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Fall arts preview: What's on in Atlanta, from Balanchine to Basquiat, Star Wars to Stereolab
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GPB's Kristi York Wooten speaks with GPB Classical Cafe host John Lemley, Atlanta Ballet's Tricia Ekholm and New Wave icon Howard Jones about upcoming performances and events in metro Atlanta.
Each autumn, arts organizations unveil their programs for the season, filling September with exciting exhibitions, symphonies, dances, plays, and concerts in Metro Atlanta and beyond.
Venues of all sizes are kicking off year-long series, and touring artists who are old favorites or new social media stars are hitting the circuit.
Stella Cole, an Instagram sensation who sings the Great American Songbook with a voice plucked the 1940 and 50s, stops into City Winery in Atlanta on Sept. 13, and returning favorite Rufus Wainwright appears there on Nov. 19. Atlanta jazz star Joe Alterman performs at Eddie's Attic in Decatur on Oct. 9.
GPB's City Cafe host John Lemley is excited about the Rome Symphony Orchestra's performance of Star Wars, featuring the music of American composer John Williams.
"They're taking it, the Rome Symphony Orchestra, on a little tour, beginning in Cartersville,Ga., on Friday, Sept. 12. That's at the Grand Theatre. Then in Rome at the Rome City Auditorium on Saturday, Sept. 13, and then Sunday, they're at the Gem Theatre in Calhoun."
That same weekend in Atlanta includes Fiddler on the Roof at the Alliance Theatre, the 28th annual African Cultural Festival in Little Five Points, the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival, and Atlanta Ballet's Season Launch with Balanchine and Peck at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre September 12-14. That program includes works from 37-year-old director and choreographer Justin Peck (In Creases, with music from Philip Glass) and legendary last choreographer George Balanchine's Emeralds set to the music, a French composer, Gabriel Fauré.
"Believe it or not, in our 96-year history, we are doing Emeralds this year, and it's the first time we've done any of the Jewels," Atlanta Ballet's Tricia Ekholm told GPB. "So we're really excited about that. And then ending the evening is Prodigal Son. George Balanchine created Prodigal Son in 1929, in fact, the same year Atlanta Ballet was founded. It was the last work he did for Ballet Russes, and it is based on the biblical tale of sin and redemption."
Atlanta Ballet is also bringing back its latest version of the Nutcracker to the Cobb Energy Centre in December.
The worlds of art and fashion are colliding in a major way in two big exhibitions this fall. One is André Leon Talley's Style is Forever, and it's opening Oct. 15 at SCAD museums in Atlanta and Savannah. And the other is an art amusement park, Luna Luna, spotlighting the works of 20th century masters including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. It opens at Pullman Yards in Atlanta on Sept. 24 with a soundtrack featuring André 3000.
For lovers of classic R&B and soul music, 'The Queens' are coming to town! Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills will regale generations of fans as they share the stage at State Farm Arena on Sept. 20.
Pop music is also wall-to-wall in Atlanta venues this fall, with James Taylor at Chastain Park Amphitheater on Sept. 6, Benson Boone at State Farm Arena Sept. 10, Dua Lipa at State Farm Sept. 13 and 14, Nellie and Ja Rule at Lakewood Amphitheater Sept. 12, and Stereolab at the Variety Playhouse Sept 14.
New wave and Britpop fans will love these upcoming shows: The Fixx at the Variety Playhouse on Aug. 27, James at the Masquerade Sept. 3 and Pulp at the Tabernacle on Sept. 4.
Hitmaker Howard Jones performs on a bill with Haircut 100 at Atlanta Symphony Hall on Sept. 3. The keyboard icon said Atlanta fans have been loyal for 40 years since songs like "No One Is To Blame," from his 1985 album, Dream into Action, topped the charts. He's also grateful for the staying power of the optimistic anthem, "Things Can Only Get Better."
"That philosophy, if you like, in a song, is one that I'm still trying to get right, you know, to this day," he told GPB. "And then I know that people who hear it live and sing along with me, they've taken a bit of that on board themselves.
"I think that's the one that represents me most, 'And if we threw it all away, things can only get better. Do you feel scared? I do,'" Jones said, recounting the lyrics that are relevant to today's topsy turvy times.
"And certainly with what's going on in the world at the moment, we have every right to feel that. But 'we won't stop and falter.' We'll use these events that we're witnessing as fuel to become more kind and respectful people. We'll use it as fuel and we won't be defeated by it."
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