October 5, 2004
Contact: Kara Keene
404-651-2981
musklk@langate.gsu.edu
GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY’S RIALTO CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
ANNOUNCES 2004-2005 SUBSCRIPTION SERIES
SUBSCRIPTIONS, SINGLE TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW
ATLANTA—Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Performing Arts announces its 2004-2005
Rialto Series—a 16-show line-up featuring the best of national and international jazz, world music,
dance and Broadway. The Series opens on October 15 with the renowned Brazilian dance troupe Balé
Folclórico da Bahia—back by popular demand—and closes May 13, 2005, with “I Remember Johnny,” a
tribute to the legendary songwriter (and Georgia native) featuring the incomparable Margaret Whiting.
Other highlights of this remarkable season include internationally renowned flamenco guitarist Paco
Peña; jazz superstars Cassandra Wilson and McCoy Tyner (along with his Trio) joined by Pharoah
Sanders and Ravi Coltrane; West African singer Ramatou Diakité; as well as a rare performance of
classical Japanese Noh and Kyogen theater—to name just a few. Series subscriptions and single tickets
are on sale now and may be purchased by calling 404-651-4727.
“Nowhere else in the Southeast will you find such a diverse and unique line-up of world-class
talent under one roof,” says Leslie Gordon, director of the Rialto Center. “Featuring once-in-a-lifetime
performances, rarely seen productions, and the return of old favorites, our 2004-2005 Series will truly be
‘where Atlanta meets the world.’”
The 2004-2005 Rialto Series is sponsored by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Delta Air Lines, the
Hilton Atlanta Hotel, and Turner Broadcasting System.
Georgia State University’s Rialto Center for the Performing Arts, an intimate, cultural centerpiece
in downtown Atlanta, inspires, educates and entertains diverse audiences by presenting innovative and
2004-2005 Rialto Series Cont’d, p. 2
exceptional arts programming and cultivating community partnerships. Rising from the shell of a oncepopular movie theater dating to 1916, the Rialto is the result of an ambitious, state-of-the-art, $14 million
renovation and a firm, forward-thinking commitment on the part of the University to the revitalization
of the city’s central business district. Each year, the Rialto offers its own unique and extensive
subscription series featuring world-class artists, focusing primarily on the best in world music, jazz,
contemporary dance, and intimate vocal performance. Throughout the year, the Center is also home to
numerous other local performing arts organizations as well as visiting companies and has become a
center for independent film in Atlanta. The Rialto also offers an innovative educational outreach
program to students and the general public alike.
♦♦♦
2004-2005 RIALTO SERIES LINE-UP
Balé Folclórico da Bahia
Friday & Saturday, October 15 & 16, 2004, 8 PM
The Rialto Series opens in a burst of raw energy, brilliant color, and infectious rhythm as Balé Folclórico
da Bahia returns to Atlanta. Under the artistic direction of José Carlos Arandiba, Balé Folclórico da Bahia
has earned a prestigious, international reputation that is reflected in the enthusiastic response of the
public and critics alike. The 38-member troupe of dancers, musicians, and singers performs a repertory
based on folkloric dances of their native Bahia in northern Brazil. Heavily influenced by African
traditions, Balé Folclórico da Bahia’s spectacular performances include capoeira (a form of martial arts),
samba, and works that celebrate Rio de Janeiro’s famed Carnival. The company represents its region’s
diverse cultural influences blended with a contemporary theatrical vision that invariably brings
audiences to their feet, filling theater aisles in a spontaneous dance party.
Christine Ebersole
Saturday, October 23, 2004, 8 PM
Currently one of Broadway’s brightest lights, Christine Ebersole has enchanted audiences on the stage
and screen in numerous musicals, films, television appearances, cabaret performances, and recordings.
Winner of the coveted 2001 Tony Award for “Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical” for
her knock-out performance in the acclaimed revival of 42nd Street, Ebersole is a master of period vocal
styles known for her interpretations of standards of the American songbook by the likes of Gershwin
and Rodgers & Hart. On Broadway, Ebersole’s other credits include hits such as I Love My Wife, On the
20th Century, and Oklahoma!, while her film credits include 1984’s Academy Award-winning Amadeus and
the smash hit Tootsie.
