As a Minnesota native, I often chuckle when fellow students tell me which Wisconsin city is they're from. Do they really expect me to remember the difference between Mukwonago and Muskego? And no, pointing out where the city is located using your hand as a map doesn't help.
Still, considering that I attend UW-Madison, I figured I should learn more about the state. Luckily, I don't have to leave Madison to learn more about Wisconsin's largest city. It turns out a lot of the arts here on campus have a Milwaukee connection.
For example, The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra is coming to the Wisconsin Union Theater on Sunday, Nov. 21. As with all of the theater's remaining events this season, student tickets are only $10. This is a fantastic opportunity to see one of the state's finest orchestras for a cheap price.
The orchestra, under conductor Edo de Waart, will perform Grieg's ""Suite No. 1"" from ""Peer Gynt,"" the ""Barber Concerto for Violin and Orchestra"" with soloist Frank Almond and the ""Bartók Concerto for Orchestra."" Grieg's ""Suite No. 1,"" made up of two beautiful and recognizable themes often used in film and commercials, is a piece worth looking forward to.
At an energetic 69, conductor de Waart is a renowned international conductor, who also holds positions with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal Flanders Philharmonic Orchestra in Belgium. More importantly, de Waart is one of our neighbors; he lives in nearby Middleton and commutes to Milwaukee.
Milwaukee native Karl ""Oye"" Iglesias, member of the revolutionary First Wave Hip Hop Theater Ensemble here at UW-Madison is another connection to our neighbor in the east. The artist is hosting an open mic night with his fellow First Wave members Dec. 3 at 9 p.m. in the Red Gym, an event many will enjoy.
In addition to being a nationally recognized slam artist, Iglesias recently released his first EP, In My Mind, available for free download online. Iglesias' strength in spoken word is his ability to evoke emotion by manipulating rhythm and tempo.
Iglesias uses spoken word to explore his experiences growing up as a Hispanic in Milwaukee. Another major ethnic group in Milwaukee is the Poles. In fact, Milwaukee hosts the largest Polish festival in the nation each summer. ""Kolysanka"" (Lullaby) is a Polish film directed by Juliusz Machulski. It is showing Saturday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in 4070 Vilas Hall as part of the Polish Film Festival.
""Lullaby"" is a darkly whimsical and humorous film that chronicles a series of disappearances in a small Polish town. The fanciful nature of the film, created mostly by the use of exaggeration, is especially intriguing and successful. From the first moment we meet the main family, the Makarewiczs, they are cast as separate. Their skin is much lighter and eye make-up much darker than other members of the village. These characteristics make them creepy, which along with the make-up gives the film a strong fanciful feel.
Another highlight of the movie is the music, composed by prolific Polish composer Michal Lorenc. Reminiscent of Danny Elfman's compositions for ""Edward Scissorhands,"" the music functions almost as its own character.
This Polish film has more to do with Milwaukee than just being Polish. ""Variety"" magazine has compared
Lorenc to his contemporary, American composer Aaron Copland. Surprisingly enough, it turns out that Copland's ""Appalachian Song"" was featured in the opening concert of the 2010 season by, wait for it, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Prefer Madison based arts to Milwaukee? You can tell Elana at esiegel3@wisc.edu
