PREVIEW: Jader & Hilary Hahn with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra

sophiascribbles 1 Comment

I was eating lunch when I saw the message in a group chat.

“Hey guys Hilary Hahn is performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on Dec. 4 and tickets are only $15”

Dramatically gasping, I dropped my fork and hastily texted “I’M THERE” before notifying the friends sitting with me. By the time we finished eating, tickets were already purchased and plans were arranged to get ourselves to Orchestral Hall in Detroit一all in the name of Hilary Hahn.

A three-time Grammy Award-winning violinist, Hilary Hahn is not only known for her world-renowned technical expertise and artistic expression but also her dedication to breaking down barriers to classical music through her #100daysofpractice Instagram challenge and guest appearances on the TwoSetViolin Youtube channel. She will be performing Dvorak’s Violin Concerto in A minor, an energetic piece that takes inspiration from Czech folk music. Additionally, the DSO will be performing Smetana’s The Moldau and Overture to The Bartered Bride, as well as Florence Price’s Symphony No. 3 in C minor. 

What can I say? I am very excited for this Saturday.

You can watch the free livestream on Dec. 4 @8PM: https://www.dso.org/watch/1749736

PREVIEW: Junk: The Golden Age of Debt

IseeUsee Leave a comment

I know. I know. Finals are creeping up your window like that curtain you mistake for a person when you sleep at night. 

BUT.

Hear me out. This play will help you with your finals! (at least if you’re an economics student)

It is about a financier who takes on higher-risk, higher-yield bonds that sets off a financial civil war. Is this spicy enough for all the finance majors? 

This play is described as “the origin story of America’s financial crisis” in a “fast-paced thriller.” Sounds interesting to me! The writer of this play, Ayad Akhtar is a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and I am excited to see how his ideas play out in action. 

If you are interested in seeing this very unique play then BUY TICKETS NOW at:

https://tickets.smtd.umich.edu/5221

Preview: A Midsummer Night’s Dream

IseeUsee Leave a comment

This production by the department of musical theatre features “fairies, love potions, mixed-up lovers, magic spells, and a pompous rustic sporting a donkey’s head.” 

In the snowy, cold weather we have been having, this sounds like the perfect way to enjoy yourself. A warm romantic comedy by none other than Shakespeare. It can’t get more classic than that. 

I am excited to see the moving performances by actors. The presence of fairies of course will make this extra special. Oh! What a wonderful time to see a show like this~

Go grab your tickets now at:

https://tickets.smtd.umich.edu/5233

REVIEW: Choir Boy

nicoleapp 2 Comments

The Rude Mechanicals’ student-run production of Choir Boy was truly spectacular.

The play Choir Boy follows a group of Black students at a Christian preparatory school as they explore their identity, religious beliefs, and sexuality. Choir Boy’s touching story amplifies Black voices and talent. Additionally, this play is distinct from other plays as it has a strong musical component; it features church hymns, African-American spirituals, and stepping. This added element made the show dynamic and even more beautiful as the cast was full of incredible vocalists. I was even brought to tears during one of the musical outbreaks.

Moreover, the cast excelled on both the acting and musical fronts. Although wearing virtually identical costumes, the actors portraying the students were able to build a distinct, meaningful personality for their character — for some, even in just a few, short lines. I was deeply invested in watching “the students” grow and change during their time at the preparatory academy. The actors’ ability to subtly and cleverly display “change” in characterization added nuance to the production and reminded me of the ways I grew during high school. Further, some of the actors had to act out extremely difficult, heart-wrenching, and embarrassing circumstances. Yet, I felt as though everything was performed with 110% percent. I admire the courage of the performers who leaned into the material’s difficulty instead of shying away from it.

Above all, this production was able to draw in audience members emotionally. Accordingly, the audiences’ enthusiasm was palpable. I saw the Saturday night show which had an audience that practically filled the Lydia Mendelssohn Theater. Throughout the production, I could hear audible gasps and screams during shocking moments and “awwws” during moving scenes. After each song, the audience gave hearty applause, and the play ended with a standing ovation.

The Rude Mechanicals demonstrated their acting and creative prowess with Choir Boy. I will be attending any and all Rude Mechanicals productions for the rest of my time at Michigan.

(Photo from the Rude Mechanicals’ Instagram Page @umrudes. 11/19/21)

REVIEW: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Madison Krumins Leave a comment

One of the best parts of living in Ann Arbor is its many performance venues, which draw performers and artists from around the world. I’ve been a fan of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra since high school when I myself played in jazz bands, and it’s been a treat to be a student with such easy access to concerts such as JLCO’s nearly annual appearances. This Sunday, I took my seat in the packed Hill Auditorium and waited with anticipation for this year’s Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra experience.

Holiday music, at least the popularized songs I always heard on the radio as a kid, are rooted in the big band and swing style, evoking a certain kind of nostalgia when hearing familiar tunes. But that’s exactly what jazz happens to be, a musical oral history passed down from those who came before. Trumpet player and co-director Wynton Marsalis embodied this with his in-between-song banter, telling stories of the legendary jazz musicians and the rich histories of the popular songs we often take for granted.

JLCO was joined by jazz vocalist Alita Moses, who dazzled the audience with her smooth, warm vocals and joyful stage presence. Moses led the band in the spiritual “Mary Had a Baby,” showcasing her beautiful, crystal-clear voice and also giving the band a chance to sing some, too. I thoroughly enjoyed a Coltrane-inspired arrangement of “My Favorite Things,” where a saxophone section completely comprised of soprano saxes each took a whirl at solos, and a killer piano solo had me laughing in my seat. Near the end of the performance, a more emotional moment came when the band debuted a new piece composed by co-director Marcus Printup titled “I’m Still Here This Christmas,” written in memory of those we have lost in the past few years in the pandemic.

With true Michigan spirit, Wynton Marsalis opened the performance with talking about the OSU game, and ended it by quoting “The Victors” in a solo during an arrangement of “Go Tell it on the Mountain.” One of the things I love most about jazz is the beautiful spontaneity of it, creating moments like that which carry and twist lines of music like a private joke.

I left feeling happy, warm, and in the holiday spirit, cheered by the energetic, danceable swing of their Big Band Holidays music.

PREVIEW: Takács Quartet with Julien Labro

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Having performed with UMS since 1984, the Takács Quartet returns once again with bandoneón virtuoso Julien Labro to bring sensational new sounds to Rackham Auditorium. The program is truly a culmination of musical experimentation and collaboration in the face of the pandemic, featuring world premieres of UMS-commissioned pieces through the Music Accord by Clarice Assad and Bryce Dessner, Ravel’s String Quartet, and a solo set by Labro. 

Violinist Harumi Rhodes shares in the UMS Connect video series: “I think it’s kind of cool how a program can have so many different sides to it, like a kaleidoscope. There’s so many twists and turns and beautiful gems in there, and it’s that kind of holistic approach that makes this kind of programming fun.”

Personally, I find the opportunity to witness the expansion of modern repertoire to be incredibly special一the world of music is an ever-changing environment that is very much alive and growing, despite the emphasis on older works. Additionally, I am very excited to see Labro as a soloist and how he merges with the ensemble. While I have listened to bandoneón recordings while studying works by Piazzolla (an iconic Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player) arranged for piano and violin, this will be my first time hearing the beautiful instrument live.

Come see the Takács Quartet with Julien Labro this Friday, December 3rd at 8 PM at the Rackham Auditorium!