Ramatou Diakité
Sunday, October 24, 2004, 8 PM
Ramatou Diakité grew up in one of West Africa's richest musical environments, the Wassoulou region of
southern Mali. Renowned for its ancient spiritual traditions, magic, and hunters' lore, Wassoulou has in
recent years produced some of the bluesiest, funkiest pop music in contemporary Mali. Diakité burst
onto the music scene in the 1990s and was quickly compared to the likes of fellow Malians Abdoulaye
2004-2005 Rialto Series Cont’d, p. 3
Diabaté and Oumou Sangare—sharing the latter's bold fusion of roots music and pop as well as her
uncompromising honesty about the challenges facing African women. Diakité has continued to grow as
an artist—even edging towards hip-hop at times—and in the process has created music unlike anything
heard before in Mali or elsewhere. A soulful, standout singer in a nation of standout singers, she is now
poised to share her path-breaking music with a worldwide audience.
Putumayo presents LATINAS: Women of Latin America
Friday, October 29, 2004, 8 PM
Putumayo World Music presents a concert celebration of the soulful and inspirational music of Latin
American women with its tour of Putumayo Presents Latinas: Women of Latin America. Featuring three
extraordinary divas—Colombia’s dynamic cumbia queen Totó La Momposina, Chile’s folk legend
Mariana Montalvo, and Brazil’s pop sensation Belô Velloso—Latinas represents an exhilarating crosssection of contemporary and traditional Latin American music. These artists reflect the European,
African, and even Native American cultures that are at the heart of Latin American music. They deliver
a positive message inspired by the past, informed by the present, and echoing across the generations.
Gajamukha
Friday, November 5, 2004, 8 PM
Gajamukha, a musical temple dance from India that tells the story of the elephant-headed Hindu deity
Ganesha, promises to be a truly unique theatrical experience. The 12-member cast of dancers and
musicians present episodes of the divine manifestations of Lord Ganesha in a full-length ballet based on
texts dating back 2,000 years. The production showcases India’s three classical dance styles—the lyrical
and subtle Mohini Attam, the flamboyant and versatile Kuchipudi, and the graceful and sophisticated
Bharatha Natyam—and is both spiritual and sensuous. Exquisitely costumed and visually stunning,
Gajamukha is presented with live accompaniment by five renowned Indian musicians and features
original lyrics in Sanskrit and Tamil—with accompanying English narration making the performance
accessible to all audiences.
The McCoy Tyner Trio with guests Pharoah Sanders & Ravi Coltrane
Saturday, November 20, 2004, 8 PM
The 2004-05 Rialto Series is proud to present an evening with jazz legends McCoy Tyner and Pharoah
Sanders. Grammy Award-winning McCoy Tyner is one of the most revered and influential jazz pianists
and composers of all time, constantly expanding the music’s vocabulary of color and harmony. His Trio
includes bassist Charnett Moffett and, on drums, Eric Harland. For this performance, Tyner will be
joined by the great tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders—who played alongside Tyner in the 1960s with
the legendary John Coltrane Group—and by Ravi Coltrane, son of that jazz giant and a dynamic
saxophonist in his own right. This remarkable gathering is one jazz lovers will not want to miss.
Holiday Gala Concert
Friday & Saturday, December 4 & 5, 2004, 8 PM
The Georgia State University School of Music presents its seventh-annual Gala Holiday Family Concert
featuring over 200 student and faculty musicians as part of a university-wide celebration of the season.
Including members of the University Symphony Orchestra, Choruses and Percussion Ensemble, the gala
concert will feature conductors Robert Ambrose, Stuart Gerber, John Haberlen, Michael Palmer and Alan
Raines leading the ensembles and soloists. The program will feature traditional holiday favorites such as
works by Vaughn Williams and Handel’s Hallelujah chorus as well as spirituals and a Klezmer-style
Hanukkah medley and is sure to delight even the most die-hard Scrooge in the family.
