Matthew Aucoin's contemporary opera "Second Nature" was commissioned to be performed at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago clearly defining to the composer a small, short piece written with kids in mind. Set a hundred years from now, it's the story of two children who discover there is a world outside the artificially enclosed "Habitat" where they've been confined all their lives.
Rani Arbo is already out for her morning walk in the Connecticut sunshine when it’s time for a phone interview with What’s Up! With birds serenading her along the way, she talks about the pleasures of being outdoors and of playing shows with her band, daisy mayhem, the folk-Americana-bluegrass-pop quartet that will perform twice during the opening week of Walton Arts Center’s Artosphere Festival. First up is an indoor concert at 7:30 p.m. May 5 in Starr Theater, followed by a performance as part of the Trail Mix series starting May 6.
Walton Arts Center has announced the return of Artosphere: Arkansas' Arts + Nature Festival May 4-27, with events at locations across Northwest Arkansas.