“The Quad City Symphony Orchestra is thinking outside the traditional concert hall” for a May 11 performance at Rust Belt, a concert space/former warehouse in East Moline, Illinois with indie rocker Har Mar Superstar, writes Jonathan Turner in Wednesday’s (3/27) Quad City Times (Iowa). “Sean Tillmann (aka Har Mar Superstar) specializes in R&B, pop and soul music … but has not partnered with local orchestras … A chamber orchestra of about 15 players will do its own set with music by J.S. Bach, Bela Bartok, Igor Stravinsky and [‘Palimpsest’ by] contemporary composer [Carl Christian] Bettendorf, followed by a collaborative set of 12 of Har Mar Superstar’s favorite originals. His band will feature bass, drums and keyboard…. Quad City Symphony executive director Brian Baxter said Monday the board and staff have been looking for a ‘totally different’ venue and program for the orchestra to perform in, as well as partnering with a non-classical guest artist…. ‘It’s a big audience development push—to bring our patrons to a space they normally wouldn’t be in, and we want their fans to see us,’ [said Baxter].… The May 11 concert is a trial run for doing occasional alternative programs like this, Baxter said.”
Posted April 2, 2019
