When: February 19 and 20 at 8:00 pm, 21 at 2:00 pm
Where: Arthur Miller Theatre
How Much: General Admission $18, Students $12
Why You Should Go: Fortinbras is suddenly the new ruler of Denmark, following the storyline in Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The comedic Fortinbras follows the story of the new ruler having to explain what happened and why he has taken his position. This play allows the audience to get a kick out of the ridiculousness of authority following Shakespeare’s tragedy.
When: February 19 and 20 at 8:00 pm, 21 at 2:00 pm
Where: Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre
How Much: $28 and $22, Students $12
What: A comedic play by Bruce Norris
Why you should go: Clybourne Park picks up where Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun left off in describing race relations in suburban America. Fifty years after Hansberry’s 1959 work, Clybourne Park is still faced with complicated neighborhood problems. Norris explores themes of race and the development of the country in his provocative play about one house in modern America.
It is difficult for me to be critical when I go to concerts, because I always appreciate how much effort the artist puts into their music, and how they pour their entire heart and soul into what they are performing. Therefore, it makes it incredibly difficult to critique someone’s art. It feels like you are critiquing their entire person. But I also have never been to a concert that I disliked. Which is an entirely different conversation to be had another time. But I felt it was important to say that despite my apprehension at judging an artist, Vance Joy did not receive any negative thoughts from me last night.
Vance Joy followed my pattern of making me fall in love with an artist even more after seeing them perform live. Seeing a musician in concert just gives their music an entire life of its own that infuses their songs with such energy whenever I listen to them in the future. It is like I have a recording of the concert in my head whenever I go to listen to their songs on my phone, and I am reliving the concert and the feeling of being in that room with the artist.
I also love how concerts can completely alter the feeling of a song. For example, the specific way a musician performs their music, or how the artist talks about an individual song can bring you to think of their music very differently. At the beginning of the concert, Vance Joy came on the stage performing Mess is Mine, a song on his recent album that I had always enjoyed, but had never adored. Suddenly, as he was performing it, I could feel his energy and his happiness mixed into the song. Now, Mess is Mine is easily my favorite song on his album. Also, when introducing some of his pieces, Vance Joy would give a bit of back story about how he came to write the song. For From Afar, he told a story about being in love and pining after someone who is unavailable. I had never caught onto this storyline by just listening to the song by itself, but with this new meaning, the song takes on a much deeper emotion.
All in all, it seems like Vance Joy is out to have a fantastic tour. His stage production was very high quality, though at times the light schemes were rather overwhelming. He seems like an incredibly genuine musician who definitely is a little green, but has a lot of growing to do. If he can keep pouring out his heart through his music, I am sure he is destined for great things.
What: Vance Joy in concert
Where: Windsor, Ontario
When: Monday, January 25 at 7:00
How Much: Tickets are sold for $30 and up.
Why you should go? Vance Joy is an up and coming Australian singer-songwriter with a unique sound and beautiful lyrics. With already a few hit songs out, you should not miss this opportunity to see him live before concerts get incredibly expensive!
It’s funny how when you have not heard jazz music performed live in a long time, you forget how magical the experience can be. I for one have not been to a jazz concert in over a year. However, this concert rekindled my love and need for jazz in my life, and now I suddenly feel a passion for going to as many jazz performances as possible.
Going to a jazz concert is completely different from going to a classical performance. For one, jazz seems to bring in a very diverse crowd. The music is more accessible and there is less of a stigma around it being for an upper-class audience. Each piece at this concert was introduced by the director while he sat in his chair. The director would even tell a joke and tell us it was okay to laugh. The orchestra really had a way of making you feel like you were at an intimate concert where you can connect with the musicians. Additionally, you will never hear people hootin’ and howlin’ while listening to the New York Philharmonic. Wednesday night I had the pleasure of hearing people around me revel in the music being performed on stage. It reminded me of how important it is to connect with the music, and feel it flow through you. It can truly be a religious experience if you open yourself up to the power of music.
Of course, the evening was uniquely special given that the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra consists of some of the best musicians I have ever heard. Every solo that was played on that stage had a precision to it that is hard to find. The trombonist in particular, Vincent Gardner, also the music director for the evening, was astounding. He handled his solos with complete ease and accuracy. Of course, Wynton Marsalis was spectacular, and the entire woodwind section was marvelous. Each of the saxophonists could also play one more, if not two or three more, instruments with just as much facility as their primary instrument.
On top of all these reasons for the concert to be spectacular, the music they played was particularly accessible. They played pop music from the last century, including songs such as Eleanor Rigby and Blame it on the Boogie. Every arrangement, done by a member of the orchestra, was original and intriguing and kept you listening. In their finale, Gardner even arranged so that the orchestra got up out of their chairs and walked off stage while still playing their instruments.
It was an incredible concert with such life and verve. I definitely plan on going again next year, and I hope you can join me!
When: Wednesday, January 19 at 7:30 pm
Where: Hill Auditorium
What: Jazz in the Key of Life concert
How Much: $12 for students, varying prices for adult tickets ($14-$66)
Why you should go? Because there is nothing better than listening to a leading jazz orchestra on a Wednesday night. You will get the chance to hear Vincent Gardner croon on his trombone and Wynton Marsalis will make you swoon with his trumpet. Even if you are new to jazz, you will recognize some of the classic jazz songs of the last century being played and be tempted to sway along. No matter who you are, this concert is sure to be a hit that puts a smile on your face!
