Singing stars of Broadway shine; dance is anchored by diversity

Mkrtich Malkhasyan, Provided to the Star Tribune

Nora Chipaumire, from the film "Nora," by Alla Kovgan and David Hinton.

Seasons to come: Pops at Orchestra Hall and dance at Northrop.

By CLAUDE PECK, Star Tribune

Last update: April 17, 2009 - 5:20 PM

The Minnesota Orchestra's just-announced 2009-10 pops season includes two major Broadway divas, the jazzy Manhattan Transfer and Judy Garland "in concert."

The late Garland appears via digital technology, singing her greatest hits with the orchestra (Jan. 30-31).

Broadway belter Bernadette Peters will team with the orchestra (May 7), and multiple Tony winner Patti LuPone will make her Orchestra Hall debut in a show titled "Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda" (June 18).

The pops season kicks off with Broadway Rocks! (Oct. 23) and continues with Grammy-winning country-folk singer Kathy Mattea (Nov. 14-15); pop trumpeter Chris Botti (Dec. 4); holiday fave Doc Severinsen (Dec. 20); guitarist John Pizzarelli (Feb. 13); Finnish singers Rajaton (March 12); the Preservation Hall Jazz Band (March 20); Michael Cavanaugh singing Billy Joel (April 9); Manhattan Transfer (May 30, 2010), and the Count Basie Orchestra (June 13, 2010).

Northrop dance season

With the renovation of Northrop Auditorium delayed a year, there will be a full and diverse calendar of dance at the University of Minnesota venue in 2009-10.

In his first season as director of concerts and lectures, Ben Johnson has included ballet, modern, global and contemporary dance, as well as educational events tied to various presentations and two visits co-presented with Walker Art Center.

British troupe Wayne McGregor / Random Dance opens the season with a work inspired by collaborations with neuroscientists (Oct. 11), followed by the Virsky Ukrainian National Dance Company (Oct. 11) and Royal Winnipeg Ballet, with a world premiere of "Moulin, the Ballet" (Oct. 17).

Martha Graham Dance Company will bring the evening-length "Clytemnestra" (Nov. 12), and the Suzanne Farrell Company will make its Twin Cities debut with rarely seen George Balanchine works (March 12-13). Also coming are Moscow Festival Ballet (Jan. 14-15); Pilobolus (Feb. 12-13); Britain's Akram Khan Company with members of the National Ballet of China (March 3); a solo by Saburo Teshigawara (April 22-24, 2010), and work by Zimbabwe-born choreographer Nora Chipaumire (April 29, 2010).

Claude Peck • 612-673-7977