Friday November 15, 2002 michigandaily.com/arts mae@michigandaily.com S tcfi u D n u l RTS 5A Rackham welcomes Trio By Sarah Peterson Daily Arts Writer On Sunday at 4 p.m., violinist Gidon Kremer, pianist Oleg Maisen- berg, and clarinetist Sabine Meyer will blend their musical talents for a concert that is sure to be a musical masterpiece. All three members of the trio are distinguished musicians. Gidon Kre- mer is an accomplished violinist whose repertoire encompasses Clas- sical and Romantic works, as well as 20th Century pieces. Oleg Maisen- berg was awarded 2nd prize at the International Shubert Competition in Vienna and 1st prize at the Music of the 20th Century Competition. To harmonic, the Philadelphia Orches- tra, the London Symphony Orches- tra, the Vienna Symphony and the Berlin Philharmonic. A highlight of Mr. Maisenberg's career was a 12- concert recital that he performed, in which each concert was dedicated to a different composer. Ms. Sabine Meyer has been play- ing the clarinet since she was 8 years old. Early in her career she played with the Munich and Berlin Orches- tras, and now she only performs as a soloist, or with chamber music ensembles. Within her career, Ms. Meyer has founded two different ensemble groups, the Trio di Clarone, which is a clarinet trio con- sisting of Ms. Meyer, her husband complete the trio, Sabine Meyer played with the Berlin Phil- harmonic as principle clarinetist, and was the ensemble's first female member. These three instrumentalists have come together to form a masterful and bril- liant trio. In the words of Sabine Meyer, GIDON KREMER TRIO Rackham Auditorium Sunday at 4P.m. University Musical Society Reiner Wehle and her brother Wolfgang Meyer, as well as the Bldserensemble Sabine Meyer, which is a nine- member chamber group. For this concert, the trio will be performing pieces by Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Berg, Webern, Schoen- "Both Kremer and Maisenberg are strong personalities. I have known them for a long time. It is always exciting to play with them, always new." Mr. Gidon Kremer has studied the violin since the age of 4. At 18, he became one of only a few to appren- tice under the master David Oistrakh. Throughout his career, Mr. Kremer has formed many chamber groups. One in particular, the Kremerata Baltica, was formed to promote the careers of exceptional young musi- cians. Mr. Kremer's renowned career has included performances with many illustrious instrumentalists, conductors, and orchestras. Mr. Oleg Maisenberg started tak- ing piano lessons at the age of 5. He has performed with the Israel Phil- berg and Bart6k. The program was built around the pieces, "Soldier's Tale," composed by Stravinsky and "Contrasts for Violin, Clarinet, and Piano," composed by Bart6k. As Ms. Meyer explained, the rest of the pieces on the program were picked to fit with these two. In general, the program is a good representation of the main composers from the first half of the 20th Century. The concert opens with the work "Four Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op.5," composed by Berg in 1913. "My favorite is the Berg," Ms. Mey- ers explained, "because in a small piece there is a big message, and somehow it is a very romantic piece! Also, it is very exciting to start the concert with." Opera Cunning1 ~.delights, By Sarah Peterson Daily Arts Writer "The Cunning Little Vixen," an opera composed by Leos Janacek, explores the wonders of life. In the words of Prof. Tim Cheek, Czech diction coach for the opera, "First and foremost (the opera) is a celebra- tion of life." The story follows the lives of a female fox and a forester. Both char- acters go through trials and triumphs, and ultimately, they both find beauty in life. "The forester is transformed from a rough and vulgar guy into a poet," explained Prof. Cheek. Through the examination of the lives of the vixen and the forester, the true beauty of the opera unfolds in an array of THE C color, light and music. LITTLI When asked what the audience will most Power enjoy, Prof. Cheek Tonight - replied that they will 8 p.m. a: love the costumes, sets $10 and lighting, and will be blown away by how the University singers speak Czech as if they were natives. Prof. Joshua Major, opera director, added that the music is also spectacular. The stu- dents in the pit perform the score with expertise and virtuosity. The opera was originally written in Poetry sheds light on Arab culture Courtesy of University Productions Catherine Wessinger, Diana Dumpel and Megan Vesley on Halloween. :U E' Czech. For this production, it was decided to sing the opera in its native language and add English subtitles. Prof. Cheek explained that the Czech language is so different from English that to translate it would be virtually impossible. The music follows the natural inflections of the Czech lan- guage. The words, if translated, would no longer fit with the music, thus losing much of the opera's NNING beauty. Prof. Cheek VIXEN then detailed the long process that each actor ienter had to go through to iturday at learn the music for this d 2 p.m. opera. Each actor was $20 given the book "Singing r .ductions in Czech" at the begin- ning of last summer, so that by the time rehearsals began they would already have an idea of how to sing in Czech. Although long, the process was worthwhile, as the singers now sound as if