September 11, 2009
“To call Michael Moschen ‘only’ a juggler is sort of like calling Mount Rushmore ‘only’ a carving,” declares the Denver Post. “His physical virtuosity is awesome,” writes the Boston Globe. “Exhilarating, virtuoso entertainment,” notes the Village Voice. “I wonder if we shall see anything more beautiful than what Michael Moschen achieves with a ball of glass,” adds the London Times.
On October 11 & 13, the California Symphony will present the mesmerizing artistry of the renowned visual motion artist in his first-ever live performance with a symphony orchestra. Renowned for using his body and Olympian skill to make objects seemingly float in defiance of gravity, Moschen will perform a combination of his signature pieces, choreographed to Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite and Mason Bates’ Mercury Interludes: Pre-Ligeti. Also on the program will be Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Silbelius’ Symphony No. 2.
For this occasion, Moschen – who is the only variety artist ever awarded a MacArthur Genius Grant – will be coming out of artistic seclusion, where he has been working intensely on major new works for education, scheduled for debut early next year. Known throughout the world, he was the subject of the A&E special, “The Mystery of Genius,” and the PBS “Great Performances” episode, “In Motion with Michael Moschen.” Moschen has also appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” and as David Bowie’s hands magically manipulating the crystal balls in the Jim Henson film, “Labyrinth.” He has performed throughout Europe, Asia and North and South America. He first began juggling as a child with Penn Jillette (now of Penn & Teller), while growing up in a housing project in a Massachusetts mill town.Moschen is deeply involved in understanding and sharing the physical and mathematical principles that underlie his work. He has been a keynote speaker at the National Conference of Teachers of Mathematics and for the Association of New York Teachers of Mathematics, and has lectured on innovation and creativity at Carnegie Mellon, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Lincoln Center Education Program.
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the magic of Michael Moschen in collaboration with the award-winning California Symphony on Sunday, October 11, at 4 pm and Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $44-$64 and $20 for students, and available now online at www.LesherArtsCenter.org or by calling (925) 943-SHOW. Both performances will be held at the Hofmann Theater in the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94596. For more information, visit www.CaliforniaSymphony.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Lyla Foggia
Foggia Public Relations
(503) 622-0232
lyla@foggiapr.com
Stacey Street
Executive Director
California Symphony
(925) 280-2490
sstreet@californiasymphony.org
