I Blind Pig Party :,in East Road West, Goodwill, -ZDays Straight, and Trip Cut 5-horty for some fine soundin' ies. Blind Pig. 10 pm. i chigandaily.com/arts lSfiigm i Swedish Radio Orchestra joins Ericson for classics Visiting author debutj mystical look at contemporary India Jim Schiff S4y Fine/Performing Arts Editor d K While Sweden is responsible for some irritating pop its, such as ABBA, Roxette and Ace of Base, it is also the home country of some great classical ensem- bles. This weekend, the Swedish Radio Choir joins up with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir in two unforgettable perfor- mances.,, One of Europe's oldest radio Swedish Radio choirs, the 33-person Swedish Symphony Radio Choir has become one of the world's leading vocal Orchestra ensembles. The Choir was orig- Hill auditorium inally led by Eric Ericson back Friday, at 8 p.m. in 1952, and since then has earned a reputation for versatile repertoire. Performing works from Renaissance madrigals to modern Swedish works, they have earned a number of awards, including the Midem Prize for their recording of Schnittke's "Psalms of " Repentance." In Friday's performance, the Eric Ericson choir will team with the Chamber Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Choir conductor Manfred Honeck. t Francis of Assisi Honeck, who has previously traveled to Ann Arbor with the " Saturday at 8 p.m. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, made his conducting debut in 1994 at the Salzburg Mozart Festival. Traveling all over the world, Honeck finds that American orchestras are equally as prolific as their European counterparts. "The musicians here are really at the highest level of;education," Honeck said. "It's fantastic to see how they follow the conductor." Four talented opera singers-Russian soprano Marina Mescheriakova, mezzo-soprano Nadja Michael, tenor Marco Berti and bass-baritone John Relyea, will accompany the two ensembles in a pow- erful rendition of Verdi's "Manzoni" Requiem. The piece will be performed in honor of the 100th anniver- sary of Verdi's death, and carries a special significance to conductor Honeck. In trying to decipher the mean- ing of Requiem's words, he sent a letter to the Vatican about the meaning of the Latin and had it appraised. "In every word, there's something behind," Honeck said. "It has a stone-like sound, and its fantastic because you have lighter strings but it must be cold. And I understand now much more what Verdi meant." On Saturday, the Swedish Radio Choir will accompany the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir, with a program that a includes works of Ligeti, Lidholm, and Richard Strauss. Eighty-two-year- old founder Ericson is mak- ing a rare return to the stage from retirement with this performance. Ericson, considered the world master in the field of choir conducting, founded the group in 1945 under the name of the Stockholm Chamber Choir. Consistently on the cutting- edge of a cappella singing, the EECC has toured exten- sively in Europe and Canada, and has been the recipient of prestigious Above: Eric Ericson alwa awards, including the Below: The Swedish Rad Edison prize. Together with out for Fox's next versio the Swedish Radio Choir, they have made several recordings with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, including Beethoven's "Missa Solemnis" and Verdi's "Quattro Pezzi Sacri." An important figure in Friday's concert, Honeck is excited to be involved in an all-star performance. Honeck said that the most rewarding aspect of con- ays strikes a sexy pose before conducting. io Symphony Orchestra and Choir look like they could try on of "Temptation Island." ducting is "the possibility to use all the colors of the orchestra with my own expression ... it always makes me happy to see that the music gets so alive." This weekend, Ann Arbor will also be alive, res- onating with the enchanting sounds of Sweden's fore- most musical groups. 'Vagina Monologues: Humor relates message 5y Joanna Steinhardt Fo the Daily ,Eve Ensler is cxplains why, and play "The Vagina The Vagina Monologues Michigan Theater Tonight at 8 rg worried about vaginas. She much more, in her one-woman Monologues." The play began off-Broadway in the mid-'90s and has gone on to become a cultural phenomenon. It is a favorite among celebrities from Glenn Close to Calista Flockhart, who have lined up to perform it. This week, a group of University of Michigan stu- dents, along with 250 other students groups across the country, are performing the play as part of the V-day movement: So-called because it honors vaginas, falls on Valentine's Day, and aims to from all walks of life, about - what else? - their down-theres. It ranges from hilarious diatribes about tampons to frightening accounts from Bosnian rape-survivors. As Ensler said in a tele- conference with college students, "if you're disas- sociated from your body... it never becomes yours." Her goal is to get women talking about their most vital organ in order to reconnect with themselves. But Ensler said, "it is essential that men participate-they can gain understanding and even some expertise." The play is entertaining as well as enlightening, and also free, but donations are welcomed. They will go to SAFEhouse (for battered women) and Planned Parenthood. "The Vagina Monologues" is also out in paperback ($12.95). It's a quick and enjoyable read, and, along with Inga Muscio's "Cunt," form a new literary trend to puts words to what was once hush-hush. For those who want to take part in the V-Day movement, there is a huge rally and performance on the Wednesday at Madison Square Garden in New York City, with Claire Danes, Melissa Etheridge, Queen Latifa, Erica Jong, Marisa Tomei and many others. i 'ive'O1' plays like a rerun for Deuce atop violence against women worldwide. _,"The Vagina Monologues" was created out of a series of interviews Ensler conducted with women Courtesy or Vilaro Books Eve Ensler, author of "The Vagina Monologues." # .. i Young Judaea Programs LET'S BE HONEST WITH OURSELVES. THE HOPWOODS ARE A JOKE. REAL WRITERS PUBLISH THEIR POETRY AND FICTION IN THE ICHIGAN DAILY'S LITERARY MAGAZINE. SEND YOUR STUFF TO MAGAZINESUBMISSIONS@UMICH.EDU BV FEBRUARYZ 1ST. PLAGIARISM IS STRONGLY DISCOURAGED. Work in Israel! If you have counselor/teen education experience, have been to Israel, and are knowledgeable about Judaism and Zionism, we've .got a job for you! Staff one of Young Judaea's exciting Israel oSummer Programs for teenagers or our 10-month Year Course in Israel for high school graduates. 4- Study in Israel! *-More than just a semester abroad at Hebrew University, Young Judaea's Sharsheret program offers activities beyond the classroom d'internships, volunteer programs, and off-campus apartment housing :;.,enabling you to be an active member of Israeli society. Sharsheret is a supplementary program to the overseas program at Hebrew University and includes exclusive trips, lectures, hikes, seminars and :cultural activities. , Flour in Israel! ".Never been to Israel or want to go back with your peers? This - - . - - T. Third Satur -- ---I ff SHE G.FAZ &&as AL in Detroit's Mr District WHAT: layslo useum Ride to Detroit S