The San Antonio-based SOLI Chamber Ensemble makes its Dallas debut on Friday, Oct. 2, at Jonsson Performance Hall, performing works by Olivier Messiaen and UT Dallas Professor of Music Robert Xavier Rodríguez.

Messiaen’s monumental Quartet for the End of Time will be juxtaposed with Rodríguez’ Les Niais Amoureux and its companion piece Música, por un tiempo, commissioned by the ensemble in 2008.

“The Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time is one of the greatest pieces ever written, and it is so difficult that it is rarely performed,” Rodríguez said.  “I designed both of my pieces as companions to the Quartet for the End of Time. Les Niais Amoureux is based on French themes, and Música, por un tiempo deals with the subject of time.”

“Although both of my pieces have been played before, this will be the first time they will be played together or with the Messiaen. I am delighted that SOLI, who featured an all-Rodríguez program at one of their first concerts, has chosen to include my music in their Dallas debut,” Rodríguez said. “They hold a position of great respect, similar to our Voices of Change ensemble here in Dallas.  SOLI specializes in the music of living composers, and they are sublime artists, individually and collectively.”

Members of the chamber group are particularly excited about their upcoming performance at UT Dallas.  “It’s a thrill for SOLI to bring Robert’s new work, Musica, por un tiempo, to Dallas music lovers,” said clarinetist Stephanie Key.  “Robert’s music has a life and heartbeat of its own. We have so enjoyed working on the piece and exploring its rhythms and sounds. It will be a great pleasure to perform it in October.”

Tickets are $20.  The concert begins at 8 p.m. and is free to students with a UT Dallas photo ID at the venue box office the night of the event. Advance-purchase discounts are available to faculty, staff, alumni, retirees and students on Vendini, the online ticketing system for the School of Arts and Humanities. Call the box office at 972-883-2552 (Hours: Mon. – Fri., 2 – 5 p.m.) for more details.

Media Contact: Jimmie Markham, UT Dallas, (972) 883-4995, jrm014010@utdallas.edu
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, newscenter@utdallas.edu


Professor Robert X. Rodríguez’s Les Niais Amoureux and its companion piece, Música, por un tiempo, will be juxtaposed with Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time.

 
Soli Chamber Ensemble
The SOLI Chamber Ensemble featured an all-Rodríguez program at one of its first concerts.