Handel's Messiah: The creation of UMS, 128 years ago!

If you hadn’t realized, Ann Arbor, Michigan is an extremely independent and industrious place to live. Central to the community of Ann Arbor is the University Musical Society. Affiliated with, but not part of U of M, UMS remains a fundemental source for creative an artistic experiences, presenting over 80 performances annually. The University Musical Society (UMS) was formed by a group of local university and townspeople who gathered together for the study of Handel's Messiah. For more information on the beginnings of UMS click here.

Since that first season in 1880, UMS has expanded greatly and now presents the very best from the full spectrum of the performing arts' internationally renowned recitalists and orchestras, dance and chamber ensembles, jazz and world music performers, and opera and theatre. Through educational endeavors, commissioning of new works, youth programs, artist residencies and other collaborative projects, UMS has maintained its reputation for quality, artistic distinction and innovation. UMS now hosts approximately 75 performances and more than 100 educational events each season.

This December 2nd, consider attending The University Musical Society’s presentation of Handel’s Messiah. Be a part of the tradition that got UMS started all those years ago! If you’re a University student, consider purchasing an Arts and Eats ticket, attend the free pizza dinner before the show and hear a talk given by U-M Assistnant Prof. of Conducting, Paul Rardin. To order your ticket to Handel’s Messiah, call 734-764-2538 or click here

Anticipating The Trio Mediaeval

By Colin Miller


I can't really explain my interest in what is usually called "early music". It's just one of those things, you know? Initially it sounds like an odd preference to have, and I wouldn't consider myself to be an aficionado, but you don't question what you like. If it feels right to you, you go with it. The particular sound, so rich with history and a sort of passionate grace just grabs me when I hear it. When it's done particularly well it's something to behold. Once you hear the voices of the three ladies in Trio Mediaeval, I think you too will understand. The group consists of three (no, really?) young Norwegian sopranos, who perform polyphonic English and French medieval music, Norwegian medieval ballads and songs, and also contemporary work. To hear them is to be astounded by the capability for beauty in the human voice. The catch is that I haven't had the chance to hear them live yet, but that will soon be corrected as I plan to attend the concert they are giving, organized by the University Musical Society on Thursday, November 16th at the St. Francis of Assisi Church. I imagine there's a difference between hearing a CD and experiencing the sound in that particular setting. I have high expectations, and getting
off of a rough and busy period of work and school there's nothing I'm looking forward to more than taking the night off to have those expectations blown away.

Most blurbs on the group simply quote the litany of superlatives and endorsements that others have heaped on them. It's easy enough to find that sort of promotion-by-quoting. A simple Google search will get you pages of reviewers, some scrambling to find all the right words, some any word at all, left speechless by the beauty of these voices. That was more than enough to convince me to check out a live recording, which lead to more investigation and more listening, and now they're coming to Ann Arbor. Rush tickets are available for only $10, an amazing deal. UMS brings in groups from all over the world and lets students partake for less than it would cost to buy the CD. Twice the experience, at about half the price. And if you're not convinced you'll like it, you still get to preview it for less than the cost of a movie ticket and a bag of popcorn. Expand your horizons, you can't lose.

Watching The Tempest

Blog entry by Liz Georgoff

Last Wednesday was probably the coolest Wednesday I have ever had. I woke up, went to class, ate some lunch and then did a little reading…You know all that normal daily grind stuff. BUT THEN, I put all that and aside and headed over to the Power Center to help usher at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s dress rehearsal of The Tempest. After showing various high school groups to their seats I found myself a seat and within minutes, I was completely blown away.

The Tempest opens up with a violent shipwreck scene. Before the show began it was beyond me as to how they were possibly going to show it such a scene on stage. I guess I was forgetting who I was going to see, because the Royal Shakespeare Company is no average theatrical group. They went above and beyond, with spectacular lights, sounds effects and settings. Basically the gist of the setup included a large screen that took up the entirety of the stage with an image of a transistor radio on it. The round speaker of the radio doubly functioned as a pothole-esque window in which the actors stood, or should I say, swayed around on a set that looked like the deck of a ship. All the while, there was dramatic music and frantic lighting. On top of all that, there was even a translucent kind of video imagery being projected over the entirety of the stage on the screen of crashing, violent waves.

This layer upon layer of visual stimuli created quite a spectacle! I can’t imagine a way that a theater company could capture so dramatically and effectually the mood and events of an actual shipwreck on small stage in the Power Center. The rest of the show was up to par with the grand beginning, what with Patrick Stewart strutting around on stage with his shirt off, excellent acting, creative costumes and a unique set placing the story in the artic. The character of Miranda got on my nerves a little, as she came off as very childish and not at all ready to get married as she does at the end of the play, but perhaps I don’t understand her character as well as the actress.

During intermission I realized I was sitting next to the Assistant Director Steve Marmion. We started talking and I was able to help him out by giving him my impressions of the show. He was incredibly friendly and when he told me he had directed The Tempest five other times, I was surprised because he seemed so young. Getting to speak to one of the creative masterminds of the show made my experience even more exciting.

Overall, this was by far the best live Shakespeare I had ever seen. I understand now why people stood in line for hours in the cold rain to get tickets earlier this year to see the RSC. I have no doubt that Shakespeare would be proud.

More Photos -- RSC's Patrick Stewart conducts the U-M Marching Band

RSC's Patrick Stewart took a turn conducting the U-M Marching Band during half-time at the U-M/Ball State football game last weekend. See some photos on the UMS Facebook Album.

Stewart Takes Command of the University of Michigan Field Band

By Amy Fingerle, Michigan Band Member and UMS Intern


Patrick Stewart (in town starring in Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Tempest and Antony and Cleopatra) made a guest appearance at the Michigan Marching Band’s snowy afternoon rehearsal on Thursday, November 1. This weekend at the U-M/Ball State football game, Patrick Stewart will once again take the role of Captain Jean-Luc Picard as he conducts the band during halftime for “The Victors” and the Star Trek theme song. He will make his conducting debut, for which he specifically took conducting classes, at the Big House in front of over 100,000 people. Stay tuned for an update on Saturday’s performance!