The longstanding relations between humans and machines — a partnership both productive and fraught with conflicts — will be a thematic focus for Cal Performances’ 2022-23 season.
The UC Berkeley presenter’s schedule of music, dance, theater and spoken events, announced Wednesday, April 20, by Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen, includes the U.S. premiere of “Sibyl,” a chamber opera by the South African multimedia artist William Kentridge that features film, movement and live music.
“Parable of the Sower,” a new opera by the daughter-mother creative team of Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon based on Octavia E. Butler’s 1993 dystopian novel of the same name, and “Blank Out” by the Dutch composer Michel van der Aa, are part of the season’s theme. So too is a recital by keyboard virtuoso Kristian Bezuidenhout, offering a tour of historic harpsichords and fortepianos.
The season, which runs from Aug. 4 through June 11, 2023, will include 20 world and local premieres, including “The Look of Love,” a new work by acclaimed choreographer Mark Morris set to the music of Burt Bacharach; the West Coast premiere of Steve Reich’s “Traveler’s Prayer” as part of a celebration of the composer’s 86th birthday; and new music by composers Angélica Negrón, Nathalie Joachim and Caroline Shaw, performed by So Percussion.
German conductor Christian Thielemann is also scheduled to make his first Bay Area appearance in 30 years, conducting the Vienna Philharmonic in three concerts of music by Strauss, Debussy and Bruckner, among others. A concert at the Greek Theatre, with the Encuentros Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and featuring guest artist Esperanza Spalding, is slated for Aug. 4.
Miami City Ballet is scheduled to return to Berkeley for the first time in more than a decade to open the season with George Balanchine’s “Jewels.” Other dance events include visits by the East London hip-hop troupe Boy Blue, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan,Alvin Ailey American Dance Theaterand Eifman Ballet.
Soprano Nina Stemme is expected to give a solo recital, accompanied at the piano by former San Francisco Opera Music Director Donald Runnicles. The season also includes recital debuts by soprano Ying Fang, pianist Seong-Jin Cho and violinist Alexi Kenney.
Full season details are atcalperformances.org.