People Are Talking: UMS presents Ryoji Ikeda’s...
Posted: 10/31/14
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PERFORMANCES & EVENTS
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All comments by Mary Zelinski
People Are Talking: UMS presents Brahms’s German Requiem at Hill Auditorium:
I have been to my share of performances in Hill where I have either fallen asleep or come very close! It is a very calming environment, and easy to doze off, especially if you’re lacking coffee! Since it’s one piece, it’s meant to be performed without a break, from one movement to the next; but I agree, it was long. I agree, the music was beautiful; I could listen to it forever! I also liked hearing Nadine sing after hearing her speak. It’s always nice to hear from the performer and get a sense of him or her before a performance; It allows you to see/hear it in a new light.
I really hate that I skipped my morning coffee that day, because I was having trouble staying awake throughout the performance. The environment was so peaceful and calming. Hill Auditorium is a majestic and beautiful space, the seats so comfortable, and the music so eloquent. It would have been difficult not to feel content and relaxed.
I do think the show was rather long, considering there was no intermission or breaks. The audience didn’t applaud between movements-which I do not think we were supposed to. I think the lack of movement and audience response contributed to me dozing off. I couldn’t feel engaged when I was just sitting there.
Overall, however, the music was beautiful. Great job to the orchestra, and choral union. And the two soloists did a fantastic job! I loved listening to Nadine sing because she talked to our class about her journey of how she got to where she is, and I could really see her passion in her performance.
"by Halie Anderson
People Are Talking: UMS presents Brahms’s German Requiem at Hill Auditorium:
This performance was amazing! I knew it would be wonderful, but words cannot express just how great it was. I loved the music (I could listen to it all day), and Jerry Blackstone, along with the Ann Arbor Symphony, Choral Union, and the soloists did an amazing job. What an incredibly gorgeous and moving piece. I’m eager to to see (and hear!) more of the Choral Union, and I’d love to hear this piece again. Bravo to all!
People Are Talking: UMS presents Alfredo Rodríguez Trio and Pedrito Martinez Group at Michigan Theater:
Alfredo can definitely play, that’s for sure! Sometimes during the performance, while watching him play, I thought “wow! How can that be comfortable?” But, when someone as talented as Rodriguez is playing I tend to not ask questions. He must be doing something right! I was also impressed by the wonderful talent exhibited by the trio members. Overall, I thought the performance was a good one!
Is that even how you are supposed to play the piano? That was one of the thoughts that went through my mind when watching Alfredo play. I had never seen someone play the piano live like that. He seemed to be able to play it to whatever extent he felt like. I was fascinated by the whole performance of the trio, from the masterfully played solos, to Alfredo’s unusual playing with the piano strings. I thought the encore was really good too; it contrasted a lot with the previous type of music the trio had played. It was a lot moodier and easier to follow.
Leading up to the concert I was more excited to see Alfredo Rodriguez Trio more than The Pedrito Martinez Group. I looked at videos of both groups before the concert and I just knew that for me, the Alfredo Rodriguez trio was going to be the ‘wow’ experience. The Pedrito Martinez Group was also good but I got a little bored after a while with the more traditional latin rhythms.
It was awesome to see a performance with so much improvisation and talented musicians, I enjoyed it a lot.
"by Ronaldo Tobar
People Are Talking: UMS presents Alfredo Rodríguez Trio and Pedrito Martinez Group at Michigan Theater:
This performance was unlike anything I had attended before. I appreciate the talent of the musicians; however, I felt very disconnected from the performance. Maybe if I had been sitting on the main floor I would have felt more engaged with the performance. I did like how the musicians used their instruments (such as the double bass and piano) percussively. I liked the different sounds that came from the piano when Rodriguez held his hand over the strings as he played the keys. It reminded me a little bit of the concept of the prepared piano, a piano thats sound is altered by placing various objects on or between the strings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myXAUEuECqQ Overall, it was a neat performance to attend! I’d be interested in attending other jazz performances like this in the future.
People Are Talking: UMS presents Compagnie Käfig at Power Center:
I agree with you; sitting on the main floor is really nice because it pulls you into the performance even more. I love being able to see the expressions of the performers. I like your point that the first movement was like a clock. That made me think of time and how it sometimes seems as if it’s fighting against us, with so much to do and so little time. That would explain the frequent running in the first half. I loved the cups used in Agwa as well. The sound of the water being poured was very soothing, and almost made me feel like I was in a rainforest. Thank you for your interestCompagnie Käfig was incredible! True art at it’s finest. The choreography was really cool and entertaining to watch. The coordination and strength of the performers was unbelievable. Their energy and happiness was contagious and spread quickly to the audience. Agwa was my favorite, but I enjoyed the first half as well. The intermission felt really long to me because I was so eager for the performance to continue. The show could have gone on for another hour and I would have stayed; it was that good. I would see them again if given the chance. A wonderfully engaging performance! Thanks you for your interesting perspective!
This is my favorite one among three performances!
To be honest, before I went to the Power Center, I was exhausted by exams. I only hoped that the performance would not take too long. However, when the performance just started, I totally enjoyed the show and even felt that the show was too short!
I sat on the main floor which I felt that a way much better than the balcony. I could see dancers’ facial expressions and could hear their breath. Those vivid impressions helped me to fully concentrate on the performance.
There are several interesting moments in the performance. In the first Act, dancers ran along the circle and moved their bodies as if they ran in the air. They chased someone and at the same time, they were chased by someone. I don’t know what they want to tell us, but I thought the whole movement was like a clock. Furthermore, in the second Act, I really love the whole performance using cups. It is just amazing that just one stuff can be applied so many different movements!
"by Guyeon Kim
People Are Talking: UMS presents Compagnie Käfig at Power Center:
I agree with you; sitting on the main floor is really nice because it pulls you into the performance even more. I love being able to see the expressions of the performers. I like your point that the first movement was like a clock. That made me think of time and how it sometimes seems as if it’s fighting against us, with so much to do and so little time. That would explain the frequent running in the first half. I loved the cups used in Agwa as well. The sound of the water being poured was very soothing, and almost made me feel like I was in a rainforest. Thank you for your interesting perspective!
This is my favorite one among three performances!
To be honest, before I went to the Power Center, I was exhausted by exams. I only hoped that the performance would not take too long. However, when the performance just started, I totally enjoyed the show and even felt that the show was too short!
I sat on the main floor which I felt that a way much better than the balcony. I could see dancers’ facial expressions and could hear their breath. Those vivid impressions helped me to fully concentrate on the performance.
There are several interesting moments in the performance. In the first Act, dancers ran along the circle and moved their bodies as if they ran in the air. They chased someone and at the same time, they were chased by someone. I don’t know what they want to tell us, but I thought the whole movement was like a clock. Furthermore, in the second Act, I really love the whole performance using cups. It is just amazing that just one stuff can be applied so many different movements!
"by Guyeon Kim
People Are Talking: UMS presents Compagnie Käfig at Power Center:
Compagnie Käfig was incredible! True art at it’s finest. The choreography was really cool and entertaining to watch. The coordination and strength of the performers was unbelievable. Their energy and happiness was contagious and spread quickly to the audience. Agwa was my favorite, but I enjoyed the first half as well. The intermission felt really long to me because I was so eager for the performance to continue. The show could have gone on for another hour and I would have stayed; it was that good. I would see them again if given the chance. A wonderfully engaging performance!