"What's the use of stories that aren't even true?" Written in the aftermath of the fatwa, Salman Rushdie responded with a fantasy world that nevertheless deals with the world of harsh political reality. The Haroun Songbook is a collection of excerpts for voices and piano of Charles Wuorinen's opera,Haroun and the Sea of Stories, helping us celebrate the 70th birthday of this longtime Southwest Chamber Music friend. 

The first half of the program will feature Wuorinen's Eleven Short Pieces for Violin & Vibraphone (West Coast Premiere), the Ave Maria Virgo Serena for violin, clarinet, violoncello, piano, and the West Coast Premiere of Iridule for oboe solo and ensemble.  Pre-concert talk will be at 7:30 pm.  Tickets are $38 (general) $28 (senior) and $10 (student w/ID)

Performers for these concerts are: Elissa Johnston, Kathleen Roland, sopranos; Robert MacNeil, tenor; Cedric Berry, bass-baritone; Phillip Bush, piano; Shalini Vijayan, violin; Peter Jacobson, cello; Jonathan Davis, oboe; Larry Kaplan, flute & piccolo; Jim Foschia, bass clarinet; Lynn Vartan, percussion; Jeff von der Schmidt, conductor.