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Weekly MusicWatch

By Brett Campbell
January 20, 2016
Music

Estelí Gomez
January 20, Beall Concert Hall, Eugene.
January 21, The Old Church, Portland.
Read Gary Ferrington’s ArtsWatch preview of the acclaimed singer’s concerts of music by University of Oregon composers.

Eugene Symphony
January 21
Silva Concert Hall, Hult Center, 7th & Willamette, Eugene.
Read my Eugene Weekly preview of the concert that features the return of former ESO (and now Nashville Symphony) music director Giancarlo Guerrero.

Former music director Giancarlo Guerrero returns to the Eugene Symphony. Photo: Nashville Symphony.

Former music director Giancarlo Guerrero returns to the Eugene Symphony. Photo: Nashville Symphony.

Locally Sourced Sounds”
January 22
FearNoMusic, The Old Church, 1422 SW 11th Ave. Portland.
Read my Willamette Week preview of the local new music ensemble’s latest concert of music by Oregon composers including Andrea Reinkemeyer’s rip roaring Wild Silk for sax, piano and percussion, inspired by the life cycle of the Luna moth; David Bernstein’s 1990 piano trio, Late Autumn Moods and Images (which the group has recorded on North Pacific Music) which draws on the Protestant hymn tune “Come Ye Thankful People Come” and tunes from Jewish and Hebrew songs and dances; recent Portland arrival Texu Kim’s whirling Homage To Anonymous Ancient Fiddlers; Sequences by Portland native Ryan Francis (whose composing career really started in FNM’s valuable Young Composers workshops); and the winner of FNM’s recent call for scores, Alexander LaFollett’s first piano trio.

ARCO-PDX
January 22, Holocene, 1001 SE Morrison St. Portland
February 13, WOW Hall, WOW Hall, 291 W. 8th Ave. Eugene
Read my Willamette Week preview of Amplified Repertory Chamber Orchestra of Portland’s mix of music by classic (Bach, Beethoven, Brahms) and contemporary (Jacob TV, Tom Johnson) including ARCO’s own Mike Hsu.

ARCO-PDX performed at Portland's Holocene in early August.

ARCO-PDX performed at Portland’s Holocene in early August.

Oregon Symphony
January 23-25
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway, Portland.
Rising young English pianist Benjamin Grosvenor takes the solo part in Chopin’s youthful first piano concerto, and guest conductor guest conductor Tomáš Netopil leads the band in Arthur Honegger’s sporty little Rugby tone poem (inspired by the game) and Dvorak’s breakthrough sixth symphony. Read Jana Griffin’s ArtsWatch interview with Grosvenor before his Portland Piano International performance last year.

Benjamin Grosvenor performs with the Oregon Symphony. Photo: Operaomnia.co.uk.

Benjamin Grosvenor performs with the Oregon Symphony. Photo: Operaomnia.co.uk.

Peter Zisa
January 23
Beaverton City Library auditorium, 12375 SW Fifth St. Beaverton.
The excellent Music in Small Spaces series brings the veteran classical guitarist to play and elucidate flamenco music and its history.

Dido & Aeneas
January 23, Central Lutheran Church, 1857 Potter Street, Eugene.
January 24, First Christian Church, 1314 SW Park Ave. Portland.
The Ensemble
’Tis a pity that Oregon rarely sees Baroque opera, which boasts some of the greatest music of the 17th and 18th centuries. Read my Willamette Week preview of this concert version of one of the greatest of them.

The Ensemble sings Purcell and Blow in Portland and Eugene.

The Ensemble sings Purcell and Blow in Portland and Eugene.

Reel Music Festival
January 23
Whitsell Auditorium, Portland Art Museum, 1219 SW Park Ave. Portland.
Northwest Film Center’s annual tribute to music onscreen this weekend features Ethan Hawke’s acclaimed portrait of classical pianist and teacher Seymour Bernstein, followed by a live performance (on double bass with loops) by Los Angeles composer Tom Peters of the original music he wrote for Dziga Vertov’s famous 1929 silent classic, The Man With A Movie Camera, one of the greatest documentaries ever created.

Vancouver Symphony Chamber Series
January 24
Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main St. Vancouver, WA.
A quartet of musicians from the orchestra play more live music for silent classics: Buster Keaton’s 1921 The Goat, Harold Lloyd’s Never Weaken from the same year, and Charley Chase’s 1926 Mighty Like a Moose.

Oregon Bach Collegium
January 24
United Lutheran Church, 22nd and Washington, Eugene.
Some of Oregon’s top historically informed period instrument performers play music by J.S. Bach and Telemann that might have been heard at Baroque Leipzig’s legendary Cafe Zimmermann coffee house concerts.

“Noise in the Waters”
January 24
Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta St. Portland.
Recently returned from years in New York, where he studied at the Juilliard School and won acclaim for his music including recordings on John Zorn’s Tzadik record label, native Portlander composer Ryan Francis (again!) and veteran Portland theater artist Bobby Bermea present this one-man theatrical homage to African migrants who risk their lives to cross the Mediterranean for safety in Europe. Francis will trigger manipulated recordings of string instruments with other electronics from his laptop in the audience, responding to Berea’s reading.

Delgani premieres Terry McQuilkin's new string quartet.

Delgani string quartet performs music with theater artist Rickie Birran.

3 Leg Torso
January 25
Lake Theatre & Cafe, 106 N State St, Lake Oswego
Young singer Minntah Haefker joins the world chamber ensemble.

“Man of Words”
January 26
Delgani String Quartet, Oregon Contemporary Theater, 194 W Broadway, Eugene.
Orator Rickie Birran from Man of Words Theatre Company joins the ensemble in a show that mixes literary readings from Paradise Lost, Don Quixote, and more, with music by Telemann (18th century), Webern (20th century), and newly commissioned works by music by Eugene composer Paul Safar.

Oregon Composers Forum
January 26
Beall Concert Hall, University of Oregon, Eugene.
This free concert of the Oregon Composers Forum series will feature premieres of contemporary chamber music by ten University of Oregon composers: Izabel Austin, Alexander Bean, Tim Bloch, Makenna Carrico, Dan Daly, Michael Dekovich, Benjamin Penwell, Martin Quiroga, and Aidan Ramsey.

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