Perhaps this is one of the motivations behind the three-year series of concerts, which opens tonight under University Musical Society auspices. From now until the spring of 2000, Ann Arborites will have the opportunity to hear all of Beethoven's piano sonatas and string quartets performed by pianist Ursula Oppens and the American String Quartet. Scattered between the Beethoven works will be contemporary American pieces, five of which were written for Oppens. The goal, Oppens wrote in a statement, is to draw connections between Beethoven and modern composers. UMS knows the value of a series.
Audiences like to be part of a production, and a series has box office appeal.
When Garrick Ohlsson performed all of Chopin's solo piano works, a devoted following attended every one of the six long concerts. The American String Quartet plays tonight and Sunday at Rackham. Audiences also like to learn something through their efforts - and UMS has insured this will happen. More than 35 educational activities are scheduled for the nine residencies surrounding the Beethoven concerts. Master classes, lectures, informal question sessions and cyberchats are some of the events on the calendar.