(Correction: The original post listed the incorrect date for the Sourdough Slim concert at Bernie’s Guitar. The concert is set for this Friday, Feb. 5)
Classical music fans won’t want to miss Monday night’s concert (7 p.m.) by the Leipzig String Quartet at Simpson University. One of the top string quartets in the world, the group’s Redding date is squeezed in between performances in New York and Los Angeles.
Kudos to Simpson’s stellar music program for bringing in the highly acclaimed quartet.
The concert holds a special appeal for Redding’s Jutta Spruce. Spruce grew up in Leipzig, Germany, and came to the United States in 1950 to marry Norman Spruce, who served in the Air Force during World War II. Spruce has lived in Redding for 32 years and she’s a classical music fan. She sponsors a violin chair for the North State Symphony.
"When I first read about (the concert) I thought, ‘Gee, I’m not reading this right,’ " Spruce said. "Anything musical that comes out of Leipzig is very well known. I myself am bringing 10 people. I hope they get a good turnout."
It’s been fun for Spruce to help promote the quartet, which was founded in 1988 and has toured internationally for two decades. She was interviewed by KRCR Channel 7 about the concert.
Other cities on the Leipzig String Quartet’s tour include, Paris, Tokyo, Boston and Chicago. This is the quartet’s only Northern California stop.
Over the years, the quartet has produced more than 60 recordings covering complete works of Brahms, Mozart, Mendelssohn Bartholdy and Schubert.
Tickets are $15 general admission, $12 for students/seniors. The concert will be held in the university’s Heritage Student Life Center (gymnasium).
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• If you haven’t seen traditional cowboy performer Sourdough Slim before, consider grabbing a ticket to tonight’s show (8 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5) at Bernie’s Guitar (3086 Bechelli Lane, 223-2040) in Redding. His performance is a hoot and the man can yodel. He performs with instrumentalist Bob Armstrong. Tickets are $18.
• It’s looking like a big audience for tonight’s performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus at the Cascade Theatre. Some 600 tickets have already been sold for the Shasta County Arts Council fundraiser. Tickets range from $10-$30. Click here or call 243-8877 for tickets.
• Oakland’s Elliot Randall and his three-piece combo were certainly a pleasant group to listen to Friday night at Vintner’s Cellar in downtown Redding. Playing original tunes from their latest CD, "Caffeine & Gasoline," the band had a nice, laid-back, rootsy style with beautiful harmony vocals. They perform at tonight at Mamma Llama’s coffeehouse in Weaverville.
