UCSB Arts & Lectures announces its 2023-2024 season featuring more than 48 events

For discounts of up to 25 percent, great seats, early notice about newly added events and free ticket exchanges, patrons can subscribe to any of Arts & Lectures’ twelve fixed series packages: Dance, Great Performances A, Great Performances B, Great Performances Suite, Word of Mouth, Global Sounds, Jazz, Americana, Hear & Now, Speaking with Pico, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Vanguard. Another option is the popular Create Your Own series: Purchase tickets to four or more events and save 10 percent off single ticket prices.

Series subscriptions go on sale Tue., June 13 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased by phone at (805) 893-3535, online or in person at the Arts & Lectures Ticket Office in Building 402 (parking lot 12 off Mesa Road) on the UCSB campus. For a season brochure, an order form or more information, call or visit the A&L Ticket Office or visit www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu. Single tickets go on sale Fri., Aug. 4 at 10 a.m.

UCSB ARTS & LECTURES’ 2023-2024 SEASON BY SERIES

DANCE

The 2023-2024 Dance series reflects the depth and diversity of the art form as an expression of American culture and an encompassing global language. Martha Graham Dance Company opens the season with their 100th anniversary tour featuring Graham’s Dark Meadow Suite, Hofesh Schechter’s high-energy CAVE and a new reconstruction of Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo with a reorchestration of Aaron Copland’s score performed by a live bluegrass band (Wed., Oct. 4 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre). Next, award-winning New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck performs in her highly acclaimed program Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends, an evening of “pure dance at its breathtaking best” (The Guardian) (Wed., Oct. 25 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre). In January, the Limón Dance Company brings an evening of works by José Limón rounded out by a new work, Migrant Mothers, from 2022 Bessie Award-winner Raúl Tamez (Sat., Jan. 27 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre).

 

(Editor’s Note: Batsheva Dance Company tour postponed, Granada performance canceled UCSB Arts & Lectures’ Tuesday, March 5 presentation of Ohad Naharin’s MOMO at the Granada Theatre is canceled — UCSB Arts & Lectures regrets to announce that Batsheva Dance Company has postponed its spring 2024 U.S. tour, and its March 5 performance at The Granada Theatre has been canceled. A&L remains committed to presenting Batsheva and looks forward to welcoming them in a future season, to be announced at a later date. Ticket holders may apply the value of their tickets toward a ticket exchange for Ephrat Asherie Dance (May 15) or another event in the 2023-2024 season, donate the value of their tickets to Arts & Lectures (tax-deductible), or receive a refund to their original form of payment. Questions? Contact us at (805) 893-3535 or info@artsandlectures.ucsb.edu, Mon-Fri, 10 AM-5 PM.)

GREAT PERFORMANCES A

Great Performances A includes the U.S. debut of the superstar trio of Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Lisa Batiashvili and Gautier Capuçon (Tue., Oct. 10 / 7 p.m. / Granada Theatre), plus recitals by pianist Daniil Trifonov (Fri., Nov. 17 / 7 p.m. / Campbell Hall)  and violinist Leila Josefowicz (Sun., Feb. 25 / 4 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Capping that extraordinary lineup is an intimate evening with the great Audra McDonald (Thu, Nov. 30 / 7 p.m. / Campbell Hall).

GREAT PERFORMANCES B

Great Performances B begins with an exciting West Coast premiere for violinist Midoriwith Festival Strings Lucerne (Wed., Nov. 8 / 7 p.m. / Granada Theatre), continues with performances by pianist Seong-Jin Cho (Fri., Dec. 1 / 7 p.m. / Campbell Hall) and the U.S. premiere of a new work by Thomas Adés co-commissioned by Arts & Lectures for the Danish String Quartet (Wed., April 10 / 7 p.m. / Campbell Hall). The incomparable soprano Renée Fleming crowns this series with a superstar recital (Thu., Feb. 1 / 7 p.m. / Granada Theatre).

GREAT PERFORMANCES SUITE

Get tickets for all eight performances in Great Performances Series A and B for one low price.

