The Collage Concert, the brainchild of Kansas University's School of Fine Arts Dean Toni-Marie Montgomery, came to fruition Thursday night at the Lied Center.
A nearly full house was introduced � or most likely reminded � of the talent of the faculty and students in the departments of music and dance and art and design.
Highlights were many, including:
l A flawless piano duet by Alice Downs and Robert Koenig on the 500,000th Steinway piano (its art case was created by KU alumnus Wendell Castle). The pianists seemed to feed off each other's energy as they played "Jeux d'enfants Op. 22" by Georges Bizet. The quickness and precision of the playing was amazing.
l "La Carta," a new genre piece by Roger Shimomura, that included a suspended Japanese parasol, a video of a woman writing Japanese characters, a pile of broken dolls and a Spanish dancer. An imaginative and thought-provoking work.
l "A Tribute to Nick," which called for a jazz combo to improvise as images of Nick Dante Vaccaro's work were projected on a screen. The musicians successfully captured the mood and color of the artworks.
l Patrick Suzeau's contemporary East Indian dance, "Govinda's Realm." Suzeau's movements are disciplined and intuitive, strong and playful.
l University Dance Company's performance of Karole Armitage's "Power Surge," set to the music of Philip Glass. Armitage's reputation as a "punk ballerina" plays out its mix of street vernacular and modern-dance moves.
The three-hour concert ended perfectly, with a hand-clapping, pride-instilling medley of patriotic and school songs by the KU Marching Jayhawks.
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