FRANCK and BRAHMS!  Two great piano quintets will be presented Sunday, February 12 at 3:00 p.m. in the Laidlaw Performing Arts Center Recital Hall.  Performers include the Archduke Trio (pianist Robert Holm, violinist Enen Yu and cellist Guo-Sheng Huang) joined by violist Hsiaopei Lee and violinist Evangeline Thies. 

When French composer Cesar Franck was asked what advice he would give composition students, he answered in three words, "Modulate, modulate, modulate!"  Not surprisingly then, Franck's quintet from 1880 is unusually passionate and dramatic and features pianistic chords not heard in other composers' works because Franck could reportedly reach a the interval of a twelfth with a single hand!  And as for Brahms, there may be no more celebrated piano quintet than his 1864 masterpiece which, like Franck's piece, is highly romantic while maintaining a rather strict classical form.

Tickets for this Musical Arts Series event will be sold at the door only.  Admission is $8 general and $5 for USA faculty & staff, USA students, youths under 18 and all senior citizens (cash or check only).  Persons needing more information about this event or in need of special accommodation may call 251-460-7116 or 251-460-6136.

Musical Arts Series Season Pass Holders may now reserve their place at concerts if they contact events coordinator Keith Bohnet by 5:00 p.m. the day previous to the event!  Call 251-460-7116 or email kbohnet@usouthal.edu.  Please mention the amount of seats needed AND be sure you are planning on being in place at least 20 minutes in advance of the concert!  (Pass Holders only please!  Held seats not claimed within 20 minutes of the performance may be offered to other concert attendees.)

For information on how to join the Musical Arts Society, visit our website at www.southalabama.edu and click on "events" to see everything you need to know about the Musical Arts Concert Series and USA's Musical Arts Society.