ARTS The Michigan Daily Tuesday, January 28,1992 Page 5 Stern's not your average fiddler by Valerie Shuman "HLe's not just a guy who plays the fiddle. He's a world musician," says Professor Paul Kantor when asked about violinist Isaac Stern. A man with a pretty impressive r6sum6 himself, which includes teaching at Yale, Juilliard and the New England Conservatory of Music (simulta- neously!) and serving three years as an associate professor and chairman of the String Department in the University School of Music, Kantor should know. Even though Kantor only met Stern once, when the virtuoso came to hear his son Michael conduct a solo performance of one of Kantor's students at Yale, Kantor says he's loved Stern's music all his life. "One of the most amazing things about Isaac Stern is his incredible longevity. He was already a legend when I was growing up," says Kantor. In fact, Isaac Stern has been performing professionally for over 50 years, and celebrated his 70th birthday in 1990. He has recorded extensively, with an emphasis on contemporary music. Kantor says he's "never disappointed ... in the recordings. For certain things (Stern's) just unsurpassed." So, what does Stern sound like? Kantor describes his tone as "sweet and pretty." While Stern is "a great musical thinker ... not an off-the- wail guy," and uses a "heavily tradi- tional approach," Kantor emphasizes that Stern is "not an artist who's own personality is bigger than the music. You always get a sense that the music comes first." There is no "Stern philosophy" of violin playing. Instead, Stern is highly supportive of other musi- cians. As chairman of the Board of the America-Israel Cultural Found- ation and chairman and founder of the Jerusalem Music Center, he has spent a great deal of time helping Israeli artists come to the U.S. to study. His work in rescuing Carnegie Hall from demolition is also a part of Stern is highly supportive of other musicians. As chairman of the board of the America-Israel Cultural Foundation and chairman and founder of the Jerusalem Music Center, he has spent a great deal of time helping Israeli artists come to the U.S. to study. Stern's commitment to others. As Kantor says, "Carnegie Hall is a monument for the 'family' of musi- cians, and Stern was instrumental in saving it from the wrecking ball." Isaac Stern was important to the cultural "opening up" of China in the late seventies as well, an event that was explored in the Philips Pre- concert presentation of From Mao to Mozart: Isaac Stern in China. He was also an originating member of the National Endowment for the Arts. Stern will be accompanied in his Ann Arbor performance by pianist Sean Young looks like a 1930s B-movie vamp, which is funny since she's made to look as butch as possible in Love Crimes. A lure, perhaps? *Borden and Young axe a good thriller Love Crimes dir. Lizzie Borden by Chris Lepley Love Crimes, the new film by radical, underground (until now) feminist filmmaker Lizzie Borden, is everything you wouldn't expect from ev- eryone involved. Dana Greenway (Sean Young) is a district attorney who packs a gun, ac- companies police officers on stakeouts, and frequently places her best friend, Maria Johnson (Arnetia Walker of the sit-com Nurses) in danger, all to put sex offenders behind bars. Young's character is a stereotypical "castrating bitch" with short, slicked-back hair, grey suits with huge shoulder pads, and no sense of humor. Of course, she wouldn't be complete without a good reason for ferret- ing out these perverts (the simple fact that they're perverts isn't good enough). Hip blue-toned flashbacks vaguely insinuate that Greenway s mother was killed after confronting her husband with his extra-marital affairs. Greenway, then six, watched with fascination. What's the cure for a sexually repressed woman suffering from un-re- solved Oedipal angst? A man who understands what women want, that's what. David Hanover (Patrick Bergin, the loser in last summer's battle of the Robin Hoods) is just the ticket. By posing as a photographer, Hanover convinces lonely, homely women to act out their sordid sexual fantasies with him. After prancing about on all-fours pretending to be farm animals, several women come forward to press charges, but none of them are really sure they've been assaulted. Hanover didn't use force to have sex with them, preferring to seduce, cajole and occasionally whip them (lightly) into submission. Unfortunately for Greenway, who has become interested in the case, ly- ing to women to get them to sleep with you isn't against the law. (And ac- cording to this film, it's fun!) Assault and battery are, however, and when a woman Hanover allegedly picked up is found bruised and unconscious near Savannah, Georgia, Greenway flies there immediately and sets out to catch Hanover herself. You'd think that with this scenario - a tough, sexy woman out to catch an evil manipulator - the film would be an exciting psychological thriller with a hint of sexual intrigue. It isn't. The scenes between Greenway and Hanover are boring, predictable and drawn-out. Any tension is created solely by the presence of firearms and sharp objects. Borden has mastered a European sensibility in respect to nudity. When people are in the shower they aren't shown solely from the breasts up, and when they're lying in bed after sex they don't have the sheets pulled up to their chins. See CRIME. Pae R Oh my God! Is that the gorgeous Catwoman Sean Young over there? Robert McDonald. Kantor has played chamber music with McDonald and says, "He's a super- terrific pianist with (solo ability and) the sensitivity to play and match with other people." The duo will be performing works by Mozart, Beethoven, Webern, Dvorak and Brahms. ISAAC STERN AND ROB-RT MCDONALD will perform on Thursday, January 30, 1992 at 8 p.m. in Hill Auditorium. Tickets are available from the University Musical Society, and rush tickets are available at the Burton Tower the day of the performance. Call 764- 2538 for more information. Flawless faculty was fantastic Ensembles of fave teachers played the hits Michigan Chamber Players School of Music Recital Hall January 26, 1992 For the classics connoisseur, Sunday