RICHARDSON, Texas (Sept. 5, 2003) - The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will present "Playing with Falla," an extravaganza of the music of 20th Century Spanish composer Manuel de Falla conducted by UTD Composer-In-Residence Robert Xavier Rodríguez, Friday, Sept. 12, at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre.

The concert will feature a performance of the unique puppet opera, El Retablo de Maese Pedro, based on a scene from Cervantes' Don Quixote, and also will include Falla's Concerto for Harpsichord, Hommage pour le tombeau de Debussy for solo guitar, Siete Canciones Populares Españolas for soprano and “Ritual Fire Dance” from El Amor Brujo for piano.

Known for drawing from the best of talent not only at UTD but from the community at large, Rodríguez has pulled together a large cast of esteemed performers for the concert including UTD students and faculty members Fred Curchack (actor), Enric Madriguera (guitar), Jeff Lankov (piano), Kim Childs (singer), William Pervin (horn), Saar Ravid (flute), Forest Aten (clarinet) and Carol Chen (percussion) along with guest artists Sabine Madriguera (guitar), Laura Shouha and Sharon Lacey (both oboe), Mike Aducci (English horn), Noel García (bassoon), William Scharnberg (horn), John Holt (trumpet), Drew Lane (percussion), Laura Logan (harp), Suzanne Byrd, Blake Davidson and Rebecca Duren (singers), Igor Borodin and Mark Miller (violin), Kristi Swanson (viola), Lisa Engel (cello) and Rex Bozarth (contrabass). For more information about the concert, please visit: http://ah.utdallas.edu/season0304/defalla.htm

Tickets for the Sept. 12 event are $15 for general admission and $10 for students and are on sale now. UTD ticket office hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and at the door one hour prior to show time. To purchase tickets using Visa, MasterCard or Discover, please call 972-883-2982.

For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UTD, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787), e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu or visit the School of Arts and Humanities' web site at www.utdallas.edu/ah. Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator 1-800-RELAYVV.

About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls more than 13,000 students. The school's freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university's Web site at http://www.utdallas.edu.