Programs Related to Faces of Impressionism

A series of free lectures by world-renowned authorities on Impressionism will be offered by the Cleveland Museum of Art (CMA) on selected Thursday evenings during the exhibition Faces of Impressionism: Portraits from American Collections (on view May 28-July 30, 2000). The complementary star-studded series at 7 p.m. in Gartner Auditorium will coincide with extended evening hours (6-9 p.m.) for the exhibition:

• June 1, Gary Tinterow, Engelhard Curator, Department of European Paintings, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, on Degas and the Modern Portrait.
• June 15, Harvey Buchanan, professor emeritus of humanities and art history, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, on Degas and Psychological Impressionism.
• June 29, Colin Bailey, deputy director and chief curator of the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, on Renoir's Portraits: Facts and Fictions.
• July 6, George T. M. Shackelford, chair, Art of Europe, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, on Cézanne's Portraits of Madame Cézanne.
• July 20, John House, professor of the history of art, Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London, and author of the exhibition catalogue's introductory essay, on Facing the Impressionist Portrait.

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A French-themed garden party will take place Saturday, June 17 from 7 p.m. to midnight. Organizers say partygoers will feel they have been transported to Monet's Giverny, where they will dance to romantic music, nibble on bistro food, and perhaps take home a portrait of themselves, courtesy of sketch artists among the crowd. The museum's Young Friends, party sponsors, will use the funds raised to benefit CMA's "Generation XL" community outreach program. Call 1-888-CMA-0033 for tickets or more information.

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CMA's "Summer Evenings" series of Wednesday and Friday events will include three free concerts of French music in June and July. Featured will be works by the great so-called musical Impressionists Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel. All three concerts will take place on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Dang Thai Son, piano (June 21)

In 1980, this Vietnamese pianist won the first prize and gold medal at the Tenth International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, becoming the first Asian to win a top international competition. Subsequently he has appeared with many of the world's finest orchestras and in recitals throughout the world. He has recorded on Deutsche Grammophon-Gesellschaft, CBS Sony, and numerous other labels. In his CMA debut, he performs an all-French program of works by Debussy, Fauré, and Ravel.

with James Umble, saxophone (July 12)

The duo, both members of the Cleveland Orchestra, and guest artist James Umble present a concert of works by Debussy (Sonata for Violin and Piano), Ravel (Adagio-transcription from the G Major Piano Concerto by C. Warner), and Ibert (Histoires for Saxophone and Piano).

Monique Duphil, piano (July 26)

The Oberlin Conservatory professor returns to the museum to perform an all-French program. A native of Bordeaux, Madame Duphil gives life and nuance to Debussy's Preludes, which she performs in their entirety this evening.

(Full details of Summer Evenings programming will be released by the end of April.)

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For Children: Family workshops will take place Wednesdays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Storytellers will present Tales from France at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, June 23. For Adults: Gallery talks about portraits and Impressionist paintings in the permanent collection will be presented on Wednesdays in June and July at 6 p.m. The CMA's Speakers Bureau will make 40-minute slide presentations about Faces of Impressionism to groups of 15 or more, free of charge (call Nancy McAfee at 216-421-7340, ext. 484).