Folk-pop icon Vega among season's musical peaks at Bates College

Suzanne Vega

An iconic singer-songwriter, a pair of performances devoted to Beethoven’s string quartet cycle and a Bates College alum who plays world music are among highlights at the Olin Arts Center Concert Hall at Bates this winter.

For information about all Olin Concert Hall events, please contact 207-786-6135 or this olinarts@bates.edu. The concert hall is located at 75 Russell St. Tickets for events with paid admission are available at www.batestickets.com.

Here’s the concert schedule from January into April:

In a concert rescheduled from last fall, German fortepianist Andreas Staier opens the season performing sonatas and variations by Franz Joseph Haydn on Friday, Jan. 15, at 7:30 p.m. Bates and Carnegie Hall are the only two venues at which Staier plays this particular program on his current tour. Tickets cost $12 for general admission and $6 for students and seniors.

Frank Glazer, a renowned pianist and Bates artist in residence, continues his survey of the complete cycle of Beethoven’s 32 piano sonatas with a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17. The performance is open to the public at no cost, but tickets are required.

Glazer performs the remaining concerts in the series at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7; 7:30 p.m. Friday, Mar. 19; and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Apr. 9.

Pianist Alexandre Tharaud

Glazer’s series coincides with the Auryn Quartet’s performances of the Beethoven string quartet cycle, which started at Bates in early 2009, sponsored by the Bates Concerts Committee. The quartet completes the series at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, and 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 31, in Olin. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students.

One of the most distinctive singer-songwriters of her generation, Suzanne Vega is in residence at Bates for two days in January. She offers workshops on writing and the business of making art, and will give two performances on Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. in the Olin auditorium. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $5 for seniors and students.

Glazer and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Patches perform Schubert’s song cycle “Winterreise” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

Two highly esteemed French musicians, cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras and pianist Alexandre Tharaud, perform sonatas of Bach, Debussy and Poulenc, as well as the popular “Arpeggione” sonata of Schubert, at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 10. Tickets are $12 for general admission and $6 for seniors and students.

Cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras

The Bates College Gamelan Orchestra, directed by Gina Fatone, plays traditional Indonesian music at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 13. The concert is open to the public at no cost.

Conducted by Hiroya Miura, the Bates College Orchestra performs at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 20. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

A composer and multi-instrumentalist, Bates alumnus Simon Hutchinson will perform a program inspired by nature and musical styles from around the globe at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 25. The performance is open to the public at no cost, but tickets are required.

Morten Lauridsen’s “Requiem” and other works will be performed by the Bates College Choir, directed by John Corrie, at 8 p.m. Friday, April 2, and Saturday, April 3. Admission is free, but tickets are required.

The Bates College Jazz Band, conducted by well-known Maine pianist Tom Snow, performs at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, in a location to be announced. Admission is free, but tickets are required.