University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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I i urm Lhristoph Eschenbach conducts the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in its 200th appearance with the University Musical Society. The Orchestra performed three nights at the University, featuring classic works by such greats as Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Mozart and Beethoven. photo courtesy of David Smith Photograph 1, sinny ow raits cum ME fli WILL here was something inspiring about the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Its members visited the chambers of Hill Audito- rium Thursday, Sept. 25 and Friday, Sept. 26 under the direction of guest conductor Christoph Eschenbach, bringing incredible sounds of peace and serenity to an otherwise stress- filled environment. Five members of the Orchestra also performed chamber music at Rackham Auditorium on Sat- urday. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra was presented under the auspices of the University Musical Society and also presented in part by Forest Health Services. The audience consisted of individuals of all ages, as the musical talent could be appreciated by young and old alike. The ensemble celebrated its 199th and 200th ap- pearances with the University Musical Society during this visit. The performances were simply magical as the Orchestra brought Hector Berlioz ' s Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9, Mozart ' s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A major, and Tchaikovsky ' s Symphony No. 6 in b minor to life. Guest conductor, Christoph Eschenbach, led the orchestra with his pianist talents during Mozart ' s piece. Eschenbach was a director of the Houston Sym- phony beginning in 1988, and had since been appointed music director of Ravina, home of the Chicago Symphony. In Nov. of 1996, the NDR Symphony Orchestra of Hamburg, 72 Special Events n photo courtesy of David Smith Photography Loncertmaster Samuel Magad displays his expertise and talent on the violin at Hill Auditorium. Magad was one of 35 violinists present during the Chicago Symphony Orchestra ' s appearance on Sept. 25 and 26. Germany announced him as their new music director. Hih inteqiretation of the Piano Concerto brought many mem bers to their feet at its conclusion. The Friday performance featured the works of Dvora and Tchaikovsky, as well as the incredible talents of Nadj Salero-Sonnenberg on violin. Dvorak ' s Carnival Overtun commenced the evening, followed by Tchaikovsky ' s Viol Concerto in D Major. The evening concluded with Dvorak ' Symphony No. 9 in e minor, Op. 95 (From the New World; Those who attended Saturday ' s performance witnessed spectacle of a slightly different sort. Select members of th Symphony performed chamber music at Rackham Audito rium. The troupe played three selections from Robe Schumann: Adagio and Allegro for Horn and Piano in flat. Op. 70, Fantasy Pieces for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 7. and7 we Romances for Oboe ana ' Piano. Op. 94. Membe concluded with [he Piano Quintet in E-fla( Major, Op. 16 Ludwig Van Beethoven. Under the direction of Eschenbach, theOrchestrabroug vintage and incredibly splendid compositions to the Unive: sity. For three nights, students had the opportunity to relisl in poignant pieces from the finest in classical composers. By Kristin .on.

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Ilfflft ' 37:fl IMIEE, fl had never seen anything like what I encountered last summer during the Ann Arbor rt Fair. The July l6th-19th festival that hit the local community was unlike any art estival that could exist in a University town. The days that preceded Art Fair were calm and placid; it was almost as if everyone who knew what would occur went underground, not to resurface until the bllowing Saturday night. There was an immense silence that permeated the air on Sunday and Monday. The tension began to build. The airport and highways were )acked with people and boxes of crafts. Some stores pleaded for last minute help vith their Art Fair Help Wanted cries, while others took the easy path, and merely eft a note stating they would be Closed for Art Fair. I consulted my friend, an Art Fair survivor, on whether this experience vould be as traumatic as I was expecting. LSA senior history major Dorothy Cham- bers, employed at the Espresso Royale Gaffe on State Street, said with a sinister yin, Art Fair is the source of all evil. She had been through the experience jnce before. She knew that we were to be invaded, pushed aside and bombarded, was not reassured, and continued in fear. By Wednesday morning, it was as if I lived in another town. The streets were filled with small white ents filled with a vast array of fine art and not-so-fine art, most at insane prices that made me laugh quietly |o myself. I took a moment to browse. Some of the silver jewelry was amazing, a result of talent and excel- ence. Other projects looked like remnants of child ' s play. I noticed over the course of the following four days that neither scorching sun, nor muggy humid- ty could stop the Art Fair nor the determined shoppers. Thursday was the only day of rain, and thankfully it imly poured in the morning. The effects, however, of the downpour on the remaining hours of the day was remendous. Imagine this: crowded streets filled with hungry