Saturday, February 2, 2013

Rick Robinson & CutTime Classical Music Performances in Detroit Feb. 5, Dearborn Feb. 13, Warren Feb. 17 & Battle Creek Mar. 3, 2013


Bassist Rick Robinson at CR launch in Grand Rapids, MI

CutTime News
Jan. 31, 2013 

Greetings!     

It's been a terrific first month after resigning from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. I've been making new friends left and right for CutTime and for classical music among those who avoid classical music.

I attended the biggest booking conference in North America (APAP), pressing my points to concert presenters that we can meet and hook new audiences OUTSIDE of our venues with truly meaningful experiences where people already gather and discover other music... and then slowly draw them INTO our venues. I proposed weeklong community residencies to this effect to everyone I met... because this is the most rewarding work for me now and I have the books of music and explanations of classical music ready to make it work. Many were in agreement with me.

It was also a great pleasure to attend the Chamber Music America booking conference right after APAP. The focus here was on classical and jazz with dozens of showcases, more roundtable discussions and meet-and-greets galore! Besides the chance to establish important relationships with presenters, it proved the perfect opportunity to show my Simfonica music scores to string quartet musicians or their agents to propose performances of my comps. Several were very interested.

While in New York City I finally attended my first concert at the famous Le Poisson Rouge, the first nightclub to feature classical music in the United States. I really marveled at the technological robustness of the room. It essentially has two raised stages but can also be configured to feature the performers on the floor in the center of the room. Lighting and amplification are at the ready. I also visited the Harlem School of the Arts and proposed a reading session next season.

After this seminal New York City experience I drove home to Detroit then on to Chicago to prepare a Battle Creek, MI Simfonica performance with Chicago freelancers. Sadly, an expected ice storm forced us to reschedule this concert for March 3. Secretly, I enjoy being so flexible and responsive to the needs of so many people... I didn't mind a bit.

And this week I've been subbing with the Grand Rapids Symphony for a video games concert (Tuesday) and Bruckner 7th Symphony concerts Friday/Saturday. Not only is it wonderful to play such incredible music in an orchestra every now and then, but some GRS musicians last month asked me to set up another Classical Revolution event like we did last July. This time the word got out and 60 people signed up on Facebook to attend! Had the weather not turned cold and snowy suddenly, I'm sure we'd have had wall-to-wall people last night at the Speak EZ Lounge! We started with trios, then the CutTime quartet book of symphonic adaptations before great duets. Then we wrapped up with the suite from Bizet's Carmen and the slow movements from Beethoven's 7th and Mahler's 1st symphonies! (See picture above.) It's funny how LITTLE it takes to bring classical music to the masses!

Which is why a little help goes a long way to helping classical music bridge to the future. My campaign to expand Classical Revolution Detroit (CRD) ends in 6 days. It is far behind schedule! I'm certainly a better artist than a fundraiser... but I can't do it alone. Please follow this link and make a donation today and tell 2 or 3 interested friends... esp. friends who HATE classical music because this will likely change their minds! Next CRD events are Feb. 5 and 17 (below). Next (rehearsed) CutTime concert is Feb. 13 in Dearborn, MI. Oh, also check out my new article in SYMPHONY magazine!

Some other reads have me thinking in new directions. Here's one on the difference between promotion and persuasion models for the arts. And here's one by the new boss at Universal Music encouraging engagement. And basketball star Kobe Bryant declares his love of Beethoven.

Thanks for caring! Stay warm!

- Rick
CRD at Cadieux Cafe
CRD = New Classical
Majestic Cafe CRD
Just ahead of the end of our crowd-funding campaign to EXPAND the CRD series, we expect a great turnout of volunteer musicians and music lovers curious about classical music.
Who knows what magical treasures awaits new listeners hearing masterpieces for the first time. Mr. CutTime gives his spontaneous, personal insights about why classical music still matters, breathing new life into this dramatic gift of humanity to itself. He might even serve up a few of his own funky works.

Event Info
Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Time: 8p-11
Ticket price: FREE FREE FREE!
Location: Cadieux Cafe
4300 Cadieux Rd.  Detroit, MI 48224
Program: Impromptu
Special Guests: YOU!
CutTime Simfonica at Fair Lane Music Guild
The Power of Love program for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day will never be the same after a date with Mr. CutTime's powerful program featuring his hot and steamy Mighty Love story interspersed with other works of romantic insight. Phoenix Ensemble violinist/director Gabe Bolkosky will join Simfonica along with Fort Wayne Philharmonic principal violist Derek Reeves!
  

Event Info
Date: Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Time: 7:30p-9:05
Ticket prices: $15/14/9
Location: Henry Ford Estate- Fair Lane
4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, north of Michigan Ave
Program: The complete Mighty Love suite, Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture, Tango from Claude Bolling's violin suite, Gymnopedie No. 1 by Erik Satie, and more.
Classical Revolution at Kuhnhenn Brewing
Wine-tasting and Beer-thoven on Tap
  
With a special (ticketed) wine-tasting in one half of this very popular brewery and the regular Sunday crowd in the other half, the microcosm of society will enjoy appropriate music for drinking, tasting and dreaming to CutTime charts and famous hits!
Come check it out!

Event Info
Date: Sunday, February 17, 2013
Time: 6p-8
Ticket price: FREE FREE FREE!
Location: Kuhnhenn Brewing Co.
5919 Chicago (13.5 Mile Rd. at Mound Rd.) Warren, MI 48092
Program: Impromptu
Special Guests: YOU!
  
CutTime Simfonica in Battle Creek
Introducing CutTime Simfonica
 
The first appearance in Battle Creek, MI features a balanced program showcasing CutTime favorites. Working with top freelancers from Chicago, Mr. CutTime introduces and leads his music for this popular church series sponsored in part by the Michigan Touring Arts Program.

Event Info
Date: Rescheduled for Sunday, March 3, 2013
Time: 4pm-5:35
Ticket price: FREE admissions
Location: First Congregational Church of Battle Creek
145 Capital Ave., NE 49017
Program:
Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture -Glinka
Symphony No. 25 opening -Mozart
Waltz from Serenade for Strings -Tchaikovsky
Prelude Op. 23, No. 5 -Rachmaninoff
Pork 'N Beans -Robinson
Surprises
City of Trees -Robinson
Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 -Enescu 

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