Green Music Center unveils lineup for 2017-2018 season

The Green Music Center at Sonoma State University has announced its 2017-2018 season, a top-notch array of 37 classical, jazz, folk and world music and dance events running from late September 2017 through April 2018.

Familiar faces returning to the center next season include soprano Renée Fleming, pianist Jeffrey Kahane, humorist Garrison Keillor and Tango Buenos Aires. Making their Weill Hall debut will be the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Preservation Hall Legacy Quartet and Peter Yarrow plus Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary, among many others.

With five seasons already under its belt, the music center is entering a new era under the leadership of SSU President Judy Sakaki, who plans to integrate the music venue into the academic life of the campus and the community.

To replace the center’s retiring co-executive director Zarin Mehta, Sakaki recently lured away 45-year-old Jacob Yarrow from the University of Iowa’s Hancher Auditorium, where he served as programming director.

“The 2017–18 season will mark a truly exciting moment at Sonoma State University’s Green Music Center as we welcome our new executive director, Jacob Yarrow,” Sakaki said in a statement. “With another strong season of world-class artists for the Sonoma State community to enjoy, I look forward to more memorable performances in Weill Hall and the continuing partnerships between campus and the North Bay region.”

Last season, there were only 32 shows held at Weill Hall, the 1,400-seat main venue at the Green Music Center. For the first time, last season kicked off with an all-jazz weekend highlighted by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. On Sept. 30, the 2017-2018 season will open with New Orleans “Soul Queen” Irma Thomas and the Preservation Hall Legacy Quintet.

Roughly half of the 2017-2018 season will be dedicated to classical music, including several early music ensembles from the Bay Area and beyond: William Christie and Les Arts Florissants on Nov. 10, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale on Dec. 10, Apollo’s Fire and the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra on April 22 and the French-Canadian chamber orchestra, Les Violins du Roy, on April 28.

The Mariinsky Orchestra of St. Petersburg - the only symphony orchestra in next season’s lineup - will appear with pianist Denis Matsuey on Nov. 3.

There will be five classical recitals, including pianist Peter Serkin on Oct. 20, violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter on March 2 and violinist Jennifer Koh on March 17.

Chamber music choices make up a big part of the season: pianist Jeffrey Kahane and the Miro Quartet will appear on Oct. 28, the Ttzelaff Quartet will play on Nov. 11, the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet with pianist Stephen Hough will perform on Feb. 9 and the Takács Quartet with pianist March-Andre Hamelin will appear on Feb. 25. Eighth Blackbird, a cutting-edge contemporary ensemble, will provide a slice of innovation on April 19.

Concerts highlighting vocal artists include “Late Night with Leonard Bernstein,” a tribute to the late conductor and composer hosted by his daughter, Jamie Bernstein; the all-male, Bay Area chorus Chanticleer, on Jan. 12; and operatic superstar Renée Fleming in recital on Feb. 3.

In addition to the “Crescent City” tribute on opening night, jazz artists will include the all-star band HUDSON, a new collaboration between legendary drummer Jack Dejohnette, bassist Larry Grenadier, keyboardist John Medeski and guitarist John Scofield; and jazz singer Dianne Reeves on April 14.

World music and dance represents the largest genre of artists, with a total of nine concerts ranging from a Celtic Christmas with Cherish the Ladies on Dec. 16 and Marc Cohn and the Blind Boys of Alabama on Jan. 18 to the Yamato Drummers on March 16.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Windham Hill’s Winter Solstice concerts, artists William Ackerman, Barbara Higbie, Alex de Grassi and Todd Boston will collaborate together on Dec. 15. Other holiday programs include the return of Handel’s “Messiah” presented by the Philharmonia Baroque on Dec. 10 and saxophonist Dave Koz on Dec. 17.

Tickets to the 2017-’18 season in Weill Hall will go on sale to Mastercard cardholders and 2016-’17 GMC season subscribers at 10 a.m. on May 16. Tickets to the general public will go on sale at 10 a.m. May 18.

For a complete lineup of concerts or to reserve tickets, call 866-955-6040 or go to gmc.sonoma.edu.

Staff Writer Diane Peterson can be reached at 707-521-5287 or diane.peterson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @dianepete56.