I write this column for The Reader because I strongly believe in the ARTS in this community of Duluth, MN and Superior, WI. I have never lived in a community this small, - about 100,000 residents - and I have never lived in a community this rich in the entire spectrum of the ARTS. Go figure!!

More than anything else, I want to encourage all of my readers to be aggressive supporters of the ARTS in this USA community. I am a performing artist, and I am a constant attender of artistic events when I am not performing. A considerable part of my annual income supports all of the ARTS in this community, and I want you to be equally engaged.

Ann Reed Is Back At Duluth Congregational Church

By the time you read this article, the most important musical event is the onset of the Pride Weekend in Duluth/Superior. Part of the activity begins on Friday evening, September 04, with an annual performance by Minneapolis-based songwriter Ann Reed, at Duluth Congregational Church, 3833 E. Superior St., right here in the middle of Duluth. Her new songs, year after year, catch up with political changes, cultural changes, and the delightful world of Minnesota. This 7pm concert is a family event, open to all ages and persuasions, and I hope you choose to include it in your early weekend activities.

Greg Tiburzi Has A New, Thought-Provoking CD

During this same week, local songwriter Greg Tiburzi has been busy in the release of a new CD based on some introspective creations about the fragility of life. Our Time in the Sun is the name of the new CD, and it features Greg on guitar, Patty Dorn on keyboard and vocals, with Bryan Gatten on guitar, and Tim Churchill on bass. The official release was last week at the Teatro Zuccone, but the CD is steadily available at Greg’s website, http://www.gregtiburzi.bandcamp.com/. The music is delightful, the texts are thought-provoking, so you might enjoy exploring this new creation. I personally recommend the title song, Our Time in the Sun,  and the final song, Drink the Wild Air. It was delightful to attend the release concert, but the ongoing enjoyment of the music is unlimited.

DSSO  IS  READY  TO  STAGE  ITS  GENESIS  CONCERT

It is September now, and performances by the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra begin in earnest on Saturday night, September 12. I am particularly attracted to music by composers who are alive and younger than I am, and Miguel del Aguila is certainly that. This Uruguay/America composer has made a huge name for himself in the classical/operatic world, and this will be the first time his music has been performed here in Duluth. Two staples of the classical repertoire will be included on the program. The massive Fourth Symphony by the highly emotional Robert Schumann will be  included, along with the 3rd Piano Concerto by Sergei Prokofiev, his most popular. Alexander Korsantia, a pianist who has performed in Duluth before, will be the soloist. I urge you to drop in and listen to powerful live music, performed at its best by the DSSO. My reviewing thoughts will follow that performance.


Chamber  Music  From  The  DSSO  Players

Finally, I want to mention the new ‘Chamber Music Series’ the DSSO is offering in conjunction with the performances spaces within the Duluth Depot. The first program is on Tuesday, September 15, and will give you a chance to meet individual musicians in an intimate setting.
More about the local theater, musical, and visual arts opportunities will be forthcoming as we move into a new academic year. Artistic explosion and color is simply part of the fall scene in Duluth-Superior, USA.