Virtuosic violinist Tim Fain performs critically-acclaimed Portals at UB!

We’re excited to welcome the immensely talented and strikingly charismatic violinist Tim Fain to the University at Buffalo to perform his innovative and critically-acclaimed multi-media project, Portals, which integrates music, dance, spoken word, acting, and video, to explore longing and connection in the digital age. The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the University at Buffalo, along with media sponsor WNED, will present Tim Fain's Portals, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 25, in the Drama Theater in the Center for Performing Arts on the University at Buffalo's North Campus in Amherst. Tickets range from $15 to $30 and are available by calling the Slee Hall box office at (716) 645-2921.

A brief excerpt from the program note outlines the artistry and depth of exploration in this profoundly relevant work:

Tim Fain performing Portals

“Combining music with film, dance and spoken word, Portals explores the ways in which we communicate, and, through communication, find meaning in the digital age. In an era when our expressions of love and sorrow, of togetherness and longing—such private emotions—are sometimes displayed so publicly on the web, the potential for artistic communication through digital media is endless. The creative team and I set out to expand the boundaries of possibility in live performance whereby the performers and artists appear onscreen as if signing on (over Skype, iChat, etc.), each from his or her respective private space, interacting with each other as well as with me on stage. 

“For example, at times one sees the performers readying themselves for performance, warming up, or just relaxing in their own private spaces, as if glimpsed by webcam. By contrast, at other times Nicholas and I meet in an imagined performance space which combines a feeling of an empty concert hall with a sound stage, (the empty chairs and pixilated projections) in which we perform together. Sometimes the two worlds collide and combine, as in Graceful Ghost, where we occasionally switch places, passing through these different worlds, real and imagined.  Though we're not always face to face or feeling someone's touch or the warmth of their breath, we are deeply connected.”

Portals was conceived by Tim Fain, who acts as the producer and creative director and is joined by co-producer and noted film director by Kate Hackett. It was born out of collaboration between Fain and Benjamin Millepied, the choreographer for the acclaimed 2010 film Black Swan starring Natalie Portman. As Fain plays his violin, actors, dancers, and other musicians accompany him on screen. Portals features the works of several composers, with the centerpiece being a new work by Phillip Glass specifically written for Fain. The project has been profiled in Vanity Fair, The Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times, and integrates original music by a a diverse collection of composers, including: Lev Zhurbin, Nico Muhly, Aaron Jay Kernis, Philip Glass, William Bolcom, and Kevin Puts; and features dancers Craig Black, Julia, Eichten, and Haylee Nichele. Nicholas Britell joins the cast on piano, along with spoken word actor Fred Child, who recites text written by the well-loved American poet and musician Leonard Cohen.

Tim Fain’s biography reveals an exciting and productive career filled with music performances and collaborations in a variety of genres and contexts :

“Avery Fisher Career Grant-winning violinist Tim Fain was selected as one of both Symphony and Strad magazine’s “Up-and-Coming” musicians, and was, most recently, seen on screen and heard on the Grammy-nominated soundtrack of the hit film Black Swan, and heard as the sound of Richard Gere’s violin in Fox Searchlight’s feature film Bee Season. Recipient of the Young Concert Artists International Award, he made his debuts with the Brooklyn Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony, with Marin Alsop conducting, and appeared as soloist with the Orchestra of St. Luke's, Mexico City Philharmonic, Maryland, Cincinnati Chamber Symphony, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and Curtis Symphony Orchestra at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center, the Hague Philharmonic, among others.  Equally at home in virtually all genres of music, he is a fervent champion of 20th and 21st century composers with a repertoire ranging from Beethoven to Corigliano. His recitals have taken him to the Ravinia Festival, Kennedy Center, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Boston’s Gardner Museum, Mexico’s Festival de Musica de Camera, Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall, California’s Carmel Mozart Society, and New York’s 92nd Street Y. Portals has toured throughout the world including to New York City’s Symphony Space, Santa Monica’s Broad Stage, Australia’s Melbourne Festival and beyond.

Tim Fain

“He has collaborated with such luminaries as Pinchas Zukerman, Richard Goode, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Mitsuko Uchida, has appeared with the Mark Morris Dance Group, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, and appeared onstage with the New York City Ballet, performing alongside the dancers in the acclaimed premiere of Benjamin Millepied’s Double Aria. He has also worked with jazz pianists Billy Childs and Ethan Iverson (The Bad Plus), guitarist Rich Robinson (Black Crowes), and appeared at Jazz at Lincoln Center with Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20). A sought-after chamber musician, he has toured with Musicians from Marlboro, appeared with Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, performed at the Spoleto, Ravinia, and Santa Fe Festivals and continues to tour internationally in a duo-recital program with Philip Glass.

“His debut CD, Arches, combines old and new solo works, and his disc of American short works, River of Light, was recently released on Naxos. Tim Fain performs on a violin made by Franceso Gobetti, Venice 1717, the “Moller” on extended loan from Clement and Karen Arrison through the generous efforts of the Stradivari Society of Chicago.”

Be sure to join us the following day, at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 26, for a masterclass and question-and-answer session with Tim Fain in the Mary Seaton Room at Kleinhans Music Hall, 3 Symphony Circle, Buffalo. It is free and open to the public. The Mary Seaton Room will enjoy a coffeehouse feel, with complimentary hot beverages and pastries. More information on the masterclass session to come soon…

Tim Fain, Portals

7:30 p.m., Friday, January 25, 2013

Drama Theater in the Center for Performing Arts

University at Buffalo's North Campus

Tickets: $15 to $30, available at the Slee Hall box office, (716) 645-2921. 

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