Cal Performances | Dance | Mark Morris Dance Group, L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato

Patron Information | Artists links

Mark Morris Dance Group
L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra
Jane Glover, conductor
Christine Brandes, soprano
Lisa Saffer, soprano
Iain Paton, tenor
James Maddalena, baritone
Chamber Chorus of the University of
California, Berkeley
Marika Kuzma, director

On precious few occasions in each generation, a piece of art appears and is instantly recognized as a work for the ages, a consummate statement with the power to transform the way we see the world around us. Such a landmark is Mark Morris's brilliant and majestic L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (1988). Set to Handel's oratorio of the same name and boasting 24 dancers, a full orchestra and chorus, and four vocal soloists, "one of the very greatest dances of the late 20th century" (Boston Herald) returns to Cal Performances by overwhelming popular demand.

L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato was made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts' American Masterpieces: Dance Initiative, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts.

Also made possible, in part, by Bank of America.

Patron Sponsors Kathryn and Scott Mercer

Program Notes
Program notes are available online. [PDF]

Video

There is a multi-part video available on the MMDG L'Allegro at 20 Media page.

Mark Morris in Conversation with Robert Cole
Learn more about the inner workings of the long and fruitful relationship between Mark Morris Dance Group and Cal Performances with a converation between Mark Morris and Robert Cole, Director of Cal Performances (recorded August 31, 2007).

QuickTime Format (Get free player)

Broadband version: Part 1
Broadband version: Part 2
Broadband version: Part 3
Dial-up version: Part 1
Dial-up version: Part 2
Dial-up version: Part 3

RealVideo Format (Get free player)

Standard version

Education/Community Events
Course with Osher Life Long Learning Institute
Mar 28, 3:30-5 pm, Room 150, University Hall
Speaker TBD from MMDG
Cal Performances continues its partnership with the Osher Life Long Learning Institute with two courses, Talking about Classical Music and Talking about Dance, centered around performances on Cal Performances' 2008-09 season. Together with acclaimed scholars and artists, Robert Cole, director of Cal Performances, will host the following classes offered in conjunction with six concerts of music and six dance performances. Visit www.olli.berkeley.edu or call 510.642.9934 for more information and registration.

Flyer [pdf]
Photography Exhibition: Created to celebrate Mark Morris's enduring work in its 20th year, Hidden Soul of Harmony: Mark Morris's L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato is a photography exhibition featuring the works of Stephanie Berger and Susana Millman. In April and May, their wonderful photographs can be seen in the windows of Zellerbach Hall lobby mezzanine. Also be sure not to miss the light box photographs in the downstairs lobby facing the portico.
Mark Morris in Conversation: On May 26 at 8 pm, Mark Morris and Cal Performances director Robert Cole will hold an onstage conversation at the San Francisco Jewish Community Center. They will talk about Morris's dances, L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato and other Cal Performances favorites including The Hard Nut and Dido and Aeneas. Tickets cost $10-$18. The Jewish Community Center of San Francisco is at 3200 California St. Call 415.292.1233 or go to www.jccsf.org/arts for more information.