The Jewish Community Center or Metropolitan uetroir jimmy
Prentis Morris Building/Target Concert Series presents
mflGIC Of PURIM
preschooler in Kiev with
the encouragement of his
musician father, a versatile
entertainer using the stage
name of Izzy Rozen after
immigrating to America.
The drummer, who has
Afternoon of a Faun,
his bachelor's and master's
Charles Mingus'
from the Juilliard School
"Goodbye Pork-Pie Hat,"
in New York, can be heard
Jimi Hendrix's "Purple
on Absolute Ensemble
Haze," Charles Coleman's
recordings, including the
"Absolution," Michael
newest, Absolution, and
Daugherty's Dead Elvis
Habanera, and on
and "Road Runner" from
Herskowitz's recordings,
John Adams' Chamber
including Sound Check
Symphony.
and Lucid.
"We're offering a big
"It's a lot of fun for me
musical journey through
to
write
for
the
Absolute Ensemble,"
all these different styles, and it reflects
says
the
Montreal-based
Herskowitz,
what is American culture," says
who studied at the Curtis Institute in
Kristjan Jarvi, who also directs a sym-
Philadelphia and Juilliard before enter-
phony orchestra and opera company
ing classical competition and finding a
in Sweden and does guest conducting
niche in jazz. "My work with the
in Europe. "The music being written
ensemble helped focus me, and writ-
in America these days reflects every-
ing the arrangements and pieces that
thing that's been brought to this land
incorporate jazz and contemporary
from abroad and made into our own."
[trends] is exactly what I want to be
Part of Jarvi's heritage, he says, is
doing."
Jewish. But, he says, he is not sure of
Absolute Ensemble performs regu-
the specifics. His family's records in
larly in New York City at venues such
his native Estonia have been lost.
as the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie
Hall, Merkin Concert Hall and Alice
Tully Hall. Guest soloists can be from
Beyond The Classics
the classical stages or jazz clubs and
"As musicians and composers, [mem-
have included pianist Vladimir
bers of the Absolute Ensemble] felt the
Feltsman, clarinetist Paquito d'Rivera
classical spectrum as it was presented
and bass player Michael Formanek.
was way too small," says Jarvi, "and we
"My father and I are both experimen-
really had to go for expanding what
talists, trying to make every performance
people viewed as classical music. We
an experience," says Jarvi, who moved
play everything from Renaissance to
from Estonia to study piano through
rock and do it with a passion."
courses and master classes in Austria and
Jarvi, 27, who has performed with
Israel and later at the Manhattan School
the DSO and studied conducting at
of Music in New York.
the University of Michigan, does not
"My dad's a very inspiring guy, and
require auditions before choosing
one thing I learned from him is that
musicians for Absolute Ensemble. He
what is played has to be presented in a
looks for versatility and asks for recom-
way that is absolutely exciting to the
mendations from instrumentalists he
audience.
respects. Percussionist David
"I think audiences get a kick out of
Rozenblatt and his wife, cellist Ann
everything we do [with the Absolute
Kim, are on the rotating concert roster.
Ensemble] because it has a fresh
"I feel very comfortable with the
approach and is accessible. I try to
ensemble, and my background as a
shake things up. The parameters of an
classical pianist and percussionist
orchestra are quite confining, and
influenced my approach to rock, pop
that's why the Absolute Ensemble is
and jazz," says Rozenblatt, 27, whose
such a great creative outlet for me."
varied engagements include recent per-
formances with the Metropolitan
Opera Orchestra, Jerusalem
The Absolute Ensemble per-
International Symphony Orchestra,
forms at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.
Moscow Chamber Orchestra,
28, in the auditorium at the
Broadway's Miss Saigon and former
Detroit Institute of Arts. Tickets
Detroiter Yale Strom's Hot Pstromi
are
available at the door. $30.
klezmer group.
(313)
886-5639.
Rozenblatt, who has performed once
in Michigan, began playing drums as a
different styles that can go
from the strict dictates of
a fugue to the improvisa-
tional freedom of jazz.
This tour features
Debussy's Prelude to the
Clockwise from left:
Keve Wilson (seat-
ed), Kristjan Jarvi,
Valerie Schermiset,
Matt Herskowitz
and Martin
Kuuskmann:
"Absolute Ensemble
does chamber music
with basically 16
soloists, and it takes
a conductor with
incredible ears to
pull a group like
that together;"
says Herskowitz.
❑
Jeff the Magician
Sunday, February 25, 2001 • 4 p.m.
Jimmy Prentis Morris Building
A. Alfred Taubman Jewish Community Campus
15110 W. 10 Mile, Oak Park
Enjoy the holiday of Purim in a whole new way!
Come in costume and receive a special treat.
Tickets are $3 per member child, $4 per non-member child,
$4 per member adult and $5 per non-member adult.
For more information, call Andy Roisman at (248) 967-4030.
lao
CC
TARGET
e -
BI PM I NGI-1 HAM-GLOOM DI RD
SYMPHONY OPCHESTPA
FELIX RESNICK, CONDUCTOR
"BRITISH BLOCKBUSTERS"
CONCERT
SUNDAY, MARCH 4
7 PM AT TEMPLE BETH EL
Awesome British music from the baroque to the present, from the
effervescent "Water Music" to the lively "Enigma Variations!"
HANDEL: Suite from The Water Music"
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis
BRITTEN: Matinees Musicales
ELGAR: Enigma Variations
ARNOLD: English Dances
Plus... "GETTING TO KNOW YOU"
PRE-CONCERT DINNER with your favorite BBSO musicians
in Handelman Hall at Temple Beth El,
catered by EXCELLENCE TOO CATERING
and featuring a mini-concert by the
MOTOR CITY BRASS BAND!
4:30 pm: Wine Reception with the Motor City Brass Band
5:30 pm: Dinner with your favorite BBSO musicians
7:00 pm: "British Blockbuster" Concert
TICKETS: Dinner + Two Concerts, $65; Dinner + Mini Concert, $50;
"British Blockbusters" Concert only, $20
FOR DETAILS AND TICKETS, CALL THE BBSO AT 248-645-BBSO
This concert is made possible with funding from Ford Motor Company, Michigan Council for the
Arts & Cultural Affairs, Harmony House. and Mary and Preston Happel.