It’s the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Notorious C.P.E. (a.k.a. “Bachie Smalls,” the son of the slightly more prominent Johann Sebastian Bach)—what better way to celebrate than to join the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus and the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston for a performance of the composer’s underappreciated 1749 “Magnificat”? Director of the Harvard University Choir and Choirmaster of the Memorial Church Edward Elwyn Jones will also lead the two musical groups in a performance of Joseph Haydn’s “Paukenmesse,” or “Kettledrum Mass,” an anti-war masterpiece that predates the seminal hit by the Black-Eyed Peas, “Where Is the Love,” by just a couple centuries. Tickets are $10 for students.
Party on the Plaza (5 p.m., Science Center Plaza)
Join your friends, classmates, and absolute strangers on the Science Center Plaza for music and a non-HUDS dinner on Friday night. First, get alt-western with the alt-country sounds of the Cantab Cowboys, then get ambiguously funky to the creative collaborations of the ambiguously named Alex, Luke, Chris, and Friends. Finally, The Love Experiment, composed of Harvard alums and bandmates from The New England Conservatory of Music and Berklee College of Music perform neo-future-soul, a genre that should have more prominence than it does. If that isn’t enough to convince, you, two words: free t-shirts. Tickets are $17 for townies but free for Harvard students.
‘Fault’ (Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m., squash courts in Murr center)
Who do you blame when it was no one’s fault? If you’re having a bit more of a tortured weekend, this workshop production is opening during Arts First, with the goal of developing towards a summer theater festival in New York. A 60-minute production written and directed by Lily R. Glimcher ’14, “Fault” follows psychologist Dr. Freeman as he realizes that his patients’ stories mirror some of his own childhood trauma. As his three patients work through their pain, the line between patient and doctor is blurred as Freeman begins to confront his own demons. Nothing like a little emotional digging to get your weekend started! Reserve your free tickets by emailing fault.tickets@gmail.com with your name, number of tickets desired, and showtime.
MAY 3
'SEESAW' (10 a.m., Science Center Plaza)
A dance installation choreographed by Dance Director Jill Johnson in collaboration with student choreographers, “SEESAW” considers and discusses artifice and agnosia through dance and was conceived and created using crowd-sourcing and improvisational technologies. It also uses texts by Confucius and René Daumal to provide governing ideas for the improvised passages of the piece. Though it originally premiered in November 2013, the performance promises to be just as original and unique this time around. Tickets not required.
Dancefest on the Plaza (1-5 p.m., Science Center Plaza)
This all-afternoon showcase highlights the range and diversity of Harvard’s student dance groups—this year’s lineup features the largest number of groups in the history of Arts First! New additions include the Harvard Breakers and Passus: Harvard College Step Team. Program A, which runs from 1-2:30 p.m., includes well-known groups like Bhangra, TAPS, the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team, and the Harvard Radcliffe Modern Dance Company. Program B, from 2:30 to 5 p.m., features performances from the Harvard Ballet Company, the Asian American Dance Troupe, and the Expressions Dance Company, among many others. It’s rare to see so many different types of dance from all over the world united in one afternoon, so Dancefest is one of the stand-out events of this year’s Arts First. No tickets required.
IGP Dinner Party Show (6:30 p.m., SOCH)
The Immediate Gratification Players, Harvard’s premier long-form improvisational comedy group, would like to treat you to dinner and a show. The entirely improvised performance will take place alongside a catered dinner. The IGP recently opened for Kathy Griffin and hosts an annual improv comedy festival that draws college performance groups from across the country. Known for their yellow and red neckties, the IGP are excited to both feed and entertain you, sort of like a date but hopefully less uncomfortable. No tickets required: reserve your free seat at immediategratification.com.
