From opera to organ, avant garde to classic

Eastman's spring concert lineup promises eclectic mix

The Grammy Award–winning Kronos Quartet, made up of, from left, John Sherba (violin), Jeffrey Zeigler ’95E (cello), David Harrington (violin), and Hank Dutt (viola), is known worldwide for its innovative approach to new music from around the globe. With more than 40 recordings in its discography, the group has garnered much praise for its collaborative works that explore many musical genres, including jazz, folk, and experimental. The quartet returns to the Eastman School on February 7 at 8 p.m.

mpressive guests and exciting repertoire. That’s how the Eastman School is describing its upcoming spring concert season. The highlight of the schedule is a new concert series, Eastman Mosaic, featuring the Kronos Quartet on February 7, pianist Yefim Bronfman on February 27, and the Gidon Kremer with the Kremerata Baltica on April 22. Also on the lineup is guest composer and minimalism icon Steve Reich, who will visit Eastman to work with Musica Nova as part of the composer’s 70th birthday celebration, culminating in an all-Reich concert on March 31.

Opera lovers won’t want to miss the Eastman Opera Theatre’s production of Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi April 12 to 15 in the Eastman Theatre. This reworking of the Romeo and Juliet story provides a markedly different telling of Shakespeare’s original work. Eastman’s rare Italian Baroque Organ at the Memorial Art Gallery will continue to be featured throughout the spring, with showcase concerts by special guest artists on January 21, February 25, March 18, April 15, and May 20.

The third annual Women in Music Festival at Eastman will honor women in the arts, with a special focus on composer Tania León and author Margaret Atwood. The festival will kick-off with a lecture/ recital with León and Atwood on March 26. (See www.esm.rochester.edu/wmf for more details.)

As always, the season is filled with concerts and recitals that feature Eastman’s impressive student body and world-renowned faculty. A complete, up-to-date concert schedule is available at www.esm.rochester.edu/concerts/calendar.php.

All performances are open to the public, and many are free (unless otherwise noted). Tickets for concerts that require paid admission, with the exception of tickets for the Faculty Artist Series, are available at the RPO Box Office, 108 East Avenue, (585) 454-2100, and online at www.esm.rochester.edu/concerts. Remaining tickets are available at the door. Tickets for the Faculty Artist Series, which are free with University ID, are available only at the door starting one hour before the concert. For information, call the school’s Concert Office at x4-1110.