Mark Morris Dance Group
Sept. 4-14, Zellerbach Hall

MARK MORRIS'S L'ALLEGRO , il penseroso, ed il moderato (1988) just may be his best piece ever. It's most certainly a major accomplishment by a major American choreographer – and it's also a great season opener for Cal Performances. Never before in his career had Morris attempted such a large-scale, full-evening endeavor. But then he never had the resources to try. He had to go to Brussels, Belgium's state-supported opera house, the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie, to get enough rehearsal time and space, a full orchestra, and a stage big enough to really stretch his musical and kinetic muscles. At L'allegro's premiere, the Belgians were, to say the least, nonplussed. Morris, who embraced choral movements and created dances that didn't highlight individual stars, used inspirations from folk dance and early modern traditions and often took his imagery from 17th-century English poetry. Though it didn't make sense to early audiences, over the years L'allegro – though rarely performed because of the resources it requires – has acquired something of a cult status. The music is by Handel, and the libretto is by Charles Jennens (based on John Milton's poetry). For these performances, Marika Kuzman directs the UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus, and Nicholas McGegan leads the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. The Mark Morris Dance Group also performs a repertory program Sept. 12 through 14 that includes a world premiere set to music by Bartók. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m., UC Berkeley, Bancroft at Telegraph, Berk. $32-$56. (415) 642-9988. (Rita Felciano)