A behind-the-scenes look at the development of Laure Prouvost’s new performance, a collaboration with artist Sam Belinfante and choreographer Pierre Droulers, which will premiere in spring 2018. While she has until now worked primarily in the context of visual art, this new work marks Prouvost’s first major commission for the stage.

In this new performance, theatrical and cinematic technologies—projection, light, and haze—interact with dancers, musicians, objects, and the audience in a characteristically surreal and perceptually disorientating performance. Prouvost is known for her films and installations, characterized by richly layered stories, acts of mis-translation, and surreal moments. Engaged in an ongoing conversation with the history of art and literature, Prouvost often makes use of humor and the fantastical to explore the boundaries between fiction and reality and to unhinge commonplace and expected connections between language, image, and perception.

Choreographer/performer Elena Demyanenko and filmmaker Erika Mijlin offer a work-in-progress performance of their new collaboration, Echo/Archive, an EMPAC-commission currently being developed in residence.

For this performance, the artists will share their work thus far and describe the trajectory of the project. Echo/Archive will receive its world premiere at EMPAC on March 2, 2018. Echo/Archive explores the notion of bodily heritage—how one’s sense and memory of their body may be felt and communicated over generations. Within dance, this is the process that carries movement invention and somatic perspectives from artist to artist. The piece also explores the role of the mediated image - live or recorded - as an intervention and a partner in the creative investigation of past and present. Incorporating lighting, audio, and video, Demyankenko and Mijlin are working with performers Dana Reitz, Eva Karczag and Jodi Melnick, as well as video designer Ray Sun. Karczag and Melnick, like Demyanenko, both worked with the late American choreographer Trisha Brown. This work-in-progress is free and open to the public but capacity is limited. Please arrive early and check in at the box office to ensure your participation.

A behind-the-scenes look at the development of Laure Prouvost’s performance collaboration with artist Sam Belinfante and choreographer Pierre Droulers. While she had until then worked primarily in the context of visual art, this new work marked Prouvost’s first major commission for the stage.

In this performance, theatrical and cinematic technologies—projection, light, and haze—interact with dancers, musicians, objects, and the audience in a characteristically surreal and perceptually disorientating performance. Prouvost is known for her films and installations, characterized by richly layered stories, acts of mis-translation, and surreal moments. Engaged in an ongoing conversation with the history of art and literature, Prouvost often makes use of humor and the fantastical to explore the boundaries between fiction and reality and to unhinge commonplace and expected connections between language, image, and perception.

From the composer's imagination to the center stage; discover the next generation of young composers as they have their newest works read and rehearsed for the first time by David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony. Come hear contemporary compositions by Charles Peck, Roger Zare, and Benjamin Park!

Sir Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace dramatically portrays the growing menace of war, interspersed with moments of reflection, and ends with hope for peace. Accompanied by a compelling film produced specifically for The Armed Man, Albany Pro Musica’s Masterworks Chorus, the Capital District Youth Chorale, mezzo soprano Lucille Beer, a muezzin and Orchestra Pro Musica will join forces for this stirring performance. This concert, conducted by Albany Pro Musica Artistic Director Dr. José Daniel Flores-Caraballo, is presented as a tribute to those who have sacrificed to achieve enduring peace, and as a call for reconciliation at a time of deep divisions in countries around the world.

Shankar Tucker blends Classical Indian music, Jazz and Popular music to create a unique and original fusion sound. Join Shankar Tucker (Clarinet) and Reena Esmail (Piano) on a late night curated musical adventure. Tickets are just $10 // Free with 2017 Festival Pass

David Alan Miller, Conductor The Albany Symphony's inspired new music ensemble explores popular and world cultures through new multi-media compositions by America's most adventurous composers. The progressive 18-member ensemble is a one of a kind chamber orchestra and is considered to be the laboratory for today's composers, having commissioned and premiered over 200 works at the American Music Festival.