evening's performance was a delectable treat. The Michigan Chamber Players, a group of Music School faculty members, featured violin, piano, cello and woodwinds in their concert of three works by Brahms, Beethoven and Kodaly. Concert review Pieces from the major periods of classical music - Romantic, Baroque and Contemporary - de- lighted the ears and calmed the nerves. The first piece, Brahms' romantic Sonata No. 2for Violin and Piano in A major, Op. 100, had the melodi- ous, rubato lines of the piano (Katsurako Mikami) complement- ing the smooth phrasing of the vio- lin (Hamao Fujiwara). Fujiwara played his solos with passionate feeling and emotion and a wide range of dynamic contrast. It was also impressive how the pizzicato parts of Fujiwara's violin work counteracted the flowing arpeggios in the piano. Overall, Mi- kami's and Fujiwara's performances were excellent and showed true feeling which did the Brahms piece justice. Beethoven's Quintet for Piano and Winds, Op. 16, showcased an- other style, the Baroque. This piano, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn work was played respectively by Louis Nagel, Harry Sargous, John Mohler, Richard Greene and Lowell Greer. Like most Baroque works, the quintet began with a very metro- nomic style and proceeded to in- clude ornamentations. On piano, Nagel acted as the anchor through- out the majority of the piece, and of- ten soloed in between the winds' lines as the melody passed from one instrument to another. In the second movement the winds had a few intonation prob- lems with the winds, but in the third movement they all regrouped and finished in stunning fashion. Each performer had a finesse for light, controlled playing, necessary to the Baroque style. Finishing the concert with a con- temporary work, Zoltan Kodaly's Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7 was a radical departure from the first, two selections. Violinist Stephen Shipps and cellist Erling Blondal Bengtsson created an echoing effect of the melodic lines between the call and response of the instru- ments. Counterpoint and dissonance also figured prominently through- out the movements as the deep, mel- low sounds of the cello comple- mented the singing, virtuous style of the violin. Shipps and Bengtsson played flawlessly, and their dy- namic contrasts were astounding, compelling the audience to listen for more. The Michigan Chamber Players, as usual, showcased many excellent performers who presented a program riddled with musicality and style. -Emily M. Marriott Channel Z If you really want to know what's going on behind George Bush's shifty eyes, can the State of the Union Address (9 p.m., ABC, CBS, NBC) and watch the pre- miere episode of Capitol Critters (8:30 p.m., ABC). An animated political satire, this show's D.C. animals will explain to us such mysteries as the existence of Marilyn Quayle. You'd think they'd wise up af- ter Richard Pryor loused up Super- man III but no, they had to go and make it worse!! Christopher Reeve exhibits true career desperation in Superman IV: The QuestforPeace (9p.m., Channel 20). In an effort to be an apple-cheeked world-power superhero, thecaped wonderchudks all the nuclear bombs at the sun and then has to face evil, golden-bod Nuclear Man, created by that big palooka, Lex Luthor. They duke it out, Lois checks out, and this old series finally goes down the spout. I _- Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation I. | yjvV 4-JLA1T11.A1, 1"6%., " 11 Amazin' Blue Thsis Isxaoo-ed a capella skinig ensemble N the U of M. They peform music rangin style from upbeat rock, ja||, and blues|to M"clganFavori.s Comedy Company This Is a studentdiordd and written omedytroup. ComedyCompany pelforrsonce a term in the Lydia MendessohnTheatre and has taken as show to other BgftOichools Impact Dance ThistIsfor U ot Msnon-dance majors who have extensive training in all areas of dance. Aud~tins are in the early tal, and the company perorms In the sprink MFsicks This athe largest film group on campus (onerly caled Medi'fts), presenttng at least three tfims eacht week. M-Ficks aiso sponsorsttIm festvals andsneak previews. Soph Show Come and be a part of the LARGEST STUDENT-RUN GROUP ON CAMPUS Call UAC @ 763-1107 Entertainment Laughtrack Laughsrack teatures student Comedians and a professonal heattllner ch Wednesday nigh In the U-Club. Soundstage Soundstage provides mus"ci enfenainmeniech Thursday night in the U-Club. Established bands, both local and student, are featured eah week. Special Events Special Promotions brings exciting aotinilesto the U o M. Past events have Incuded: Rolling Stone -The Photo- graph~s and a performance of Pink Floyd's Th Waft Stabound Acampus-wide talent competdnonn Slartjound povidssuderds with the opportunkty to perform, vdn prizes, and gain experence and reogniIon. Education z College Bowl AoompetktNe quz-trvlacontest, Colege Bowl begins with an Intramural tournament whose champlons travotto consts during the witertfrm. Mni-Courses Eah, teorm.MIN-Courses oters over 30 noncredit courses rangin from aerobicdance to sign language. Viewpoint Viewpoint sponsors a variety of leclures and forums for discussion, InSuIrng S tudenSoapbox. Accountants The acoun.an.shandle dlsurse- monts, transactions with other Unversty units, and assist the committees with budget management. Advertising This is comprised of a staff of graphic IF YOU WANT TO GET FROM STUDENT FACULTY TO PARKING PARKING START HERE 1 The Shape of Two Cities: New York/Paris Applications are being accepted for the 1992-1993 academic year at the Special Undergraduate Program. A junior year introduction to architecture, urban planning, and historic preservation for students who have completed their sophomore year at an accredited college or university. Students spend the first semester in New York at the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and the second semester in Paris at Columbia's studio and classroom facility in the historic Marais district. The program offers a choice of academic terms: 1. Summer, 1992 in New York and Fall, 1992 in Paris. 2. Fall, 1992 in New York and Spring, 1993 in Paris. Applications due March 15, 1992 p k 9 1