8 - The Michigan Daily - Friday, October 30, 1998
Music profs moonlight
e ell fries detective
By Lauren Rice
For the Daily
On Sunday, the University
Musical Society will present the
Michigan Chamber Players as a part
of a 120-year tradition that began
back in 1880 with an informal study
and subsequent performances of
Handel's "Messiah." Back then, the
new organization did not only
include the Choral Union and the
University Orchestra, but it also
served as a forum for local and vis-
iting artists and ensembles.
UMS has broadened its scope sig-
nificantly since it's initial establish-
ment, and is currently the proud
host of more than 80 performances
and more than 150 educational
events each season. The society's
goal to present many diverse and
elite live performances is rooted in
the desire to engage Michigan audi-
ences in the very best of the rich
U
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and exciting world of live perform-
ing arts.
Keeping with this tradition of
lending itself as rostrum for various
artists and groups, UMS introduces
the first of three concerts given by
the Michigan Chamber Players in
conjunction with UMS this season.
The membership of this group is
unique in that it is comprised solely
of University professors. The per-
formances allow the teaching staff
of the University's School of Music
an opportunity to display their skills
in a considerably
°x
Michigan
Chamber
Players
Rackham
Auditorium
Sunday at 4 p.m.
different setting.
Performing
on Sunday will
be Richard
Beene with the
bassoon, Erling
B I o n d a l
Bengtsson and
Anthony Elliott
on cello, Paul
Kantor and
Stephen Shipps
on violin,
Martin Katz and
Anton Nel on
the piano,
Bryan Kennedy
zation of their appearances and their
performances. Each professional
specializes in the instrument that he
plays and some have even composed
their own music.
Their concerts typically feature
classical music from various time
periods and composers. Those in
attendance on Sunday can anticipate
a two-hour exhibition of a diverse
collection of popular compositions
from such talented artists as
Beethoven, Joaquin Turina, Samuel
Barber and Cesar Franck.
Now, unless you live under a
rock, you are familiar with
Beethoven. But for the less musical-
ly inclined, the names Turina and
Franck may not jog the memory.
Turina's "Piano Trio No. 2" is
scheduled to follow Beethoven's
"Piano Trio in G major, Op.1,
No.2." In contrast to Beethoven's
delicate piece, Turina's, whose work
tends to be flavored with the spirit
of Spanish folk music, can be dis-
tinguished by it's swaying melodies
woven with faster tempos and
dance-like rhythms, concluding
with a dramatic flare.
The show will wrap up with
Franck's "Piano Quintet in f minor,"
a lively composition, full of individ-
uality and passion.
If you happen to miss the
Michigan Chamber Players this
Sunday, they have two future con-
certs scheduled with UMS and they
also perform at varying locations
throughout the year.
- The Michigan Chamber Players
concert is complimentary. The
Rackham Auditorium is located on
the firstfloor of Rackham. Tickets
are not necessary.
By Erin Podoisky
Daily Arts Wrter
In the new Fm elevon serics
"Brimstone" zekiel Stone ha
been through hel lraly He
looks it, he feels it and there is no
way in hell that he's going back
there. That's why he has agreed to
do the devil's dirty work and round
up a bunch of evildoers who have
inexplicably escaped the under-
world and are nowevildoing
upstairs in the United States.
Peter Horton ("thirtysomethig")
plays Stone as a quiet. methodical
dead-guv gumshoe. When he was
alive, Stone was a much-decorated
NYPD detective. Fifteen years ear-
lier, his wife was raped. The rapist
Brimstone
FOX
Fridays at 8 p m.
was not con-
v icted, so
Stone decided
to dispense a
little justice of
his own. Less
than two
months later,
Stone himself
was kiled in
the line of duty
and ended up
in Hel as the
price for his
cold-bloode d
vigilant ism. A s
Hashing a badge. Once he finds the
hell escapees, he must shoot them
in the eyes - "the windows to the
soul," Satan calls them. Dead peo-
ple walking the world can't be
destroyed any other way, a fact that
"3rimstone" never fails to remind
us as Stone drops off of 10-story
buildings and takes bullets without
flinching. After he gets the hellion,
a branding, which was burned on
by Satan and states the name of that
particular fugitive body, sizzles off
with smoke and sound effects. Not
quite fireworks, but there are
sparks nonetheless.
Satan shows up at expository
moments to remind Stone that he
has a job to do to earn his second
chance on Earth, leering like there's
no tomorrow, his skin too tight for
his skull. The devil is one weird
dude, chasing coeds on college
campuses and acting as the show's
bizarrely unnerving comic relief.
Alternating between moments of
determination and self-pity, we
learn about Stone's past in bits and
pieces. He passively searches out
his still-living wife, learning a little
information here and a geographic
location there. An episode where he
finally meets her again is surely in
the offing, and it has lots of poten-
tial; after all, Stone went to hell for
her.
"Brimstone" is a difficult show
to classify. It plays like a supernat-
ural thriller and a crime drama,
combining elements of the two into
a strange creation that is mildly
compelling. Fittingly, it takes styl-
istic cues from both "Millennium"
and "NYPD Blue," then also
adding an interesting feel all its
own. Everything in the show is
washed out and desaturated; whites
are more blue than white, things are
dark. Lots of the action takes place
at night. It is also rather grainy and
uses a lot of Stone-subjective cam-
era shots.
