UMS to present Alexander Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov"

The University Musical Society will present the U.S. premiere of Alexander Pushkin’s “Boris Godunov”at 8 p.m. Oct. 29-Nov. 1 and 2 p.m. Nov. 1-2. The play, directed by Declan Donnellan, will be performed at the Sports Coliseum at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Hill Street. Tickets are $35 for the Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 performances; $40 for other shows. Call (734) 764-2538 for tickets or more information.

Photo courtesy David Eden Productions

Inspired by Shakespeare’s History Plays, Alexander Pushkin’s only full-length play follows a climactic struggle for power in tsarist Russia.

When Ivan the Terrible dies three years after murdering his eldest son in a fit of rage, power passes to his simple-minded son, Feodor, with Boris Godunov appointed as Regent. To secure his position as tsar, Boris has Feodor’s younger brother, Dmitri, secretly murdered.

In due time, rumors of the cause of Dmitri’s death circulate, reaching the ears of an ambitious young monk who boldly impersonates Dmitri and convinces Polish nobility of his claim to the throne. As the head of a large and powerful Polish army, “Dmitri” invades Russia, causing great turmoil for the weakened Godunov.

The play, part of U-M’s “Celebrating St. Petersburg” festival will be performed in Russian with English supertitles.

Symphony Band to perform concert of Gershwin works

The U-M Symphony Band, faculty and alumni will perform a concert of George Gershwin works at 8 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Michigan Theater.

Haithcock (Photo courtesy School of Music)

The performance is a benefit concert for U-M’s band programs. Michael Haithcock, director of bands, will conduct. With a program featuring selections from “Strike Up the Band” and “I Got Rhythm” to Catfish Row selections from “Porgy and Bess,” the concert will illustrate the influence Gershwin had on other American composers and art forms.

One of the features of the program will be a free improvisation of “I Got Rhythm/Fascinating Rhythm” by jazz pianist and School of Music faculty member Ellen Rowe. Another will be Paul Whiteman’s original version of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” performed by pianist and School of Music faculty member Louis Nagel.

Haithcock says the audience will hear “Rhapsody in Blue” as close as possible to how Gershwin first heard it.

Tickets are available at (734) 764-2538.

Band-O-Rama will return to Hill Auditorium in 2004.