Arts & Culture

Hugh MacdonaldHugh Macdonald, the Avis Blewett Professor of Music in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, will launch the Center for the Humanities’ 2004-05 Translation Series with a talk “On Translating Opera” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1.

Legendary jazz guitarist Ralph Towner, perhaps best known as lead composer, guitarist and keyboardist for the acoustic jazz ensemble Oregon, will present a free solo concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Washington University’s Graham Chapel.

Harpsichordist Maryse Carlin, instructor in Washington University’s Department of Music in Arts & Sciences, will perform a concert titled “J. S. Bach and the French Clavecinistes” at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, in Karl Umrath Hall Lounge.

“The Invisible Man”What does it mean to become invisible? Find out Oct. 29 and 30, when The Aquila Theatre Company, one of the nation’s finest producers of touring classical drama, present an origianal stage adaptation of The Invisible Man, H.G. Wells’ timeless morality tale, at Washington University’s Edison Theatre.

Detail of the 1899 plan for Washington University’s Hilltop Campus.One hundred years ago, the eyes and ears of the world turned to St. Louis — and the newly built campus of Washington University — for the 1904 World’s Fair. On Oct. 17, Washington University will honor that centenary with a performance by the Saint Louis Wind Symphony. A Grand Concert of Band Music Performed at the 1904 World’s Fair will feature a representative sampling of music heard at the fair, including works by Philip Sousa, Peter I. Tchaikovsky, Johann Strauss, Jr., and Carl Maria von Weber.

Mezzo soprano Mary Ann Hart and pianist Dennis Helmrich will present Washington University’s annual Liederabend at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 10. Literally translated as “evening of song,” Liederabend is a German term referring to a recital given by a singer and pianist, particularly of works by 19th-century Austrian or German composers. The program will include lieder by Johannes Brahms, Antonín Dvorák, Edvard Grieg, Charles Ives, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert, Robert Schumann and Hugo Wolf.

Tom CaravagliaGus Solomons jrGus Solomons jr, a distinguished visiting professor in Washington University’s Dance Program in Arts & Sciences, will discuss his career as a dancer, choreographer and critic during an informal lecture/demonstration titled Gus Solomons jr Tells All at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.

The Washington University Symphony Orchestra will perform a free concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 3, in Graham Chapel. Graham Chapel is located just north of the Mallinckrodt Student Center, 6445 Forsyth Blvd. For more information, call (314) 935-4841.

Amazones: The Woman Master Drummers of GuineaFor centuries, masters of the sacred West African djembe drum have been exclusively male. But in 2002, Mamoudou Conde, managing director of the world-renowned Les Percussions de Guinée, launched a revolutionary “sister” ensemble — Amazones: The Woman Master Drummers of Guinea. On Oct. 23, these musical siblings will share the stage for a special, one-night-only performance at Edison Theatre.

Poet and translator Heather McHugh, visiting Washington University as a Fannie Hurst Professor of Creative Literature in the Department of English in Arts & Sciences, will speak on the craft of poetry oat 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28. In addition, McHugh will read from her poetry at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.