
Cal Performances at Home is much more than a series of great streamed performances. Fascinating behind-the-scenes artist interviews. Informative and entertaining public forums. The Cal Performances Reading Room, featuring books with interesting connections to our Fall 2020 programs. For all this and much more, keep checking this page for frequent updates and to journey far, far Beyond the Stage!
Major support for Beyond the Stage is provided by Bank of America.

Beyond the Stage
The Art of the Spark: Musical Creativity Explored with Dr. Charles Limb

The Art of the Spark: Musical Creativity Explored with Dr. Charles Limb
Illuminations: Music and the Mind Public Forum
Where does imagination come from? Neuroscientists have only recently begun to examine the elusive nature of creativity in connection to music. One key area of study is the notion of improvisation—a foundational element in many musical art forms, including jazz and hip hop. In this 90-minute video from the Kennedy Center, UCSF Professor of Otolaryngology Dr. Charles Limb shows how encouraging and developing musical improvisational skills in children has led to a better understanding of how creativity is implemented in the human brain. In this talk, Dr. Limb is joined by the Kennedy Center Artistic Director of Jazz Jason Moran, Freestyle Love Supreme co-founder Anthony Veneziale, music therapist Ed Roth, and jazz pianist Matthew Whitaker, who helps with a demonstration. Thank you to the Kennedy Center for generously sharing this video free of charge.
This public forum was in conjunction with the Matthew Whitaker Quartet performance, part of the Cal Performances at Home Fall Season. Matthew Whitaker’s performance and all related activities are part of the Cal Performances Illuminations: Music and the Mind series.
Tags
Related Posts
Issue 43 (October 28)
In this issue: Excerpt from Giselle performed by Bolshoi Ballet and Orchestra; Excerpts from HK Gruber’s Frankenstein!! performed by Swedish Chamber Orchestra; William Shakespeare’s Macbeth featuring and co-directed by Kenneth Branagh; Bartók’s “The Sixth Door (The Lake of Tears)” from Bluebeard’s Castle; “The Bird” from Manual Cinema’s Frankenstein; Verdi’s “Libera me” from Requiem performed by Leontyne Price
Issue 42 (October 22)
In this issue: Beethoven’s Final movement from Cello Sonata No. 4 in C major, Op. 102, No. 1 performed by Mstislav Rostropovich and Sviatoslav Richter; The Spirit of Noh 能 directed by Edwin Lee; Mozart’s “Vorrei, spiegarvi, oh Dio!” performed by Sabine Devieilhe; Miles Davis’ “So What?” performed by Miles Davis; Rehearsing The Dying Swan and Lamentation performed by Sae Eun Park; Arvo Pärt: Fratres performed by Gidon Kremer
Issue 41 (October 13)
In this issue: Mozart’s Allegro vivace from String Quartet No. 16 in E-flat major, K. 428/421b performed by Tetzlaff Quartet; “So Is the Day” performed by Bria Skonberg; Fanm d’Ayiti performed by Nathalie Joachim; Beethoven Sonata Parody performed by Dudley Moore; Allegría from Carlos Saura’s Flamenco, Flamenco performed by Sara Baras
Artist Conversation with Dover Quartet: 2020/21 Season

A Conversation with Cal Performances Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen
Dover Quartet talks with Cal Performances Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen about how the quartet chose the program, what the members really miss about live performances and touring while in lockdown as well as some silver linings, how the quartet formed, and more in this Beyond the Stage artist talk.
This artist conversation video was recorded in conjunction with the Dover Quartet performance, part of the Cal Performances at Home Fall Season.
Related Posts
Artist Conversation with Julia Bullock: 2020/21 Season

A Conversation with Cal Performances Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen
Watch Cal Performances Executive and Artistic Director Jeremy Geffen fangirl out over Julia as they discuss her history in New York, then settle in to talk about the program, the impact of her living in Germany and her deep feelings on not living in the US, how her Cal Performances at Home opportunity was a unique chance to speak directly to California, how she came to choose selections from The Sound of Music, and more in this Beyond the Stage pre-concert talk.
This artist conversation video was recorded in conjunction with the Julia Bullock, classical singer; Laura Poe, piano performance, part of the Cal Performances at Home Fall Season.