Turtle Island Quartet & the Assad Brothers

Also in this series:

• Turtle Island Quartet & the Assad Brothers
  10/19/08

  String Theory

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  These two ensembles create something altogether different with "String Theory," an evening of wild exploration of sounds from the rhythms of Africa and melodies of the Appalachian Mountains, to the poetry of the Balkans, and passion of Brazil  -  and everything in between as they perform the works of Chick Corea, Egberto Gismonti, Astor Piazzolla, Ralph Towner, and more.

  "(The Assads are)...the best two-guitar team in existence, maybe even in history..." -  The Washington Post

  

         
  
  
  Free Prelude Musical Discussion @ 6 p.m.

  Sponsored by The Birmingham News, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Viva Health.

• Marsalis Brasilianos
  11/09/08

  A celebration of the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos, featuring Branford Marsalis and members of the renowned Brazilian orchestra Philharmonic Brasileira. This fascinating new project commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the revered Brazilian composer's death. The program is uniquely suited to Marsalis' mastery of both Jazz and classical music, allowing the language of Villa-Lobos' compositions to truly shine.

  

  "Branford has been not-so-quietly producing...some of the most explosively creative music of the last several years."
  - San Francisco Weekly

   

   

   

   

   

   

  

         
  
  
  Free Prelude Musical Discussion @ 6 p.m. Enjoy a tasting of Brazilian wines prior to the show.

  Sponsored by The Birmingham News, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Viva Health.

• Drew Mays, piano
  01/23/09

  Birmingham physician Dr. Andrew Mays is a testament to the power of dreams and hard work. In 2007 Mays won the Van Cliburn Foundation’s International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs, the oldest competition for amateur pianists in the U.S. He studied music at the Manhattan School of Music and the University of Alabama while also studying medicine. The Birmingham Music Club Guild celebrates Dr. Mays achievement and talent with this special musical event.

  “Mays…demonstrated that he is a player with both tremendous technical resources and an undeniable ability to rouse a crowd.”
  – The Birmingham News

  

         
  
  
  Free Prelude Musical Discussion @ 7 p.m.

  Sponsored by The Birmingham News, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Viva Health, and Birmingham Music Club Guild.

• I Musici de Montreal
  04/25/09

  The music of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition is combined with projection of the award-winning film based on paintings choreographed to the composition. The film won the "Excellence in Cinema" Award at the New York Independent Film & Video Festival and serves as a visual translation of the music. The powerful program continues with Tchaikovsky's Souvenir de Florence and Borodin's Nocturne. 

   

  

  "The big-screen projection is an uninterrupted suite of delight, with effects of movement, space and depth, always successful achieved." 
  - Le Presse, Montreal

   

   

   

         
  

  

  
  
  
  Free Prelude Musical Discussion @ 7 p.m.
  Art Gallery Showing in the lobby prior to the performance.

  Sponsored by The Birmingham News, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Viva Health.