While orchestras in and around Seattle prepare for the upcoming classical music season, the University of Washington World Series is preparing for a season of a different sort. The UW World Series happens annually at Meany Hall, and during the three decade history of the series, has become an integral part of campus life and University District cultural life.
Far removed from downtown Seattle and the cultural heart of the city, the UW World Series presents 23 concerts during the 2008-2009 season. Series events are spread over four different types of performances: world music, dance, piano performance, and chamber music. Since 1978, the International Chamber Music and President’s Piano series are at the heart of the season’s scheduled performances.
These two sets of performances present Seattle audiences with the world’s best pianists and chamber music ensembles. In recent years, the Emerson String Quartet, Beaux Arts Trio, St. Lawrence String Quartet, and the Biava Quartet have played in Seattle. In addition to the quality chamber ensembles, a number of truly outstanding pianists regularly come through town - Nelson Freire, Murray Perahia, Andras Schiff, and Yund Li to name just a few.
This season is no different.
The International Chamber Music series begins with the emotionally refined playing of the Emerson String Quartet. The ensemble needs little introduction or explanation. For their October 21 performance they play quartets by Ravel, Schubert, Prokofiev, and Anton Webern’s Six Bagatelles. I could be wrong about this assertion, but I believe the Emerson performance is the only time this year Anton Webern’s music will be played in Seattle. This is a shame. Webern’s music, in its razor sharp economy, is to my ears the most accessible of the Second Viennese School composers.
The Tackacs Quartet comes in January, and brings Haydn, Schumann and Bartok’s First String Quartet. The three pieces aren’t obscure but I also wouldn’t describe them as go-to pieces for string quartets. Of the three, probably the Haydn Op.76, No.3 is the most well known piece on the program.
In April, the Claremont Trio - a twin sister act joined by Juilliard classmate Donna Kwong - performs Schubert’s two piano trios. Schubert, who doesn’t exactly have a reputation for probing introspection, composed his two trios in the final years of his life, when the true extent of his syphilis and mortality became clear.
The most interesting pieces of the entire series are played in December by the Harlem Quartet. Turina, Piston, and Strayhorn are mixed in between quartets by Schubert and Brahms. This young, African-American, Sphinx winning group brings much needed diversity to classical music performance. The Harlem Quartet isn’t the only African-American group playing this year. At the end of the season, the Marian Anderson Quartet returns.
The President’s Piano Series looks promising too.
Jade Simmons comes at the end of this month. Another young, African-American musician, she will be playing music by Gershwin, Corigliano and Samuel Barber. Gabriela Montero plays Chopin, Liszt and Busoni’s transcription of the Chaconne from Bach’s Second Partita for violin. Unfortunately, she won’t be playing any of her improvisations that have earned the pianist both scorn and plaudits from classical music critics and fans. In February, Angela Hewitt plays Bach, Beethoven, and like Simmons, Barber’s piano sonata. Comparing Simmons and Hewitt’s interpretation of Barber’s only sonata will be an interesting exercise for attendees. Barber’s exuberant sonata would seem to favor Simmons over Hewitt who has earned her reputation as a Bach interpreter. The season ends with a special performance by Krystian Zimmerman.
Compared to other seasons, the groups and pianists aren’t as recognizable to occasional classical music lovers. Nevertheless, this season is exceedingly diverse. Esteemed performers are given equal billing to emerging groups. Striking to me is that there are three African-American performers. The New York Times wrote Latinos and African Americans make up only 4% of classical performers. If these performers are any indication, this unfortunate statistic might be changing.
In keeping with the long history, the UW World Series is once again bringing exceptional musicians to Seattle. There are the not-to-be-missed concerts by Krystian Zimmerman, Emerson Quartet and Tackacs Quartet. Plus there are concerts and recitals for both the curious and the devoted listener.