While style is an important cle-
ment of a television show, it can't
be everything. "Brimstone" tends ,
to rely too much on its intriguing
technical architecture than on its
plot potential. Luckily, it has the
presence of Peter Horton, who
brings depth and subdued emotion
to his character that, after his
lengthy small screen absence, is a
pleasure to behold. The show is a
good companion to Fox's
"Millennium" and its Frank Black.
You can almost imagine Frank and
Ezekiel going out for coffee and
sharing stories about their bounty-
hunting activities. Haunted by their
pasts, they quietly wage war
against evil.
It's no longer enough for televi-
sion bad guys to be bad - now they
truly have to be supernaturally
demonic. Maybe it's easier to watch=}
the good guys versus the bad guys if
we know (or at least believe) that the
bad guys couldn't really exist,
couldn't really be doing those evil
things. That's an interesting concept,
and "Brimstone" is an interesting
show. It still has a long way to go,
but with Horton on the job it's going
to be an entertaining journey.
on horn, Fred Ormond on clarinet,
Harry Sargous on oboe and Hon-
Mei Xiao with the viola.
Sara Miller, marketing and pro-
motions manager for UMS,
explained that, "having members of
the University community appear
throughout our season is important
to us because we are very communi-
ty oriented."
As most people would expect
from the University's professors, the
Michigan Chamber Players are
extremely proficient in the organi-
Satan (John Glover) puts it while he
and Stone discuss work, the after
life is much more punihig than
the American legl se
Stone pounds the strees r eent
lessly, pursuing his qurry while
pretending to be a po liceman by
NB o s musical temptation
By Rachel Knighton
For the Daily
When Detroit was young and fresh and
full of life they called it "Motown."
Detroit was the musieal epicenter for
years, starting in the '50s. One of th' frst
legendary groups to come out of Barry
Gordy's Hittsville U.A., Motown
Records's production center, was The
Temptations.
A captivating new television movie
based on the book written by the only sur-
viving member and founder, Otis
Williams, explores the deve opment of
one of Rock & Roll's largest influences.
The movie "The
beins in the Iate
The 5s, in one of
Detroit's finest
Temptations landmarks - The
FoxTheaer. All of
NBC the sets and cos-
Sunday and Monday tumes are wonder-
at 9 p.m. fully designed to
rovide a realistic
portrayal of the
time period. From
acapplasning
groups on the
street, all wearing
the new "processed" hair styles, to scenes
in radio stations that feature archaic
broadcasting equipment.
Excellent acting from the leading men
Courtesy of NBC
The cast of "The Temptations" try to recreate that magical Motown moment.
- Leon ("Oz"), DB Woodside ("Murder
One"), Terron Brooks ("Hangin' With Mr.
Cooper"), Christian Payton ("U.S.
Marshals") and Charles Malik Whitfield
("Touched by an Angel") - who play
The Temptations, guides us through how
the group first got started. The
Temptations were taken on quickly by
Motown Records, but it took some time
for the then called "Hitless Temptations"
to produce their first hit. Once done, how-
ever, their career exploded. Soon, the
group would be dealing with the fact that
"success makes you who you really are."
Drugs, alcohol and ego problems accom-
pany their fame, and the group begins to
lose its strength.
The movie takes a turn from its upb1
and inspiring start when it begins w
reflect the dark side that is sometimes a
result of good fortune. The group's di'
solvement and eventual break up is pow-
erfully portrayed in a manner that is
painful for even the viewer. Years after the
break up, the members reunite, but that
too does not last. They're much older and
still dealing with the same problems. The
show ends on an emotional note, with one
of their greatest hits - "My Girl." As it
does in many of the movie's scenes, '
music is allowed to tell the story.
"The Temptations" is a highly enter-
taining movie that will have the audience
singing and clapping along the entire
time. It effectively journeys through the
highs and lows of becoming a musical
legend. It also does a wonderful job of
showcasing Motown, with wonderful
scenery and music - including a guest
appearance by Smokey Robinson. If you
are at all interested in the roots of rhy*
or blues, or just want to watch the great
telling of an even greater story, then this is
one movie you'll want to-watch.
The University of Michigan
School of Music
Friday, October 30--
Opera Performance
" Michael Udow: The Shattered Mirror, a percussion opera
Michael Udow, music director; Jessica Fogel, choreographer
Rebekah Nye, soprano
George Shirley, tenor; Peter Lightfoot, baritone
Media Union Video Studio, North Campus, 7:30 p.m.
[Admission $10; students $5. Phone 764-0450 for tickets]
Faculty Recital
Logan Skelton, piano
" music by D. Scarlatti and Mompou
" Skelton: Civil War Variations
" The American Dream Suite, by various American composers
" Beethoven: Sonata No. 23 in f, Op. 57, Appassionata
Britton Recital Hal!, E V. Moore Bldg., 8 p. m.
Saturday, October 31
Bandorama
[Admission $8. Phone 763-2556 for tickets and information]
Hill Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday,November1
Stearns Collection Virginia Martin Howard Lecture
Prof. Bonnie Wade, Univ. of California at Berkeley: Music of
the Mughalls: What Miniature Paintings Show Us To Hear
Britton Recital Hall, E.V. Moore Bldg., 2 p.m.
Michigan Chamber Players
Paul Kantor and Stephen Shipps, violin; Hong-Mei Xiao, viola
Anthony Elliott and Erling B 15ndal Bengtsson, cello;
Lorna McGhee, flute; Fred Ormand, clarinet
Richard Beene, bassoon
i4