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March 8, 2010

Program Changes for March

By Ken Fischer

I’m writing with some disappointing news related to the three March Chamber Arts Series concerts.  We learned that violinist JULIA FISCHER is canceling her two upcoming UMS concerts, both of which were on the Chamber Arts Series.  Because of a family concern, she has canceled her entire US tour.  We worked hard to find replacement artists for her two concerts and are delighted to announce that we will be presenting two different artists. The programs will vary from the original all-Bach program given the changes in artist, but we’re very pleased that we’ve been able to work with the artists so that the programs will include significant representation of Bach’s compositions for solo string instruments.

On Wednesday, March 24, Dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey will perform a solo cello concert that includes two suites by J.S. Bach alongside two suites by Benjamin Britten.

On Thursday, March 25, violinist Jennifer Koh will perform a program that features two of Bach’s partitas, with additional works by Eugène Ysaÿe, Kaija Saariaho, Elliott Carter, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.

Complete details on each program are included below.  Because of the programming changes, the Masterpieces Revealed scheduled for March 23 has also been canceled.

We’ve also heard from the manager of the Takács Quartet who contacted us to let us know that the second violinist, Karoly Schranz, must undergo rotator cuff surgery and will be unable to perform on March 15.  The ensemble has re-imagined their program to include duets and trios for violin, viola, and cello by Mozart, Kodály, and Beethoven.  Complete details are included below.  Mr. Schranz is expected to make a full recovery and looks forward to returning to the Quartet in the fall, and to UMS for three performances of a Schubert cycle during the 10/11 season.

For all three of these concerts, you may use the tickets you were originally issued. You can also return your tickets for UMS credit (which can be applied to another performance in the 09/10 season), or donate your tickets back to UMS for a tax-deductible contribution.  Please contact the UMS Ticket Office at 734-764-2538 for complete details.

This has been an unusually difficult year with cancellations and programmatic changes (the Algerian singer Souad Massi canceled her performance in January, and Trio Mediæval their April concert), and we sincerely apologize if you have been impacted by these changes.  Whenever we are able to make a substitution and preserve the original integrity and intent of the originally scheduled performance, we make every effort to do so.  We hope that you will approach these changes with an enthusiastic spirit of discovery as we introduce two new artists to UMS audiences and different repertory that we don’t often have the opportunity to hear.

As always, we appreciate your support of UMS and hope that you find much pleasure in the new programs.

Members of the Takács Quartet
Edward Dusinberre
violin • Geraldine Walther viola • András Fejér cello
Monday, March 15, 8pm
Rackham Auditorium

Program:

  • Mozart:   Duo for Violin and Viola No. 2 in B-flat Major, K. 424
  • Kodály:   Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7
  • Beethoven:  String Trio in G Major, Op. 9, No. 1

Pieter Wispelwey, solo cello
Wednesday, March 24, 8pm
Rackham Auditorium

Program:

  • J. S. Bach:  Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007
  • Britten:  Suite No. 1, Op. 72
  • J. S. Bach:  Suite No. 2 in d minor BWV 1008
  • Britten: Suite No. 3, Op. 87

Jennifer Koh, solo violin (no accompanist)
Thursday, March 25, 8 p.m.
Rackham Auditorium

Program

  • J. S. Bach:  Partita No. 3 in E Major for Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1006
  • Eugène Ysaÿe:  Sonata No. 2 in a minor for Unaccompanied Violin, Op. 27, No. 2, “Obsession”
  • Kaija Saariaho:  Nocturne, in memory of Witold Lutosławski
  • Elliott Carter:  Fantasy: Remembering Roger
  • Esa-Pekka Salonen:   Lachen verlernt [with film projection by Tal Rosner]
  • J. S. Bach:   Partita No. 2 in d minor for Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1004

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ken Fischer is the President of the University Musical Society (UMS) of the University of Michigan (U-M). Under Ken’s leadership UMS has expanded and diversified its programming and audiences; deepened its engagement with the U-M and southeast Michigan communities; created effective partnerships with corporations, arts organizations, educational institutions, and community organizations; and received significant grants from the leading arts foundations. Ken has contributed to the presenting field as speaker, workshop leader, writer, consultant, panelist, and U.S. State Department cultural ambassador to Brazil, China, Lithuania, and Mexico. He chairs the board of National Arts Strategies and the national advisory board of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project. He serves on the boards of the Sphinx Organization, International Society for the Performing Arts, Cultural Alliance of Southeast Michigan, and Ann Arbor SPARK. Ken received ISPA's Patrick Hayes Award in 2003 and APAP's Fan Taylor Award in 2011 for his career achievements and the Mariam Noland Award for Nonprofit Leadership from the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in 2012. Ken has been recognized by The Links, Inc., Ann Arbor Public Schools Foundation, Jewish Family Services of Washtenaw County, Ann Arbor Convention and Visitors Bureau, Michigan Taiwanese American Association, and Performance Network for his contributions to the Ann Arbor community. Ken has degrees from The College of Wooster and U-M and is a graduate of Plymouth (MI) High School’s Class of 1962. Ken’s home was Plymouth, Michigan, between 1950-67 where he grew up with his three siblings Jerry, Norman, and Martha, and with his parents Beth and Jerry Fischer. Ken’s wife is flutist Penny Peterson Fischer whom he met at Interlochen as a teen in 1961. Their son Matt is Senior Director of the App Store at Apple and lives with his wife Renee and sons Alex and Reid in the San Francisco Bay area. Ken's personal interests include mentoring U-M students and emerging arts leaders, Interlochen, Detroit Tigers, skiing, photography, and the efforts of Zeitouna to find effective ways to resolve conflict.