Stanford Live recently released the calendar of performances for its fifth season, and once again, it’s booked some of the biggest names in music. What should you keep your eye on for fall quarter?
Philip Glass (9/29)
Those of you unfamiliar with Philip Glass may instead be familiar with the 1998 film “The Truman Show,” or perhaps the “Peaceful Piano” playlist on Spotify — both of which were significantly influenced by him. Glass is an American composer widely credited as being one of the first to develop minimalism in music, though he himself never uses the term. He, along with four other pianists, will be performing his 20 piano etudes in a performance definitely worth rolling out to.
Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis (9/30)
The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra was created in 1988, and since then has toured all over the world, from the United States to Europe to various countries in Asia. Group director Wynton Marsalis has won nine Grammys as well as the first Pulitzer Prize for Music awarded for a jazz composition. You can find the ensemble’s original compositions on Spotify, perfect for sitting back and relaxing to some high-energy and fun music (one particularly interesting song, “Baa Baa Black Sheep,” actually mimics the sound of sheep).
Emel Mathlouthi (10/5)
Remember the Arab Spring protests that began in 2010? Tunisan singer, songwriter, guitarist and composer Emel Mathlouthi was widely recognized as the “voice of the Tunisan revolution” for her work during that time. Her music combines electronica with rock with hymn-esque humming, all layered with unfamiliar and beautiful Arabic undertones. Mathlouthi’s political music was even banned from Tunisian airwaves, and Israeli authorities prevented her from entering a Palestinian city to perform — she will undoubtedly bring that passion and power to Bing.
Icons of Sound: Hagia Sophia Reimagined (11/4)
Once again catering to diverse performance, Stanford Live will be bringing a multimedia experience to Bing with the professional choir Cappella Romana, the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA) and Stanford’s Art and Art History department. As you might guess from the name of the event, this collaboration will incorporate the Hagia Sophia, one of the most well-known examples of Byzantine architecture. While I can’t speak to the Byzantine chants Cappella Romana tends to favor, I can say that this performance will be much more than just an auditory experience.
While Stanford Live doesn’t always have the most diverse selection of the artists that might interest our student body, they’ve certainly lined up an impressive array of musicians for the coming season. Don’t forget to mark your calendars!
Stanford students are eligible for heavy discounts on Stanford Live events, with tickets starting at $15 with a valid SUID. New subscription sales begin on June 8 for Stanford affiliates, and more information can be found at live.stanford.edu/ticket-information/subscriptions.
Contact Serena Wong at serenaw ‘at’ stanford.edu.