CHIRON Performing Arts



CHIRON Performing Arts
Exciting performances by world class musicians. Multimedia works.

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MISSION

CHIRON Performing Arts brings the evolutionary visions of contemporary artists to the community.  Through concerts of new music and festivals of the arts with themes such as ‘environmentalism’, we reach out to new audiences and demonstrate how The Arts participate in contemporary culture, our every day lives, and contribute to the evolution of humanity.  While centered in the classical music tradition, we include in our concerts and festivals other artistic disciplines and multicultural approaches. The disposition of our events maintains an emphasis on imagination and friendliness.  We welcome those new to new music and are proud of the enthusiastic responses to our events.

“One of the finest ensembles of its kind in my experience…” – Karel Husa – Pulitzer /69

BROCHURE

COMPLETED CONCERTS

CHIRON Performing Arts ’21 – Featuring the Music of Rudin, Kaufman, Dick and Marcel – Open Session Videography
with the MOMENTA String Quartet
CONCERT HERE:

THE PHANTASTIC THEATER – 10/30/’21 – 4:15 – The Mark O’Donnell Theater

CHIRON Performing Arts Chamber 3/1/20
HERE
The Phantastic Theater:
Halloween Edition World Premiere! (10/25/’19 – 4:15 – The Mark O’Donnell Theater

READ ABOUT CHIRON Festival of the Arts and Environment ’18
READ ABOUT CHIRON Festival of the Arts and Environment ’17

THE PHANTASTIC THEATER – Music and Art for All Ages.

“The Phantastic Theater” is our ‘daytime series’ designed for family-based audiences. An important aspect of the mission of “The Phantastic Theater” is to introduce young people to the imaginative power of the fine arts and remind adults of similar experiences in the past.  Doctor Kaufman (stage name) sometimes refers to these as ‘fantasia experiences’.  Impressive guest artists speak about when they were young and started their life in the arts. Educational elements are infused throughout our presentations. For these events, Doctor Kaufman creates what he calls music plays; in these works symphonic music pours through speakers as illustrative art flows on screen.  Live performance by world-class musicians, voice acting, dance, song and puppetry are combined to deliver a powerful experience which enthralls, entertains and challenges people of all ages simultaneously.

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ORIGIN OF NAME

In Greek Mythology the God Cronos came to Earth and ravaged a sea nymph. CHIRON was born of this union.  He was a centaur in form and became the teacher of the God’s and Heroes of the mythological world of Greece. He taught all of the arts of civilization, with an emphasis on Music. There are a number of tales of his manner of death, but when he died Zeus rewarded his service by making him the constellation Sagittarius.
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Through CHIRON, creative/director Dr. Christopher Kaufman has presented the work of hundreds of artists of all disciplines.

Press this link to visit our extensive Archive of Events:

QUICK DESCRIPTION of CHIRON ’18: 12/2/18
ph10We began with a The Phantastic Theater production, i.e. the world premier of my cinematographic ballet, Dancing Night Hawk. The story of DNH is an amalgam of Native American myths into a unique epic story – a Thanksgiving offering. The lead role was performed by young artist/dancer, Sofia Rose Kaufman. Having a young artist involved helps younger audience members identify with the presentation.
• Concert pianist and educator Daniel Rieppel then performed virtuosic piano music of Claude Debussy.
• Jennifer Roderer (brilliant mezzo soprano who sings with the Met) joined to perform an aria.
• Robert Dick improvised on contrabass flute with his world famous unique sounds to a short original film titled, ‘A Story of a Tardigrade’ – which depicts the possibility of one of these creatures riding a comet from a far flung part of our solar system to earth.

We ended with my environmental piece, Hudson Valley Music. This serious work includes the use of hundreds of natural sounds, video of natural and artistic images, virtuosic live performance by the players mentioned above and guest artist, french hornist Karl Kramer – winner of many international awards. HVM swept the audience along on a journey from the Long Island Sound, through the primeval forest, into mythological space and delivers a powerful environmental message.

QUICK DESCRIPTION of CHIRON ’17:
Part One – Christopher Kaufman’s THE PHANTASTIC THEATER – fine arts and music for family audiences, featured his educational and entertaining work THE MUSICAL FOREST (which includes voice acting, dance, puppetry, colorful art streaming on screen and full symphonic music pouring through speakers).  Principal young artist, Sofia Rose Kaufman, performed the lead role.  Opera star, Jennifer Roderer, spoke about her early experiences in music and why she chose to be a singer, concert pianist, Daniel Rieppel, joined her and performed solo piano works. Guest young artist, Elias Peretz, performed Glinka’s, The Lark.  A speaker from Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots spoke about the environment and give action steps.

Part Two – CHIRON Performing Arts – this long running series continued with brilliant performances by world-class performers.  Robert Dick performed ‘Blue-Green Planet’ on his giant human-sized contrabass flute where he utilizes original sounds of his own invention, Jennifer Roderer was joined once again by Daniel Rieppel in powerful performances of Verdi and Ravel.  Emmy award winning composer Joe Carrol spoke about activating creativity to accomplish goals. French hornist/composer Jeffrey Weeks Harrison spoke about his recent experiences in Africa and performed his cinematographic work “A Day in the Lie of an Elephant: Mourning Scene”.  The evening finished with Christopher Kaufman’s well regarded environmental work, Hudson Valley Music which takes the audience on a journey from the Long Island Sound, up the Hudson River and into mythological space.  For this last work, all of the performers present took part and a powerful message concerning the care taking of our planet was delivered within the context of vibrant art.  This work is led by the live players, video of natural imagery and environmental artist Ken-Cro-Ken and the backdrop of ‘music concrete’ composed of hundreds of natural sounds.

VISIT THIS PAGE – to see Festival of 2017
with Videos and Music Player

CHIRON PAST ACTIVITIES (Archive one – 2000’s)

VISIT THIS PAGE – for past events (1990’s), festivals and concerts of
CHIRON Performing Arts.