2004-2005 Rialto Series Cont’d, p. 4
Noh & Kyogen Program
Sunday, December 12, 2004, 7 PM [**PLEASE NOTE CORRECTED DATE**]
Dating to the 14th century, Japan’s Noh theatre combines elements of dance, drama, music and poetry
into one highly stylized stage art, while Kyogen, the classical comic theater, emphasizes dialogue. Noh
and Kyogen were first introduced to American audiences at the end of the 19th century in a pivotal
performance attended by President Ulysses Grant. Now, in the culminating celebration of the 150th
anniversary of the historic U.S.-Japan Treaty, The Japan Society presents a U.S. tour of that original 1874
program of Noh. This once-in-a-lifetime production includes three performances: the Han-noh revenge
play Mochizuki, the rarely performed Kyogen piece Tsurigitsune (Trapping of the fox), and the visually
spectacular Noh play Tsuchigumo (The earth spider). The Japan Society has assembled 30 of the finest
Noh/Kyogen actors and musicians for this historic tour—among them Rokuro Umewaka, the great
grandson of the Noh master who staged that long-ago performance.
Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra
Saturday, January 22, 2005, 8 PM
Afro-Latin rhythmic elements have been a part of jazz music since its beginnings in New Orleans; Jelly
Roll Morton often spoke of the “Spanish tinge” of his own recordings back in the 1920s. Affirming this
long tradition of collaboration between jazz and Latin musicians, New York’s Lincoln Center founded
the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra in 2002. Led by acclaimed pianist Arturo O’Farrill—son of pioneering
composer and bandleader Chico O’Farrill—the Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra features 18 prominent soloists
from the Latin jazz scene. This large ensemble is dedicated to performing not only the classics of the
Afro-Latin jazz tradition but also new works by young composers working in the Afro-Latin jazz idiom
today.
Urban Bush Women
Friday, February 4, 2005, 8 PM
Fusing dance, music, and storytelling with African-American spiritual traditions, the award-winning
performance troupe Urban Bush Women celebrates its 20th anniversary with a program that brings this
most determined of dance companies full circle. For the 2004-05 season, the Rialto, in collaboration with
Arts at Emory and the Emory Dance Program, presents Urban Bush Women, who will perform Walking
With Pearl, a new work by the group’s founder and artistic director, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, that traces the
life journey of African-American dance pioneer and social activist Pearl Primus. The program will also
include performances of Zollar’s Girlfriends and Batty Moves, works that praise friendship and the female
form respectively, epitomizing the Urban Bush Women experience—bold, life-affirming works that
resonate deep within the hearts of the audience.
Paco Peña
Saturday, February 19, 2005, 8 PM
Paco Peña, one of the world’s greatest flamenco guitarists, returns to the Rialto with “Flamenco in
Concert.” Highlighting the power and passion of southern Spain’s rich tradition of music and dance,
this program of pure flamenco features four guitarists, one singer, and two dancers. Peña’s illustrious
career spans over 40 years, in which he has toured the world, performing in venues from Carnegie Hall
to London’s Royal Albert. He was voted “Best Flamenco Guitarist” for five consecutive years by readers
of American Guitar magazine.
Marvin Hamlisch
Saturday, March 5, 2005, 8 PM
2004-2005 Rialto Series Cont’d, p. 5
Renowned composer and conductor Marvin Hamlisch has been honored with virtually every major
artistic award that exists—three Oscars, four Grammys, four Emmys, a Tony, and three Golden Globes.
His groundbreaking show, A Chorus Line, even received the Pulitzer Prize. His other Broadway
successes include They’re Playing Our Song, The Goodbye Girl, Sweet Smell of Success, and Imaginary Friends,
while his scores for the motion pictures The Way We Were and The Sting each earned him Oscars. Now he
brings his unique skills as a consummate—and surprisingly funny—musical entertainer to an intimate,
lighthearted evening of American standards for voice and piano.
