Arts at Michigan

“Here surely is the next world music superstar.” (The Guardian) “Aside from her stunning looks, Levy’s biggest asset is her voice, which is versatile, sensuous, and brimming with emotion.” (The Independent) Yasmin Levy was born in Jerusalem in 1975 and was introduced to Ladino singing and culture from a very young age.... Her father, who passed away when she was only a year old, was the leading figure in the world of research into and preservation of the Judeo–Spanish culture, dating back to the 15th century in Spain. Today, it remains one of the most moving and romantic traditions of all time. In her deep, spiritual, and moving style of singing, Yasmin preserves and revives the beautiful songs from the Ladino/Judeo–Spanish heritage, mixing it with Andalucian Flamenco. This US debut tour follows her highly acclaimed appearances at the World Music Expo (WOMEX) and at World of Music, Arts, and Dance (WOMAD) festivals throughout the world. “[Yasmin Levy’s CD] Mano Suave blends her mixture of flamenco, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and Sephardic Jewish Ladino traditions to somewhere near perfection. If you’re looking to plunge into a deep pool of exquisite yearning and heartbreak, then just dust off your trunks and dive right in.” (fRootsmag.com)Read More

Called “the world’s most perfect opera,” The Marriage of Figaro has delighted audiences since its premiere in 1786. The first collaboration between Mozart and librettist da Ponte, Figaro is one the successful sequel to The Barber of Seville. Da Ponte’s witty libretto melds humor with humanity and is paired with Mozart’...s groundbreaking score in a true marriage of music and drama. From the instantly recognizable overture to the rousing ensemble finale, the opera is filled with one brilliant melody after another. A celebrated operatic tour de force, The Marriage of Figaro sparkles with genius.

Performances:
Thursday 7:30pm
Friday 8pm
Saturday 8pm
Sunday 2pmRead More

This talk concerns the diffusion of printing in Chinese across the sea in Southeast Asia in the early modern period. Given the vital involvement of the Chinese settlers and sojourners in the commerce and service industries of the Spanish Philippines, it is no surprise that some of them were instrumental in developing t...he earliest printing and publishing enterprises of the colony in the late sixteenth century. They produced books in Chinese, Japanese, Tagalog, Spanish, and Latin, including religious works published under the auspices of Catholic missionary institutions. Furthermore, books were printed in China and Japan, sometimes specifically for different groups in the Philippines. In particular, the export of popular works published in Fujian and other parts of southern China represents a significant extension of the dissemination of Chinese books that followed the first large–scale overseas Chinese diaspora. By looking at Chinese works printed in or for readers in the Spanish Philippines, we can begin to understand how Chinese book culture adapted to and developed in the presence of other very different non–Chinese cultures and religions. Lucille Chia is Associate Professor of History at the University of California at Riverside. Her research interests include book culture and printing in imperial China, and the Chinese diaspora in Southeast Asia in the early modern period and its impact on China.Read More