The Foundation Performing Arts Center
Cultural Society Programming
The Raleigh Ringers
Sunday, August 28 @ 3:00 PM
Single Tickets: $16-18
Since its founding in 1990, The Raleigh Ringers has been dazzling concert audiences with unique interpretations of sacred, secular, and popular music, including famous rock’n’roll tunes arranged just for handbells. The Raleigh Ringers, under the direction of David M. Harris, is an internationally acclaimed, advanced community handbell choir based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The group performs on one of the most extensive collections of bells and bell-like instruments owned by a single performing group in the world, and have made a significant impact on the world’s handbell music repertoire by commissioning more than 70 compositions and arrangements.
“Anyone with a limited view of handbells has never heard 14 ringers let loose with Boots’ Randolph’s “Yakety Sax,” and certainly not in the same concert with the finale to Stravinsky’s “Firebird.” The News & Observer
“The music was beautiful, the entertainment hilarious and the whole experience was wonderfully worthwhile. We loved it so much we tried to get our flight changed to come hear your concert again!” – Anonymous Fan
The Righteous Brothers’ Bill Medley
Thursday, September 15 @ 7:30 PM
Single Tickets: $27-32
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Bill Medley is a seminal figure in the history of American music. He is perhaps best known as half of the unmistakable duo, The Righteous Brothers, whose raw emotional rhythm and blues sound created the genre “blue-eyed soul”. In the mid-1960’s The Righteous Brothers became a fixture on Top Forty Radio with hits like You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin, Just Once in My Life, Rock and Roll Heaven, Unchained Melody, and (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration, creating an ultra-dramatic take on Sixties pop romance. In 1987, Bill Medley scored a monumental hit along with Jennifer Warnes on (I’ve Had) The Time of My Life for the film “Dirty Dancing. The song earned an Oscar, a Golden Globe, Video of The Year, and a Grammy. In 1990, The Righteous Brothers classic version of Unchained Melody appeared in the hit film “Ghost” and ran all the way up the billboard charts, introducing yet another new generation to the works of The Righteous Brothers.
Taylor 2
Thursday, November 3 @ 7:30 PM
Single Tickets: $18-20
Paul Taylor established Taylor 2 in 1993 to ensure that his dance works could be seen by audiences all over the world, unhindered by economic or technical limitations. This six-member second company brings Paul Taylor’s dances to audiences with all the artistry of the world renowned choreographer, while representing the wide range of athleticism, humor, and emotion found in his works as performed by the main company. Selections include the fearless and powerful “Esplanade,” to music by Bach, and the joyous “Company B” performed to the music of the Andrews Sisters.
“If modern dance is – well – too modern for you, catch a performance by Taylor 2. Their performance of Aureole was ballet let loose – undeniably beautiful and incredibly romantic, but danced with a joyful abandon.” – Kay McLain, The Durham Herald-Sun
Tim Laughlin: a Mardi Gras Celebration
Saturday, February 18 @ 7:30 PM
Single Tickets: $18-20
New Orleans native Tim Laughlin returns to The Foundation stage just in time to celebrate Mardi Gras, and he’s bringing along some of the best musicians New Orleans has to offer. You’ll hear New Orleans Jazz the way it’s supposed to be played. As Tim says, “I like to do the standards and not-so-standards, as well as mixing some of my originals in there. That’s generally what I do at JazzFest every year.” Although he is a student of the great Pete Fountain, Tim plays with his own unique tone and expression, and with a constant blues presence, which makes his jazz style stand out. These days you can catch Tim at some of his favorite clubs in New Orleans, such as The Bombay Club, The Palm Court, Snug Harbor, and Fritzel’s, or you can just drive on over to The Foundation for a big helping of Mardi Gras Jazz. You’ll smell the gumbo cooking!
Glenn Miller Orchestra
Tuesday, March 20 @ 7:30 PM
Single Tickets: $20-25
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra is the most popular and sought after big band in the world today. With its unique jazz sound, it is considered to be one of the greatest bands of all time. The present Glenn Miller Orchestra was formed in 1956 and has been touring consistently since, playing an average of 300 live dates a year all around the world. Now under the direction of trombonist Gary Tole, this version of Glenn Miller’s 17-piece orchestra faithfully re-creates many of Miller’s vintage hits including “Moonlight Serenade,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Tuxedo Junction,” “A String of Pearls,” “(I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo,” and Miller’s best known hit, “In the Mood.”
Quartetto Gelato
Tuesday, April 10 @ 7:30 PM
Single Tickets: $19-23
Virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, gypsy pyrotechniques, and a World Accordion Champion – this is Quartetto Gelato. It’s where music meets theatre and audiences are taken on an unforgettable musical journey! For over a decade, this dazzling ensemble has enchanted audiences and critics worldwide with their exotic blend of artistic passion, and charismatic anecdotes. Classical in training – eclectic by design – Quartetto Gelato not only thrills its audiences with its multi-instrumental mastery, but also offers the bonus of a brilliant operatic tenor. Drawing from a performance repertoire that travels the globe, the group’s stage presence and relaxed humor establishes an intimate rapport with audiences worldwide.
If there were ever a group of musicians that could make anyone feel at home with classical music, Quartetto Gelato is it. -Newsday
Equal parts of musicianship, showmanship and what might be called “laughmanship” marked the lively quartet’s witty, wide-ranging program. -Des Moines Register