Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Music will present “Canetti-menagerie: a surreal soirée,” a program of works by Joseph Klein, at 6 p.m. Monday, April 22, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.
The program (played continuously without pauses) consists of group improvisations and solo performances of works by American composer Klein, which are based on Elias Canetti's 1974 book “Der Ohrenzeuge: Fünfzig Charaktere (Earwitness: Fifty Characters),” a collection of 50 surreal character studies. The performance is designed as a multimedia event, which includes theatrical lighting and staging, readings from the Canetti texts, and projections of visual interpretations of the various Canetti characters.
“Canetti was a versatile writer whose body of work reflects his rich and varied interests in philosophy, psychology, sociology and literary criticism, taking the form of novels, memoirs, essays, plays and non-fiction writings,” explains Klein.
The concert features performances by Elizabeth McNutt, piccolo; Kimberly Cole Luevano, basset horn; Kyle Stec, alto saxophone; Andrew May, violin; Madeleine Shapiro, violoncello; with Klein as narrator. Klein is currently Distinguished Teaching Professor at the University of North Texas College of Music where he has served as chair of composition studies since 1999.
Works to be performed include “Canetti-menagerie,” “Die Müde” (“The Tired Woman”), “Die Schadhafte” (“The Defective”), “Der Hinterbringer” (“The Tattletale”), “Die Tischtuchtolle” (“The Tablecloth Lunatic”), “Der Tückenfänger” (“The Wile-catcher”) and concluding with another full ensemble performance of “Canetti-menagerie.”
Born in Los Angeles in 1962, Klein is a composer of solo, chamber, and large ensemble works, including instrumental, vocal, electroacoustic, and intermedia compositions. His music reflects an ongoing interest in processes drawn from such sources as fractal geometry, chaos and systems theory, often inspired by natural phenomena. His works frequently incorporate theatrical elements. Literature is another important influence.
Kimberly Cole Luevano has established herself as a formidable soloist and chamber musician known for poignant interpretations and inventive programming. She has performed, adjudicated, taught on four continents and has recorded on several labels. She joined the University of North Texas faculty in 2011.
Andrew May is best known for innovative and subtle chamber music, some of which involves computer-based agents interacting with human performers. May has performed internationally as a violinist and conductor, specializing in adventurous new music and avant-garde improvisation. He teaches composition at UNT.
Flutist Elizabeth McNutt is a recitalist who primarily performs contemporary music. She has premiered more than 200 works and performed in Europe, Asia and throughout the U.S. She teaches flute and directs the new music ensemble Nova at UNT.
Guest artist Madeleine Shapiro presently directs ModernWorks and performs as a solo recitalist throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. In addition to her recital work, Shapiro has had residencies at numerous institutions presenting master classes and workshops.
Kyle Stec is an educator and performer currently serving as saxophone instructor for the Flower Mound and Marcus high school clusters in the North Texas area. As a soloist, he has been named National Second Prize Winner of the Music Teacher National Association Young Artist Woodwind Competition and winner of the UNT Concerto Competition.
Concert tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.