Fine arts Tuning in

Every season, the UW World Series draws 50,000 listeners to Meany Hall for the ongoing concert series that brings internationally renowned artists to our front door.

The series features four different programs available for subscription -- World Music and Theater, World Dance, International Chamber Music and President's Piano. University students have the luxury of only needing to cross campus to enjoy world-class musicians in an intimate and unpretentious setting.

And just so you don't have an excuse not to go, the program generously offers single tickets half-price to students with a Husky Card.

Young, up-and-coming pianists dominate the 2004 President's Piano Series, introducing Seattle to the future leaders of music while they still resemble the photos that accompany their bios.

Over last quarter's finals week, 23-year-old Jonathan Biss was the fourth pianist to perform as part of the President's Piano program, which late last year featured the massively popular pianist Lang Lang. Biss was awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant in 1999, and has performed all over the world and with most major American orchestras.

In a Wednesday evening concert that featured the music of Berg, Mozart, Kirchner and Schubert, Biss' performance was exemplary. Some restructuring of the program would have strengthened the concert itself. There are a few holes in the logic of sandwiching Mozart's "A Minor Rondo" between twentieth-century sonatas by both Berg and Kirchner.

The Mozart rondo, a profound yet simple work, was overplayed and over-romanticized. The Mozart was a replacement for the originally scheduled Davidsbundlertanze by Robert Schumann. Biss would have faired better had he stuck to his first plan and performed a work that allowed him romantic freedom.

Despite this, Biss proved to be a master of all elements of the piano. With disciplined and controlled technique, he drew out a beautiful and distinct personal sound from the instrument. The aurally complex contemporary works were well thought out and clearly executed.

Biss' interpretation of Franz Schubert's "Sonata in A Major" revealed a musician of considerable maturity and restraint. Even though Biss seemingly has everything working for him, the performance came across as safe and risk free.

What Biss lacked was a connection with the audience. That lack of communication, vital to great artistry, shows the youth of this budding musician.

Up next on the UW World Series calendar is Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, which comes to Meany this weekend (Mar. 31 to April 2). They will perform "Beyond the Blues," a work tracing the evolution of music from Africa into American spirituals, jazz, and hip-hop.

It's affordable, close, and world class -- there's no reason not to attend the UW World Series this quarter.