Artistic director Jim Vincent looked to 16th-century neoclassical architect Andrea Palladio, known for his sense of order and harmony, for his new piece, Palladio, the first he's created for the company since 2002. Playing off tight, precise, baroque-sounding music by contemporary composer Karl Jenkins, the choreography and movement style are exceptionally free, even explosive. The effect is electric, especially in conjunction with the unusual stage effects. Musical and emotionally suggestive, especially in the middle section of duets, Palladio combines formal beauty with a moving sense of transience. It's on the second program, along with Alejandro Cerrudo's Lickety-Split, Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort, and Jorma Elo's From All Sides: premiered with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in January, it knits together Mark-Anthony Turnage's difficult score. The first program includes Toru Shimazaki's wonderfully dark, shivery Bardo, Marguerite Donlon's Strokes Through the Tail, and the premiere of Lar Lubovitch's Cryptoglyph. a First program opens Wed 4/11, 7:30 PM. Through 4/15: Thu 7:30 PM, Sat 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Second program opens Wed 4/18, 7:30 PM. Through 4/22: Thu 7:30 PM, Fri 8 PM, Sat 3 and 8 PM, Sun 3 PM. Harris Theater for Music and Dance, 205 E. Randolph, 866-535-4732, $20-$75. Gala performance Fri 4/13, 6:30 PM, features a unique program, $500-$1,000.
Art accompanying story in printed newspaper (not available in this archive): photo/Todd Rosenberg Photography.