Classical Notes

Eugene Symphony brings a trio of top singers to join its chorus for the Thursday, March 20, performance of Haydn’s great oratorio, The Creation, at the Hult. After one of the most famous opening scenes in music — nothing less than what we’d now call the Big Bang — the great classical composer doesn’t need no stinkin’ sets or theatrical props, using only his most colorful music to paint scenic portraits of the events and even animals described in the Christian creation myth.

On March 21 at the UO’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, we go from Puccini’s view of the American West to musical views of the American South. The Tardis Ensemble plays the great 20th-century African-American composer William Grant Still’s gorgeous 1960 Lyric Quartet, Brooke Joyce’s 2006 Sorrow Songs, which incorporates recorded voices of former slaves, and music by contemporary African-American composers Frederick Tillis and Valerie Coleman (from Imani Winds). After the concert (part of the museum’s exhibition Emancipating the Past: Kara Walker’s Tales of Slavery and Power), UO musicology instructor Larry Wayte facilitates a discussion of race, identity and the experience of African-American composers in Western classical music.

World music fans can catch the fine Portland sitar player Josh Feinberg with Eugene tabla master Josh Humphrey on March 23 at Tsunami Books.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!