Bang on a Can All-Stars return to perform meditative ‘Before and After Nature’ April 9

UNIVERSITY PARK (Wednesday, March 19, 2025)—Bang on a Can All-Stars will return to Penn State for the third time for another ultra-dynamic performance that crosses the boundaries of classical, jazz, rock, world and experimental music. The event will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

The electrifying music ensemble will perform David Lang’s “Before and after Nature” with the Penn State Concert Choir under the direction of Dr. Christopher Kiver. The program also will feature music and text by Lang and video design by Tal Rosner.

Tickets are $48 for an adult, $10 for a University Park student, and $15 for a person 18 and younger and are available for purchase online. The Arts Ticket Center is the only authorized outlet for individual tickets for events presented by the Center for the Performing Arts.

You can avoid the $4-per-ticket online service fee by calling 814-863-0255; or buying in person from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays at Eisenhower Auditorium.

Visit Bang on a Can All-Stars for more information.

Learn about the immersive musical soundscape of “Before and After Nature.”

Formed in 1992, the Bang on a Can All-Stars ensemble is recognized worldwide for live performances and recordings of today’s most innovative music. The six-member ensemble has freely crossed the borders in music genres, consistently forging a distinct category-defying identity. The All-Stars have worked in close collaboration with some of the most important and inspiring musicians of our time, such as Steve Reich, Ornette Coleman, George Lewis and many more.

Stanford University alum Lang’s composition “Before and After Nature” is a meditation on what was best for nature before humans arrived, and what will be best after we are gone, a piece he described as “a piece on noticing and thinking about the world without us.”

This composition will be accompanied by a video projection put together by Rosner, who works closely with musicians, theatre makers and fashion brands, combining multiple layers of sound and visuals to create video installations and live performances.

The Bang on a Can All-Stars performed previously at Eisenhower in 2017, as well as in 2009 for Julia Wolfe’s “Steel Hammer.”

Free community engagement events

The Joyfull
Bang on a Can Edition
6:00 p.m. Sunday, April 6, 2025
Heritage Hall, HUB-Robeson Center

When our bodies are hungry, we need to eat. But when our souls are hungry, we crave a different kind of nourishment. Just like food, art comes from many forms, cultural backgrounds and histories. At each Joyfull, we welcome all to come and enjoy a meal, live performance and conversation.

Join the Center for the Performing Arts at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in Heritage Hall of the HUB-Robeson Center for an event where we make connections and leave with full bellies and full hearts. Free sustainable utensil sets will be given to first-time attendees while supplies last. Help us reduce waste by bringing them with you to use at each Joyfull.

The program, entertainment and menu will be announced closer to the event.

This event is free, but registration is required. Visit The Joyfull online for more info and to register.

“Behind and Before ‘Before and After Nature’”

Lecture by David Lang
3–4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2025
117, Music Building I

Penn State students and public community members are invited to a guest lecture featuring composer David Lang. He will host a discussion of the thought and research behind his new piece, “Before and After Nature”; the structure of the music; and the limitations that go along with writing music about the world around us.

This event is free, but registration is required. Visit David Lang lecture online for more information.

Sensory accommodations

The center welcomes patrons of all sensory sensitivities to its performances. Eisenhower Auditorium is certified by KultureCity as a sensory-friendly venue. Upon request, patrons can sign out a variety of items to accommodate your visit, including noise-reducing earmuffs, anti-strobe glasses, lap pads and fidget toys.

Learn more about the center’s available Accessibility services.

Acknowledgments

Support provided by
Sandra Zaremba and Richard Robert Brown Endowment

Support for accessibility services is provided by
William E. McTurk Endowment for Program Support

Support for The Joyfull provided by
Dick Brown and Sandy Zaremba
Penn State Equal Opportunity Planning Committee in the Office for the Vice Provost for Educational Equity

A grant from the University Park Student Fee Board makes Penn State student prices possible.

Find us

For more information about the season, visit the Center for the Performing Arts online, Facebook and Instagram.