Performances

The Rosamunde String Quartet unites esteemed musicians from renowned ensembles such as the Berlin Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, New York Philharmonic, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Together, they share their love of chamber music with audiences worldwide.

Program

Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No. 3 in D Major, Op. 18, No. 3
Béla Bartók String Quartet No. 3
Franz Schubert String Quartet No. 14 in d minor (“Death and the Maiden”)

This free event at the Charles H. Wright Museum in Detroit will feature a conversation between Neil Barclay, President & CEO of the Wright Museum, and Shamel Pitts, the visionary artist behind BLACK HOLE: Trilogy and Triathlon. Together, they will explore the themes of transformation, the exploration of Black identity in the future, and the power of collaboration in the face of adversity.

Arts collective TRIBE, founded by choreographer and performer Shamel Pitts, presents Black Hole, a captivating dance performance of unity, vigor, and unrelenting advancement.

Engulfed in an evocative soundscape of original music, sound samples, and spoken word, the dancers embark on an hour-long, uninterrupted journey in movement, in which their tenacity and grace are emphasized by cinematic video projections and stark, monochromatic lights.

The 1938 Soviet historical drama was directed by Sergei Eisenstein with a score written by Sergei Prokofiev. It depicts the attempted invasion of Novgorod in the 13th century by Knights of the Holy Roman Empire and their defeat by Prince Alexander, aka Alexander Nevsky. The film and music were a true collaboration in that some of the film was shot to Prokofiev’s music and some of Prokofiev’s music was composed to Eistenstein’s footage. 

In the labyrinthine world of Triptych, the audience is plunged into a man’s mind. Become the witness…or perhaps the voyeur…of what usually remains hidden and unsaid, taken into subconscious worlds to discover nightmares, fears, and desires.

Join Mambo Marci from Michigan’s largest salsa dance organization for a night of salsa dance at the Freighthouse. All are welcome, no matter your skill level or experience.

Four-time GRAMMY winner and violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter returns to Ann Arbor after 12 years featuring pianist Lambert Orkis, as they present a program of favorite violin sonatas by Mozart, Schubert, Clara Schumann, and Respighi.

Program

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Violin Sonata No. 18 in G Major, K. 301
Franz Schubert Fantasie in C Major for Violin and Piano, D. 934
Aftab Darvishi Likoo
Clara Schumann Three Romances, Op. 22
Ottorino Respighi Sonata for Violin and Piano in b minor

Legendary Lebanese composer, singer, and oud master Marcel Khalife returns to Ann Arbor for the first time in 20 years, joined by his son, virtuoso pianist Rami Khalife, and his nephew, cellist Sary Khalife.

Detroit Puppet Company presents its newest shadow puppet show, Sun Moon Secret. Based on the children’s book by Shazia Omar, the story follows twin sisters Surya and Chandra as they harness their magical powers to save their village from drought.

Join artists King Sophia and Sophiyah E. on a journey of mindfulness and the metaphysical, with ambient sound, lightly guided meditation, and an opportunity to tune out the outside world.

This program frames Vivaldi’s iconic concertos in a new light, inviting questions about the fleeting cyclical nature of our existence, our relationship with nature, and the eternal renewal of earth’s cycles, now being modified by climate change.

Program

Claudio Monteverdi Adoramus te, SV 289
Antonio Vivaldi Concerto for strings and basso continuo, RV 129 (“Madrigalesco”)
Marco Uccellini Bergamasca
Vivaldi Concerto in d minor, RV 813
Francesco Geminiani Concerto No. 12 in d minor “La Folia” (after Corelli)
Vivaldi Concerto in E Major, Op. 8, No. 1, RV 269 (“Spring”)
Vivaldi Concerto in g minor, Op. 8, No. 2, RV 315 (“Summer”)
Vivaldi Overture to La fida ninfa (“The Faithful Nymph”), RV 714
Vivaldi Concerto in F Major, Op. 8, No. 3, RV 293 (“Autumn”)
Vivaldi Grave from Violin Concerto in B-flat Major, RV 370
Vivaldi Concerto in f minor, Op. 8, No. 4, RV 297 (“Winter”)

Experience the rich tradition of Arabic maqam with world-renowned kanun player and composer Firas Zreik. The Palestinian-born New Yorker has transformed global perception of the kanun, stretching its potential as a cultural chameleon with his fresh, evolving sounds.

Since their 2008 debut album, Frontier Ruckus has delivered a singularly detailed representation of the glorious, yet occasionally grim, minutiae of Midwestern suburban life through their obsessively crafted lyrics and colorful instrumentation. Join Matthew, David, and Zachary for a night filled with folk, alt-country, pop, rock, bluegrass, and all things Americana.

Known for his singular combination of robust swing and poetic insight, the two-time Grammy winner brings his one-of-a-kind brand of contemporary lyricism and vocal ingenuity to vocal jazz. This celebration of Weather Report, one of jazz’s great supergroups, which was active in the 1970s and early 80s, will reimagine the fusion band’s iconic songs in addition to new arrangements inspired by their constellation of musicians. 

Join us for an up close and personal concert experience with Detroit’s own groundbreaking, Grammy-nominated, all-women Jazz band.

Ypsilanti, it’s time to take the stage! Singers, poets, rappers, comedians, and more — bring in your newest work, dust off an old favorite, or just come by to support your neighbors and fellow artists.

March (with puppets!) from Riverside Arts Center to the Ypsilanti Freighthouse alongside the Detroit Party Marching Band. The Processional ends at the Freighthouse, where you will join your neighbors in a community celebration, including live music by Djangophonique.

Following his enthralling performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with Orchestre de Paris in March 2024, Yunchan Lim returns to Hill Auditorium for his UMS recital debut, performing Bach’s vibrant Goldberg Variations and Webern’s Variations for Piano.

Program

Hanurij Lee …round and velvety-smooth blend…
J.S. Bach Goldberg Variations, BWV 998

The cherished ensemble celebrates its 50th anniversary with a program that pairs Haydn and Beethoven, two innovators of the string quartet form, with Benjamin Britten’s rarely-performed String Quartet No. 2.

Program

Joseph Haydn String Quartet in C Major, Op. 54, No. 2
Benjamin Britten String Quartet No. 2 in C Major, Op. 36
Ludwig van Beethoven String Quartet No. 16 in F Major, Op. 135

Filled with humor, music and movement, these songs, dances and folktales not only teach about our past but provide valuable wisdom for growing up today and our collective future.

UMS’s 25/26 Season opens with Verdi’s monumental Requiem, performed by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the UMS Choral Union, and DSO music director Jader Bignamini, with a stellar international cast of soloists.