WORD OF MOUTH

Word of Mouth brings innovative and inspiring writers to address some of the biggest topics of the day. This season, Word of Mouth begins with acclaimed writer and Harvard historian Jill Lepore. A two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, Lepore brings her panoptic range and razor-sharp style to a discussion of the Supreme Court and the looming crisis of the U.S. Constitution’s lack of amendability (Tue., Oct. 24 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). In his paradigm-shifting talk, organizational psychologist and Penn Wharton School of Business professor Adam Grant explores how to tap into your deepest strengths, as discussed in his new book, Hidden Potential (Thu., Nov. 16 / 7:30 p.m. / Arlington Theatre). Ticket purchase for Adam Grant includes a copy of the new book.  As CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of Wired, Nicholas Thompson has had unparalleled access to the tech companies developing AI. Nita Farahany, a leading scholar on the ethical, legal and social implications of emerging technologies, is the author of the recent book The Battle for Your Brain. Together, Farahany and Thompson will offer an insiders’ perspective on what AI can mean for society, and how we can thrive in a future defined by new rules, new values and new possibilities (Wed., Jan. 31 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Closing out Word of Mouth is Pulitzer Prize-winner Evan Osnos, a preeminent analyst of global affairs with particular expertise regarding the relationship between the United States and China (Wed., Apr.  24 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall).

GLOBAL SOUNDS

Global Sounds starts with a must-see multicultural experience in the Silkroad Ensemble. Yo-Yo Ma conceived Silkroad in 1998, recognizing the historical Silk Road as a model for radical cultural collaboration. Now under the leadership of MacArthur fellow and 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winner Rhiannon Giddens, the Silkroad Ensemble will perform the West Coast Premiere of a new work, American Railroad, that amplifies the stories of the marginalized communities that built North America’s railroads (Thu., Nov. 9 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre). Next, a one-of-a-kind quartet will take audiences on a genre-bending musical adventure. Musicians Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyerand flutist Rakesh Chaurasia combine the cerebral complexity of Indian ragas with the groove of a funky bass line (Wed., Nov. 15 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Thrilling vocals, deft guitarwork and a flair for fashion characterize Fatoumata Diawara, a musical sensation out of West Africa. Singing in Bambara, the language of her native Mali, along with French and English, Diawara delivers biting social commentary and plays stinging electric guitar solos that ride on her band’s sinuous beats (Fri., Apr. 12 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall). And don’t miss it when blues legend Taj Mahal and kora-playing griot Sona Jobarteh team up for a special evening celebrating the confluence of African musical traditions and American blues (Thu., Feb. 22 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall).

JAZZ

Moving fluidly across jazz, pop and R&B, Jacob Collier creates mesmerizing soundscapes using layered vocal tracks and sophisticated digital editing techniques for an energetic and engaging performance to open the season (Sun., Oct. 1 / 7 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Join the opening night party prior to this season’s kick off event with a top tier ticket. The first jazz performer since Esperanza Spalding to win the prestigious Best New Artist category at the Grammys, Samara Joy makes her Santa Barbara debut this winter with a multigenerational holiday-themed concert (Fri., Dec. 8 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre). Celebrating 85 years of unforgettable music, the Blue Note Quintet pay fresh homage to the most revered label in all of jazz recording. Pianist Gerald Clayton, former music director of the Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour, has organized a new ensemble to express the heart and soul of jazz, Blue Note-style (Thu., Feb. 8 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Experience a night under the spell of Herbie Hancock, jazz’s most versatile and influential keyboard player. As pianist for Miles Davis in the mid-1960s, Hancock helped pioneer a groundbreaking new sound in jazz (Wed., Apr. 7 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre).