Cassandra Wilson
Friday, April 1, 2005, 8 PM
Jazz diva Cassandra Wilson expresses her eclectic musical tastes through distinctive interpretations of
everything from contemporary pop to Mississippi Delta blues to the great American songbook, covering
material by everyone from Muddy Waters to Abbey Lincoln to Sting. In the process, she has earned one
Grammy Award, been named “America’s Best Singer” by TIME magazine, and achieved tremendous
commercial success. In every sense a jazz singer for a new generation, Wilson began her musical career
in her hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, to which she returned most recently to record portions of her
latest album, Glamoured.
Harold Lloyd Films w/Paragon Ragtime Orchestra
Saturday, April 9, 2005, 8 PM
Though less famous than Charlie Chaplin or Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd wrote, directed, and starred in
hundreds of thoroughly entertaining comedic shorts and feature films spanning both the silent and
sound ears. Lloyd’s work expressed a quintessentially American optimism through his characters’
struggles to achieve social acceptance, an ordeal epitomized by his celebrated sequence of hanging from
a skyscraper clock in Safety Last—one of the films featured on the program. Lloyd’s films display a
brilliant sense of visual storytelling and an innovative understanding of how to use camerawork and
editing to create elaborate and ingenious gags. The Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, born out of conductor
Rick Benjamin’s chance discovery of a long-lost collection of musical scores dating from that same era,
accompanies two of Lloyd’s classic silent films—introduced by Emory University’s Matthew Bernstein—
using their original, fully orchestrated scores.
Nicholas Payton
Saturday, April 15, 2005, 8 PM
Trumpeter and composer Nicholas Payton, who began gigging at eight years old with his dad, has
performed and recorded with some of the most respected giants of jazz—including Joe Henderson, Clark
Terry, Jimmy Smith, Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove and Elvin Jones, who appointed Payton musical
director of his renowned “Jazz Machine” at the age of 19. Just five years later, Payton would earn a
Grammy for the year’s Best Solo Jazz Performance, and he has recently been nominated for a second.
Never wanting to be viewed strictly as a traditionalist, Payton demonstrates a keen interest in all styles
of music, particularly R&B, Latin and funk. The 20-piece Georgia State University Jazz Band, founded
over 30 years ago and currently led by Gordon Vernick, has previously backed such notables as Kenny
Garrett, Ron Blake, Dick Oatts, and Joe Lovano.
“I Remember Johnny” featuring Margaret Whiting
Saturday, May 13, 2005, 8 PM
It is almost impossible to go an entire day without hearing at least one of Johnny Mercer’s songs,
whether on radio or television, in movie theaters, as background in shops and restaurants, or from
cabaret stages around the world. Known as “the Bard of Savannah,” Georgia’s own Johnny Mercer
2004-2005 Rialto Series Cont’d, p. 6
wrote songs for 90 motion pictures, won four Academy Awards, wrote six Broadway musicals, founded
Capitol Records, and created the Songwriters Hall of Fame. E.Y. Harburg, the man who wrote “Over the
Rainbow,” said of Mercer, “He was America’s folk poet.” Some of his best-known tunes include “Moon
River,” “Days of Wine & Roses,” “That Old Black Magic,” and “You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby.”
In honor of the 95th anniversary of his birth and his extraordinary place in the annals of American song, a
special musical revue will feature the legendary Margaret Whiting, one of Mercer’s earliest discoveries
and one of the first recording artists signed to Capitol Records.
♦♦♦
SUBSCRIPTIONS & SINGLE TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now through the Rialto Center Box Office by telephone at
404.651.4727; by fax at 404.651.0966; online at www.rialtocenter.org; or by mail at P.O. Box 2627,
Atlanta, GA 30301-2627. Patrons may subscribe in two ways: purchase 5 or more shows and receive a
15% discount or purchase 7 or more shows and receive a 20% discount. Starting at $16, ticket prices vary
by event and seat location. Free parking is provided for all Rialto Series events at the Equitable
Building deck on Fairlie Street. Paid valet parking is also available.
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