Classical, Jazz, & Avant
How many world-class instrumentalists come to town with a bold program of contemporary classical music? Apart from the European avant-gardists smuggled in every three months by the UW's Joël-Franÿois Durand, just about zero, which is why I'm excited by the Seattle appearance of Maya Beiser at On the Boards (Wed-Thurs Jan 14-15, 8 pm, $22). Longtime cellist for the New York composer collective Bang on a Can All-Stars, Beiser performs a slew of contemporary classical music. On deck are a new multi-track cello piece by Steve Reich as well as additional works by David Lang, Arvo P...rt, and Dutch aggro-minimalist Louis Andriessen.
Another notable concert is the appearance of the Berlin Staatskapelle under the direction of Daniel Barenboim at Benaroya (Mon Jan 12, 7:30 pm, $30-$90). I'm always grateful when a top-flight orchestra and a world-class conductor roll into town, but I gotta groan at the all-Schumann program: two symphonies (Nos. 2 and 4) and the Manfred Overture. Few symphonic composers can sustain an entire evening; I'm not sure if Schumann, unlike Beethoven or Stravinsky, is one of them. Still, this gig is a must-hear; the Berliners might reveal a thing or two about Schumann.
Musicians in search of wisdom should go hear Ken Benshoof, an early ally of the Kronos Quartet, discuss his music in 2004's first installment of the monthly Composer Spotlight series at Jack Straw Studios (Wed Jan 14, 7:30 pm, free). Benshoof's wise comments on composers and composing serve me well in my own music and still ring true.
Fans of classical music on the radio have already noted the unfortunate exile of George Shangrow from KING-FM. Shangrow, conductor of Orchestra Seattle and longtime host of KING-FM's popular Live! by George evening program, will be missed. Shangrow's gift to Seattle was providing a friendly venue and welcome exposure for local classical performers. Listeners, including yours truly, often tuned in and discovered new groups in town. Years ago, I applied for a job as nighttime board op at KING-FM. During my interview, I toured the studio and marveled as Shangrow expertly peeled off intros and outros for pre-taped shows with breathtaking ease.
As for the board-op job, I made the mistake of offering to replace one night of KING-FM's still-clumsy and glitch-ridden overnight programming with a program devoted to contemporary classical composers. Foolishly, I sank my chances with the following oration: "As typical classical music fans die off, KING-FM needs to nourish a new generation of listeners. People my age who love classical delved into Beethoven and Brahms as teenagers, but now we want the newer stuff: Boulez, Sciarrino, Partch, Reich, Dhomont, Westerkamp, Adams, Cage, Tippett, Lockwood, Dumitrescu, Xenakis, Ligeti. You should have me produce and host such a program." Instead, they hired a PhD from California who, like most board ops, soon vanished. I spent three wonderful years hosting an avant classical show on KSER, just north of Seattle. My oration remains true today and my offer still stands.