AMERICANA

Kicking off A&L’s Americana series is the platinum-selling, Grammy-Award-winning Nickel Creek, the internationally renowned roots trio composed of mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins and guitarist Sean Watkins. Catch their triumphant return to form after a nine-year break from recording and touring together (Sun, Oct. 8  / 7 p.m. / Granada Theatre). For 40 years, Mountain Stage has been one of the most beloved programs in public radio history. Eclectic, authentic and unpredictable, the show’s varied guests have included iconic artists from John Prine to Phish. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this live recording session hosted by country and bluegrass star Kathy Mattea and featuring a lineup of special guests (Sun., Feb. 4 / 6:30 p.m. / Granada Theatre). Singer and multi-instrumentalist Rhiannon Giddens returns to Santa Barbara with her hybrid of folk, world and classical music and a new album, You’re the One(Tue., Apr. 23 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre).

HEAR & NOW

Hear & Now discovers the best rising classical musicians from around the world and brings them here – now. Grammy Award winners Roomful of Teeth have carved themselves a niche as one of America’s most interesting contemporary vocal ensembles. In this performance, they team up with composer Gabriel Kahane for the Southern California premiere of a new work (Sat., Feb. 3 / 7 p.m. / Hahn Hall). The youngest musician ever to win First Prize in the International Tchaikovsky Competition Cello Division, Zlatomir Fung is poised to become one of the preeminent cellists of our time. Fung’s recital with acclaimed pianist Benjamin Hochman promises to be a season highlight (Sun., Jan. 28 / 4 p.m. / Hahn Hall). Pianist Bruce Liu signed an exclusive contract with Deutsche Grammophon in 2022 after the critical success of his live album from his winning performance at the 2021 International Chopin Piano Competition (Thu., May 16 / 7 p.m. / Hahn Hall). Violinist Randall Goosby, a protege of Itzhak Perlman, debuted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2021 at the age of 25. His new album with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra includes two recently discovered concertos by Florence Price (Sat., Apr. 20 / 7 p.m. / Hahn Hall).

SPEAKING WITH PICO

An interviewer of unparalleled nuance and depth, Pico Iyer consistently delivers searching conversations with the moment’s most electrifying authors. This season is no exception, as Iyer hosts the authors of three of the season’s most anticipated books. The series opens with Walter Isaacson, whose forthcoming biography of Elon Musk is set to publish on September 12, a little over a month in advance of his conversation with Iyer (Thu., Oct. 26 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Your Isaacson ticket purchase includes a copy of his Elon Musk book. Next up is distinguished physician and bestselling author Abraham Verghese. His latest, The Covenant of Water, was deemed “one of the best books I’ve read in my entire life” by no less an authority than Oprah Winfrey (Wed., Feb. 21 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). The Speaking with Pico series concludes with three-time National Book Award finalist Lauren Groff. Purchase of the Speaking with Pico Series includes a copy of Groff’s latest book, The Vaster Wilds (Tue., April 9 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall).

EARTH, AIR, FIRE, WATER

Great challenges beget rare opportunities. New this season, Earth, Air, Fire, Waterinvites four thought leaders to present innovative perspectives on the planet’s principal resources. In Life and Death on a Scorched Planet, investigative journalist and bestselling author Jeff Goodell paints a vivid picture of the impact of extreme heat and describes what science tells us about how we can work together towards a fairer and cooler world (Tue., Oct. 17 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, co-founder of the think tank the Urban Ocean Lab, looks at what might happen if we forge ahead with all the solutions currently available to address the climate crisis (Tue., Feb. 6 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Award-winning conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier travels the world’s oceans aboard SeaLegacy I, her research catamaran, capturing images that explore the inextricable links between humans and the world’s most sacred element – water (Tue., April 16 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall). World-renowned Forest Ecologist Suzanne Simard presents her pioneering research on the ways in which trees interact and communicate with one another (Wed., May 1 / 7:30 p.m. / Campbell Hall).

