Everywhere All At Once.  The song received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song.  The 2023 Academy Awards will take place on March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Listen to “This is a Life” on YouTube

The Recording Academy / GRAMMYs presents
Samara Joy:  “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood”
Purchase alum Samara Joy
performed at the 2023 GRAMMYs Premiere Ceremony and won two Grammy Awards: for Best New Artist and Best New Jazz Vocal Album for her second album, Linger Awhile.
Watch Samara Joy’s performance at The GRAMMYs on YouTube

 

And speaking of Purchase alums…

Gibney Company at The Purchase PAC
Saturday, March 11, 8pm
NYC-based Gibney Company’s program will feature three new works that explore connections between the rigorous physicality of contemporary dance and responsive, humanistic storytelling. That in and of itself is worth seeing! But add in the fact that two of the dancers, the Company Director, the Deputy General Manager, and the Stage Manager are Purchase College alumni, and you’ve got yourself a not-be-missed event.
View program details and get tickets on The Purchase PAC website.

 

Music this month – Mozart, The Met, and more!

The Westchester Philharmonic presents
Denk, the Phil & Mozart
Sunday, March 12, at 3pm
at The Purchase PAC
Jeremy Denk, soloist-leader, with Melanie Feld, oboe; Ben Baron, clarinet; Harry Searing, bassoon; and Lawrence DiBello, horn.
Three iconic works of Mozart, are brought to stunning life by today’s foremost interpreter, as Denk leads the orchestra in this conductor-less program.
Sonata No. 8 in A Minor, K. 310
Quintet in E-Flat for piano and winds, K. 452
Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 466
Visit The Purchase PAC website for tickets

CMS returns to The Purchase PAC
Delight & Drama
Saturday,
March 18, at 5pm
Wu Han, Piano
Wu Qian, Piano
Bella Hristova, Violin
Dmitri Atapine, Cello
ARENSKY Six Children’s Pieces for Piano, Four Hands, Op. 34
ARENSKY Trio No. 1 in D minor for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 32
BRAHMS Selected Hungarian Dances for Piano, Four Hands (1868, 1880)
BRAHMS Trio in C major for Piano, Violin, and Cello, Op. 87 (1880-82)
Arensky and Brahms mine the full range of these two genres in quintessential Russian and Viennese styles. The evening begins with the wonder of childhood and ends with Brahms at the height of his powers: delight and drama.
Visit The Purchase PAC website for tickets

Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center presents
New Milestones: Impression
Premiered live on Jan 26, 2023, and now available on demand
This program presents works that transpose architecture, poetry, and sacred sculpture, but begins and ends with examples of music springing from music.
Program
Henri Dutilleux / Les citations for Oboe, Bass, Harpsichord, and Percussion (1985, rev. 1990-91)
Igor Santos / as light becomes form for Violin and Piano (1997)
Andrea Clearfield / Three Songs for Violin and Bass (after poems by Pablo Neruda) (1997)
Philippe Hurel Tombeau (In memoriam Gérard Grisey) for Piano and Percussion (2000).
Watch and listen on CMS of Lincoln Center’s YouTube channel

Carnegie Hall presents
National Youth Ensembles at 10
Premiered on Feb 28, 2023, and now available on demand
In 2023, Carnegie Hall celebrates 10 years since the establishment of its national youth ensembles, which invite America’s top teen instrumentalists to come together for free intensive training right here on the Purchase College campus and performances with the world’s finest artists at Carnegie Hall and around the globe. As national ensembles, these programs include a broad range of musicians that reflect the exceptional talent and diversity of the United States. These teens serve as dynamic music ambassadors for their country as they travel the world, taking part in youth exchange and cultural diplomacy activities. This short promo for the program features snippets from performances and interviews.
Watch National Youth Ensembles at 10 on YouTube

PBS presents
Great Performances at the Met
New Star-Studded Season Begins March 17 on PBS
Season 17 of Great Performances at the Met returns with 10 new operas premiering from March through December on PBS. Featuring opera stars Sonya Yoncheva, Isabel Leonard, Matthew Polenzani, and many more, the season includes Champion, the second Met Opera premiere by Grammy-winning composer Terence Blanchard, and the Met debut of Broadway stage director Ivo van Hove, with Don Giovanni. The season also includes two primetime operas: The Hoursstarring Tony winner Kelli O’Hara, Joyce DiDonato, and Renée Fleming in her highly anticipated return, and David McVicar’s Medea.
Visit PBS.org for more information about the upcoming season of Great Performances at the Met

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Culture Picks is a bi-weekly feature celebrating the performing arts. The PAC’s 2022-2023 season kicked off on October 8 and cultural connoisseur and PAC staff member Coni Guhl is here to shine the spotlight on artists that will be a part of it. Each post will feature her curated selection of video, audio, and things to read about one of our artists, plus an occasional recommendation about other performing arts experiences that you just can’t miss. Enjoy!

All times are EDT unless otherwise noted.

Pictured: Samara Joy performing at the GRAMMY Awards Ceremony.