ARTS The Michigan Daily Tuesday, March 14, 1989 Page 5 Don't panic Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy au- thor Douglas Adams to bare The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul BY IAN CAMPBELL THE man who invented the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is coming to Ann Arbor. Douglas Adams will be at the Michigan Union Ballroom to speak of how difficult it is to adjust to Earth when you're from Betelgeuse, or perhaps just of how he created his books, including his latest effort, * The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul. Adams is the author of the series of novels which began with The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, his most famous title. The four books in the series begin when Arthur Dent, a stereotypically befuddled Englishman, barely man- ages to escape Earth when the planet is destroyed to make way for a new hyperspace bypass. He begins a se- ries of adventures which include learning that the Earth was just an experiment designed by laboratory rats, meeting the President of the Galaxy, learning to fly, and finally seeing God's final message to his creation: "We apologize for the in- convenience." The novels were eventually made into a television - series on PBS; Adams' last book, Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, began a more down-to- earth, if not less absurd, cycle of stories. He began writing in the early 1970s as a scriptwriter for Monty Python's Flying Circus, although it is unclear which sketches he was re- sponsible for. When the show folded, he took up writing and pro- ducing radio plays for the BBC, which are much more popular in England than America. The inspira- Mehta magic Israel Philharmonic to perform BY TONY SILBER THE last time Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra came to Ann Arbor together in 1976, a packed Hill Auditorium was overcome by the energy and excitement of the mesmerizing maestro and the gifted members of the orchestra. Tonight Mehta returns to Hill with 13 more years of fame and respect under his baton. "There is no question that this remarkable virtuosic ensemble has earned a special place among the world's greatest orchestras," wrote the Chicago Tribune recently. Mehta certainly has; he is considered one of the most prominent conductors in the world, and has been compared to the likes of Leonard Bernstein and Herbert von Karajan. The Israel Philharmonic was formed in 1936. The orchestra has grown since its early years, and performed Israel's national anthem on May 17, 1948, the day Israel was granted independence. They have become one of the premier touring ensembles in the world since, performing over 200 concerts each year on six continents as well as in its home auditorium in Tel Aviv. Mchta's career has been as illustrious as his ensemble's. He was born in Bombay, India in 1936. In 1961, he was appointed Music Director of the Montreal Symphony. The next year, he was appointed to the same post for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the age of 26. The New York Philhar- monic did the same honors to Mehta in 1978 and three years later, in 1981, The Israel Philharmonic appointed him Music Director for life. The Philharmonic under Mehta have also become recording giants and have won awards and distinctions for many of their recordings such as Richard Strauss' Alpine Symphony and Beethoven's Emperor Piano Con- certo. The Israel Philharmonic is also known for their regular commissions for new works and their scholarship funds for gifted musicians. They have become a symbol of cultural life in Israel. Tonight's program will open with Memory (1982) for orchestra and so- prano by Mark Kopytman, a Soviet refusnik before emigrating to Israel. It is based on a Yemenite folk song. Mehta and company will next perform the most famous composition of Arnold Schoenberg, Verklaerte Nacht (1899), a magical, evocative, and atmospheric orchestral composition. The program will close with the always exciting Symphony No. 2 by Johannes Brahms, a piece that can be spectacular and grandiose in its ener- getic brass finale as well as lyrical and warm in its "Adagio." This work will provide Mehta and the Philharmonic with the opportunity for personal and lasting interpretation, and it should be quite explosive. Ann Arbor is in store for a rare treat as this exceptional group of musicians and their world reknowned director make this long awaited stop at Hill. Prepare for the best. ZUBIN MEIlTA AND TIlE ISRAEL PHILHARMONIC perform tonight at 8:00 at hill Auditorium. Call 764-2538 for tickets and information. ti (Douglas Adams) was broke and therefore unable to make any use of his copy of Europe on $5 a Day. He wished that there were a Hitchhiker's Guide to Europe; as he was stargazing at the time, an idea was born. FREE TUTORING available in all lower level Math, Science, and Engineering Courses Rm. East 307 Lounge UGLi Mon,Wed,Thur BURSLEY Mon,Wed 7-11 pm tion for his own novels came when he was bicycling through Europe as a student. He was broke and therefore unable to make any use of his copy of Europe on $5 a Day. He wished that there were a Hitchhiker's Guide to Europe; as he was stargazing at the time, an idea was born. His books use absurdity to make fun of nearly everything, from mainstream science fiction, to ac- cepted philosophy, to the publishing industry, to British culture. The novels are even funnier when read from an American perspective: the game of cricket is so incomprehen- sible in the first place that when a race of cricket-playing aliens attempt to take over the galaxy using gigan- tic wickets and bails, readers may wish to take precautions. At the same time, Adams is a dreamy ro- mantic and includes in his books discourses on some of his favorite things like gin and tonic, dolphins, flying, and listening to Dire Straits during sex. Whatever your own feelings on science fiction or Mark Knopfler may be, check out Douglas Adams tonight. Anyone who says that the Ultimate Answer to the Universe is "42" (the Question is "What is six times nine?") is worth listening to. DOUGLAS ADAMS will speak tonight at the Michigan Union Ball- room at 8 p.m. Tickets are $5. Bring your towel. Michigan Daily ARTS 763-0379 SOUTH QUAD Dining Room Mon,Wed MARY MARKLEY Library Mon, Wed 8-10 pm 8-10 pm 8-10 pm A Service of the following Honor Societies: Tau Beta Pi Eta Kappa Nu Alpha Pi Mu Sponsored in part by: GENERAL ELECTRIC,UMEC,MSA DO YOU Who's S Your KNOW pending [oney? MICHIGAN STUDENT ASSEMBLY1989 WINTER ELECTION POLL SITES 000 SUPER SITES Location $ $ $ $ $ North Campus Commons FISHBOWL MLB Male suere it sQ7J m S/'}' n outside snack bar information table 1st floor; Bell tower side main lobby by Mug; in front of Ride Board Tuesday 8:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.- 5:15 p.m. 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m.- 11:00 p.m. 9:15 a.m.- 10:30 p.m. Wednesday 12:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m.- 4:45 p.m. 9:30 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. 10:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. 9:15 a.m.- 7:30 p.m. UGLI UNION DORMITORY SITES Location main lobby Tuesday Wednesday 5:15 p.m.- BURSLEY -W-1-4W -1m - - -a , I