University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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The Vienna Boys Choir performed at the PAC Feb. 14 to an audience of students and Austin residents. uis v ol the Performing ! Vienna Boys Choir

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internati by Amy Sailer He. The heartbreaking ballet classic was brought to Austin April 8 at the Performing Arts Center through the Houston Ballet and its ar- tistic director, Ben Stevenson. Internationally known as one of ballet ' s great master teachers, Stevenson had overseen the growth of the Houston Ballet Academy. Janie Parker, who danced leading role in in 1982 became the first woman from the United States to win a gold medal in the senior women ' s division at th ternational Ballet Competition since its establishment in 1964. Kenneth McCombie, who danced opposite Parker as Count Acbrecht, had been with the company since 1978. Besides Parker ' s and McCombie ' s striking physical combination, the two vibrated an intense chemistry as they danced before the Austin au- dience. They complemented each other perfectly. Also impressive was the lavish staging Stevenson employed, as the stage looked more like a medieval forest than an auditorium platform. Through the duo ' s exquisite danc- ing combination and the enchanted staging, the audience was spellbound from the beginning of the perfor- mance to its close. Top: Mercc Cunningham and hi dance company performed modern dance routine at thr PACFeb.26. Center: Suzuki, played by Laurine Limb. graduate student in music, is troubled that her mistress, CioCio San, played by April- Dawn Harrlff. graduate student in drama, plans to marry American sailor B. F. Pinkerton. played by Paul C. Lyon. in the UT Optra Theatre ' s performance of Madame Butterfly. Bottom.- Dancers from the Taipei Contemporary Dane Theatre perform Cloudgate af the PAC NOD. 2. Mcoilon B le ' --7!

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group by Amy Sailer Strains of Beethoven lifted from the string quartet on stage at the Per- forming Arts Center Oct. 20. The piece was serene and relaxing, holding its listeners comforting strength. Like a drop of i ' om the sky, threatening a storm, a baby near the stage started to cry. The cries turned to screams, and soon the bellows drowned out the efforts of the Tokyo String Quan The music stopped. An usher scur- ried to where the baby sat in its mother ' s arms. The lady stood up with her rebellious bundle and left. Glancing back as she made her way out of the hall, she caught the warm smile of violinist Peter Oundjian. Sadao Harada, founding member of the quartet, leaned against his cello with head in hand, eyes shut. After a few strained seconds, he looked up, smiled into the audience, nodded to his group and started from the beginning. Despite the interruption, the quartet played flawlessly, winning over the large audi ence with skillful and precise interpretations of quartets by Mozart, Beethoven and Alan Berg. The quartet consisted of Oundjian, Harada, violinist Kazuhide Isomura and violinist Kikuei Ikeda. Their patience and enthusiasm warmed the large crowd and drew the audience to its feet at the conclusion of the program. The foursome re- turned for two encores. Top:Augustln Anleoas. pianist with the Dresden Philharmonic, gaoe a soio performance it the PAC Oct. 22. Center: The Tokyo String Quartet helped kick off the fall season at the Performing Arts Center In mid- October. Bottom: With a program Including both classical and contemporary number . Le Grand Ballet Canadleni gatt a warm perform. i on a cool November Tokyo StuogOuartrt