Learned from Shulamit Ran

Melia Watras

Tonight, violist Melia Watras performs the world premiere of Perfect Storm, by composer Shulamit Ran. I went to hear Ran speak this afternoon at the University of Washington's School of Music.

Here are two things I liked from her talk:

• In the early 20th century, there was the emancipation of dissonance. Why not have an emancipation of consonance?
• Every work must contain the seeds of its own destruction.

Listening to Ran play and discuss her music, I was reminded that composers should be mindful of both the abstract considerations of craft as well as an emotional connection with the organic. Watras' program shows both craft and emotion with two works by Luciano Berio along with music by George Rochberg and Atar Arad.

Melia Watras, Viola: Ispirare

25 October 2010, 7:30PM

Meany Theater

4001 University Way NE

Seattle WA 98105