Category: Arts

There’s something nearly unbelievable about witnessing collaboration of the highest caliber. Thursday night, Rackham Auditorium hummed with the reverberations of violins, violas, and celli played by the members of the legendary Emerson String Quartet and the rapidly-rising Calidore String Quartet.

The program consisted of works for 5-8 string players, which guaranteed that every piece involved members of both quartets working together. Even though Emerson has been playing together for a few decades longer than Calidore, there was no sense that musicians in one quartet were stronger than the others: they played together beautifully.

While I questioned their decision to open the concert with slower and  lyrical pieces, I ended up feeling more engaged than I was expecting. Every aspect of their collective sound was so exquisite, every long phrase so artfully constructed that it was difficult to resist being swept up in the ebb and flow. Their blend was so pristine that if I closed my eyes, it became difficult to tell if a melody was getting passed around or stayed on the same instrument.

The first half ended with my favorite part of the concert, the Scherzo from Shostakovich’s String Octet. While Shostakovich’s teacher may have frowned on his student’s harsh writing style, the piece was an absolute head-banger. It was impossible to resist grooving along with Calidore and Emerson.

Mendelssohn’s famous String Octet filled the second half, and watching the eight musicians nod, breathe, and bob together through this monumental work made one feel like the fly-on-a-wall of a lively dinner conversation.

It was incredibly special to share the room with professionals who were professional enough to share the stage. Both groups were more than capable of giving their own concert, as they have already done numerous times, but the fact that they chose to come together, try out new interpretations, and combine their unique approaches is what I believe made the evening so beautiful. I’m thankful that these truly great musicians have recognized that some of the best things happen when you link arms.

Audien provided attendees with a wild experience during his show on Wednesday at Club Necto. In terms of concert venues, Necto never fails to provide a fun, electrifying environment. The entire lower level fills with people who are usually of one mind about their intent: to dance until their feet are aching. Though some might find this overwhelming, as it can be, it has proven to be intensely fun each time I’ve attended a concert here.

Audien’s set was a variety trance, progressive trance, and occasionally remixes of popular songs. For those who aren’t fans of electronic music, it might have sounded like the same song was playing on repeat the entire night. Nonetheless, the music continued to thrill the audience until past midnight. Each song blended into the next, leaving none of that occasionally awkward silence in concerts, when the magic seems to die down momentarily. Audien masterly navigated the booth, keeping all entertained.

The lights and decorations made for an entrancing sight. The color scheme was largely bright purple and green, creating a practically ethereal feel to the venue.

Upon arrival to the concert, my friends and I stood on the outskirts, unsure if we should join the melee of the lower level. We listened, discussing whether or not we considered ourselves fans of the electric music genre. After ten or so minutes, a song came on that seemed to beckon to us. The music was enchanting, we needed to dance. And dance we did, and we didn’t stop until we decided our feet were too bruised to continue. We lost track of time in the crazy pit of dancers, having no concept of what or where or when, thinking only of the current and next song. I think that’s what a concert should do: allow yourself to be lost in the music.

This Thursday, two string quartets of different backgrounds will come together to present a marvelous program of string ensemble music in Rackham Auditorium.

The multiple-Grammy award-winning Emerson String Quartet is known worldwide as one of  the premiere ensembles of its kind. Since their professional start in 1976, Emerson has developed an international reputation and recorded over thirty albums.

Even without such an impressive resume (yet), the young Calidore String Quartet is on the right track for an equally substantial career. Since winning MPrize in its inaugural year, the quartet has already received prestigious fellowships and was featured in a UMS concert of their own.

These established and emerging musicians will present a marvelous program of string ensemble works, including Mendelssohn’s octet, a famous and monumental work which he wrote as a birthday gift for his teacher when he was 16.

The concert will take place this Thursday, October 5th, at 7:30pm in Rackham Auditorium. Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity to hear from two world-class string quartets in one concert! Buy tickets here or at the League Ticket office!