Donald’s list: Weekend choices (April 6)
I have two promising picks for you this weekend, both music-related: the Alexander String Quartet; and a cheery sounding cabaret performance put on by members of the Fresno Master Chorale.
Famed quartet
On my monthly talk show, “The Munro Review,” I got a chance to interview David Fox of the Philip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concerts series and Jack Fortner of Orpheus chamber ensemble. Those two august institutions are partnering to present a performance by the world-class Alexander String Quartet at Fresno State.
You can catch up with the interview on the clip below, starting at about the 4:40 mark and going through to about the 12:00 mark. Fox (who calls himself an ASQ “groupie”) tells us a little background about the quartet, and also fills us in on Keyboard Concerts (which later this month is bringing noted pianist Jeremy Denk to Fresno, on April 27). And Fortner fills us in on Orpheus, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this season. (Along with the ASQ special event, Orpheus is planning a big concert on April 29.)
Details: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8, at the Fresno State Concert Hall. Tickets are $25 general, $18 seniors, $5 students.
Win tickets: I’m giving away a pair of tickets to Sunday’s concert to a lucky reader. To enter, leave a comment on this post telling us why you’d like to hear the Alexander String Quartet. Deadline to enter is 10 a.m. Saturday. I’ll pick a winner at random.
Salute to Bernstein
In a first-of-its-kind performance by the Fresno Master Chorale, members will offer solo performances of songs by Leonard Bernstein and others in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Bernstein’s birth. It all takes place at The Revue in the Tower District.
The beloved American composer is known for “West Side Story,” “Candide,” “Trouble in Tahiti” and the song “Big Stuff,” sung by Billie Holiday, among many other memorable tunes.
The Master Chorale is one of the central San Joaquin Valley’s top-notch choral groups. (It performs the following weekend with the Fresno Philharmonic.) This is a chance to hear the ensemble in a more casual atmosphere.
Details: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 7, The Revue, 620 E. Olive Ave. The performance is free.
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Janet Baker
I so need these tickets. That would be so exciting.
Michael
Alexander String Quartet! Any time four geniuses can get together and sound better than the sum of their parts is a concert worth attending. Looking forward to seeing them. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Stanley Poss
Donald, We’d be lost w/o you.–Stan Poss
Julio Perez
What a wonderful opportunity to see such amazing talent, hope I win 🙂