people, rain, and temperatures in the lower 90 ' s. ;, I too cringed at the image, not to mention the smell. Some local residents, including University faculty Ann Arbor natives, compared it to times when the University is in full attendance, I could hear their nuttering amid my disgust. I, however, could only compare it to the emptiness that had pervaded the earlier ummer months. Local establishments could hardly resist the opportunity to show their fine products as well. Sales anged from 10-40% off everything. Footprints on South University placed a table of shoes on sale, as did ' rban Outfitters with a huge selection of their clothes. Bargain shopping, is what I thought, as this was an pportunity I did not want to miss. That was definitely an Art Fair highlight. By 5 p.m. on Saturday, activity nearly ceased. I thought someone hit the breaks, or sounded an ilarm because things came to drastic slow down. By 8 p.m., the visitors had dispersed and summertime Ann vrbor was back to normal a peaceful quiet. It was okay, LSA junior Anne Reader commented. I liked to look at the stuff, but it was so xpensive. She also noted, It was very crowded, but the (vendors) were nice, even though they were stressed. Another visitor had a similar attitude toward the event. There were a lot of unnecessary things, md everything was expensive, said Tanja Wenzel, an LSA junior. She also noticed, People were on a mis- iion. They weren ' t just strolling around like I thought I was doing. I must admit I was a bit sad to see the Art Fair end. Art Fair had its moments of turmoil and disgust, md amid my personal confusion over the popularity of the brass creatures on a stick, Art Fair was a definite xperience that one must endeavor at some point in life. It was a surge of adrenaline in Ann Arbor brief nd temporary, but with definite enthusiastic energy. By Kristin Long Years in existence: Ann Arbor Street fair was 30 this year: the State Street Fair was 38, and the Summer Fair section was 32. Q Days running: 4 (Wednesday July 16 to Saturday July 19) O Hour opened: 9 a.m. Wednesday Hour ended: 5 p.m Saturday Days with rain: One morning O Days above 90: One (Wednesday- 92) Average daily temperature: 85 $ Men juggling knives, on a tightrope, on one foot: 1 O Men juggling a knife and a bowling ball, while eating an apple: 1 O Hours per day: 12 (9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Wednesday- Friday) for three days: 8 (9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday) for one day- Art Fair 71

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BIER VISITS 1HE POOE MOM p uelebral lebrated pi auvri ght Tony Kushner addressed a crowd of 300 at the Power Center on Sept. 28. He appeared as part of Hillel ' s Celebration of Jewish Arts and Great Writers series. While many in the audience were middle-aged, a sizable number of students also turned out to listen to his observations about modern life. Kushner made few direct references to the world of theater, although he was best known for his p a. Augelx in Ameriai, a drama that garnered him two Ton ' awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Instead, he focused on aspects of American society that he feared would tear this country apart as we move into the 2 1st century. In a free-ranging monologue, Kushner painted a dark picture of a society dependent on pure capitalism and lacking in morals. He presented socialism as an antidote to the forces that would divide Americans along the lines of class, race, gender and sexual orientation. Kushner often used dark humor to punctuate his speech. Despite the weight of his chosen subject matter, he poked fun at advertisers, college students j dressed as war victims, and at the current crop of politicians. Though he criticized both major parties, he saved special ire for freshman Republican representatives. and the senior senator from hell, Jesse Helms. In his attempt to push his feelings the ultraconservative senator from North Carolina aside, Kushner sought to impress upon the audience the importance of the humanities. He urged Americans to turn away from mainstream ideas and political leaders in favor of artists, writers and thinkers. Our dreams might not always be beautiful, he said, but at least our books are better written. Kushner ' s worries about modem society provided some of his most pointed observations. He gripped the podium tightly as he spoke about the death of trust in America and the systematic destruction of the environment. Our world is ; Peter Nielsen lony Kusliner speaks to a substantial-sized crowd on his interpretation of the world as we know it. He emphasized the impact of action and the importance of individual involvement. killing us because we are killing our world, he said gravely. As a gay Jewish playwright. Kushner was also concerned about issues of ; tolerance, and what he saw as a general reluctance of people to stand up for their rights. There is something wrong when the Walt Disney Company is America ' s largest champion of gay rights, Kushner said as he urged people to action. He found it troubling that more people did not stand up for their rights on a grass-roots level. We are not doomed to take life as we find it. Life only exists insofar as we change it, Kushner said. He ended his speech to vigorous applause, finally allowing a smile to cross the face of a man certain of his convictions. By Peter Melseti Tonv Kushner 73