VANGUARD

In the Vanguard Series, individuals and ensembles explore the “outré limits” of contemporary performance. Named one of the Top Performers of the Year by The New Yorker, Meow Meow, a postmodern cabaret sensation, channels the Roaring Twenties’ urgent blend of art, entertainment and winking social commentary in a wildly enjoyable show dedicated to the women of the Weimar Republic (Thu., Mar. 7 / 8 p.m. / Lobero Theatre). For 50 years, San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be, centering its work around the key issues of our time. Celebrate their fifth decade in music with this collection of new commissions and signature works from their repertoire (Sat., Apr. 27 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall). Following on the success of A.G. Iñárritu’s Academy Award-winning Birdman, drummer/composer Antonio Sánchez performs his dramatic Grammy Award-winning score live around the world. Celebrating the film’s 10th anniversary, Sánchez brings Birdman Live to the Arlington Theatre (Fri., Apr. 19 / 8 p.m. / Arlington Theatre).

INDIVIDUAL NON-FIXED SERIES EVENTS

The following individual non-fixed series events can be purchased through the Create Your Own Series option, added on to a fixed series package purchase (no discount) or purchased separately when single tickets go on sale on Fri., Aug 4.

• Back by popular demand, perennial A&L favorite David Sedaris returns with a new book and his quirky comic showmanship (Sat., Nov. 4 / 7:30 p.m. / Arlington Theatre).
• Shining Broadway mega-star Kristin Chenoweth sings For the Girls in her latest cabaret-style revue (Sun., Nov. 5 / 7 p.m. / Granada Theatre).
• The jolly men of Mariachi Sol de México return with their festive José Hernández’ Merry-achi Christmas show (Wed., Dec. 6 / 7 p.m. / Arlington Theatre).
• January sees a 50th anniversary performance by the always amusing Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo (Thu., Jan. 25 / 8 p.m. / Granada Theatre).
• Australian acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emmanuel, CGP enthralls audiences with his unique style (Sat., March 9 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall).
• Enjoy street-inspired dance with Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie and her company Ephrat Asherie Dance in ODEON (Wed., May 15 / 8 p.m. / Campbell Hall).

THE WORKS

Want it all? You got it. Get The Works and save 25% off tickets to every event in the season brochure. That’s all of the best tickets at the best price.

CREATE YOUR OWN SERIES

For maximum flexibility, the Create Your Own series lets patrons hand-pick their favorite shows. Purchase any four or more events and save 10% on each ticket.

SUBSCRIBER BENEFITS

Donors and subscribers get early access to the best seats in the house, before single tickets go on sale. Save 10% on Create Your Own series and up to 25% on Curated series tickets. Get fee-free ticket exchanges up to two business days before the event

Can’t make it? No problem, we’ll help you find another amazing event to attend. Forgot to order something? Subscribers can add discounted series tickets to their order through August 3, even if the order’s already been processed.

Subscriber orders are filled in the order received. Subscribe early for the best available seating. Thu., Aug. 3 is the last day subscribers get first dibs on this season’s events before single tickets go on sale Fri., Aug. 4 at 10 a.m.

An Arts & Lectures subscription is an investment in personal enrichment that also enriches the community. It’s a commitment to make time for inspiring conversations, magical experiences and a sense of community.

ABOUT UCSB ARTS & LECTURES

The 2023-2024 season marks UCSB Arts & Lectures’ 64th year of bringing unique, world-class performances, films and lectures to Central Coast and campus audiences. With a mission to “educate, entertain and inspire,” Arts & Lectures is the largest performing arts and public lectures presenter between San Francisco and Los Angeles, beloved by audiences for its award-winning, diverse and innovative programming that deeply enriches lives and extends the intellectual life of the community beyond the classroom.

Arts & Lectures’ award-winning educational outreach programs provide rare opportunities for students to meet and learn from visiting artists and speakers. In the 2023-24 season, most of the speakers and performers will participate in master classes, lecture-demonstrations, open rehearsals and classroom discussions at UCSB and in the community.

Through ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara!, Arts & Lectures’ nationally-recognized program, A&L provides free public performances featuring international talents and arts education to underserved populations throughout Santa Barbara County. In 2011 the program received the prestigious APAP/MetLife Arts Access Award for “engaging underserved communities.”

For more information about Arts & Lectures, call (805) 893-3535 or visit www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu