With next Wednesday’s “Seasons Project” featuring the Venice Baroque Orchestra and violinist Robert McDuffie performing both Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Philip Glass’s “American” Four Seasons in Hill Auditorium, we thought you might enjoy the video trailer for the concert…

…And the opportunity to identify the seasons from Philip Glass’s concerto.  Robert McDuffie says, “I specifically asked Philip Glass for four large movements, originally thinking that we would be naming the movements as seasons — until we both disagreed on what was summer and what was winter. He said, this is a great opportunity actually… why don’t we just leave it up to the audience to decide?”

Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!

Arts Issues

• 25-year-old Yulianna Avdeeva of Russia won the 2010 International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition, the first woman to win in 45 years…but the award did not come without controversy.

Artist Updates

• Sankai Juku just wrapped up their 2-week-run at the Joyce Theater in New York–see the Huffington Post review here.
• People are Watching: Our staff’s favorite video this week is this stunning clip of Hibiki by Sankai Juku.
• Need to get your jazz fix? Check out two clips from the Hot Club of Detroit’s new release here and here.
• Meet Vijay Iyer: last week’s feature on NPR’s Fresh Air.
• Dig into the music: New York Times Magazine interviews Arvo Pärt, whose music appears on the Tallis Scholars’ upcoming concert.

UMS News

• AnnArbor.com preview of Sankai Juku‘s Power Center performances this weekend.
• AnnArbor.com preview of the Venice Baroque Orchestra and Robert McDuffie, featuring Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” and Glass’s “American Four Seasons” concerti next Wednesday’s performance.
• AnnArbor.com review of the Jerusalem Quartet concert.

Local Shout-Outs

• Follow tenor Nicholas Phan, U-M School of Music alum, Ann Arbor native, and a soloist in this season’s Messiah, on his way to his Carnegie Hall debut.

Just For Fun

• Where will he be in 20 years, let alone 10? Watch 3-year-old Jonathan conduct Beethoven in his living room!
• Something’s Rotten in the State of Facebook…an NPR spoof on Hamlet.

Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. Each week, we pull together a list of interesting stories and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!

Arts Issues

• The Detroit Symphony Orchestra strike continues, and the DSO has canceled orchestral concerts through November 7. Non-orchestral concerts, education programs, and rentals continue as scheduled.

Artist Updates

• Soprano Joan Sutherland died Sunday at age 83.  Leave your memories of her three UMS performances here.
• Rudresh Mahanthappa launched his new website this week, where you can stream his latest album, Apex.
• Muti update: Riccardo Muti is out of the hospital, recovering from extreme exhaustion from prolonged stress.
• Name the seasons! Stream Philip Glass’ American Four Seasons and follow the Venice Baroque Orchestra/Robert McDuffie Seasons Project Tour on GoogleMaps.

UMS News

• The Mariinsky Orchestra, Valery Gergiev and Denis Matsuev opened our Choral Union Series on Sunday afternoon.  You can also read comments from the audience.
• Review of last night’s Schubert concert by the Takács Quartet.

Local Shout-Outs

• If you’ve never been to the U-M Halloween Concert, it’s a real treat (with some tricks too)! Members of the University Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras perform in this annual event on October 31 at Hill Auditorium.

Just For Fun

• Ok, maybe not “for fun”…but bedbugs were found last week in dressing rooms at Lincoln Center! They’ve turned up so far at the David H. Koch Theater, home of the New York City Ballet, and have spread to the Met.
• The YouTube Symphony Orchestra returns for its second year! Get out your instruments: audition submissions close on November 28.

Many members of the UMS staff keep a watchful eye on local and national media for news about artists on our season, pressing arts issues, and more. We thought we’d pull together a list of interesting stories each week and share them with you. Welcome to UMS’s Arts Round-Up, a weekly collection of arts news, including national issues, artist updates, local shout-outs, and a link or two just for fun. If you come across something interesting in your own reading, please feel free to share!

National Issues

• You’ve come a long way, baby. NPR asked hundreds of women working in the music business what it’s like to be working as a female musician today. Hear from Deborah Voigt, Janis Ian, Sarah McLaughlin, Jennifer Higdon, and more.
• The New York Times asks why it’s called incidental music if it’s not so incidental.

Artist Updates

• The Washington Post offers a delightful profile of Paul Taylor on the eve of his 80^th birthday.
• Philip Glass’s The American Four Seasons received its US premiere at the Aspen Music Festival. Check out the trailer for a sneak peak!
• Wondering what’s coming to Ann Arbor next year as part of NT Live’s high-definition broadcast theater series? Check out this review of the new hit musical, FELA!

Local Shout-Outs

• Looking for some outdoor fun after the Art Fairs? Check out the new Land of Nod music and camping festival in Jackson, featuring plenty of local acts including The Ragbirds, Macpodz, and The Satin Peaches.

Just For Fun

• Curious about just what goes into those elaborate costumes at the Met? The New York Times has the inside scoop.