they are native speakers, making the opera complete. It was decided to keep the opera in its native language for the addi- tional reason of how the Czech lan- guage is able to conjure up certain feelings in those who listen to it. Prof. Cheek described the Czech language as having an earthy quality that really helps to emphasize the forest setting. "To me it feels like it comes from the earth, like it is ancient, from rich soil." "The Cunning Little Vixen" is being performed this evening through Sunday, at the Power Center. Tonight and Sunday, Prof. Cheek will be offering a lecture titled "The Cunning Little Vixen: Life is Beautiful" in the Green Room at the Power Center, 30 minutes prior to the performance. The 20-minute lecture will give a basic overview of the opera and the stylistic elements of it. By Ashley McGovern For the Daily A distinct group has recently become public at the University; The Diwan Arabic Poetry Club is not new, but met last night for its first public appearance. A group of University students and professors, not only Arabs, but those interested in the Ara- bic language, have been meeting for more than a year now to enjoy the treasures and poetics of this remark- able language. Paula Santillan Grimm, a University graduate student commented, "Throughout my study of Arabic, I have met warm, enchanting people, seen amazing sites, had 1000 and one adventures and haggled for many more taxi rides. Today I feel lucky because I am able to enjoy wonderful Arabic poetry, yet even without understanding all of it." Last night's gathering featured recitations in Arabic, with English translations, of specially selected works of Arab poets Mahmoud Dar- wish (Palestine), Badr Shakr Al- Sayyab (Iraq), and Khalil Hawi (Lebanon). "The three featured poets tonight represent, each in his own way, three different and distinct mappings of the modern Arab poet's experience. Two are no longer with us, but have left behind a very detailed, intricate and articulate guide to their respective worlds, in Iraq and Lebanon," said Prof. Anton Shammas of the Near Eastern Studies Department. One of the goals of this group is to introduce to the public one vivid aspect of Arab culture. Poetry is one of the most important facets that identify the Arabs as a distinct civi- lization. This literature depicts most clearly the history of Arabs by grasp- ing the ideals and images of customs, traditions, and values. The first known poems of the Arabi- an Peninsula are found in the form of a long ode, called a qasida. Often times these poems speak of the desert, an abandoned campsite, animals such as the horse and camel, tribes, hunting scenes, journeys and death. A bit later, a form known as a ghazal, emerged to reflect aspects of love. Oftentimes these poems speak of forbidden love which defied accordance with cultural boundaries of courtship. "Arabic poetry has been an indis- pensable manifestation of Arab culture for more than 15 centuries. It reflects the historical, social, political, philo- sophical and literary developments and achievements of Arabs," said Khaled Al-Masri, a PhD student of Arabic Lit- erature in the Near Eastern Studies department. Originally, a storyteller would mem- orize and recite poetry at public gath- erings, much like members of Diwan presented last night. Arabic poetry still attracts large audiences in the promi- nent, public spaces throughout the Arab world. "Emerging in the second half of the 20th century in Iraq, contemporary Arabic poetry quickly spread and gained its distinct characteristics under some influence of the legacy of Arabic literature and the modern literary trends of the West. The ramifications of the Palestinian Cause, resisting colonialism and dictatorships, free- dom, social justice, and alienation are among other central themes in modern Arabic poetry," stated Al-Masri. Mahmoud Darwish is regarded as one of the greatest contemporary Arab poets today. His continuously inven- tive style still captures scholars and the common reader from various back- grounds. Commenting on this renowned poet, Prof. Shammas stated, "Darwish, is the closest to my Palestin- ian heart. For more than three decades he managed, probably more than any other Arab or Palestinian writer, to keep Palestine a resonating, constant presence. We will always know that there are at least two maps of Palestine that self-proclaimed politicians will never manage to forfeit: the one in the memories of Palestinian refugees, and the one drawn by Darwish's poetry." Diwan hopes to develop bi-weekly gatherings in which students, profes- sors and members of the community can partake. The group plans to invite prominent scholars and poets to read and reflect on various aspects of mod- ern Arabic poetry in the future. ii .4.:a ite a l pair as w., ::. "HARRY POTTER" /*iMA DST NE COMES OUT ______OO___ TEODAY. ,,IE PL6N N'6N.lTURDY WHo CA S.E, MOSTLY MARTH A (PG) 1:00, 3:05, 5:05, 7:15, 9:25 DAILY A ,IN PRAISE OF LOVE (Elog' RED DR AGON :0,32,:0,:2 R W AITINGSPIRITED AWAY (1:30, 4:15, 7:009:30 ' N E ' E :17MY 81G FAT GREEK WEDDING ( a 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 7:10, 9:14 ,?R "".HE LORD.":a.AW~ *,L ~4spm 6i S.Ss (734) 994 1000 ADVANCE SCREENING OF SPARROW VILLAGE Come see The Cunning Little Vixen - a 90-minute opera about the wild adventures ofa female fox and her wily intrigues with both man and beast.