Critic’s Choice

Tue May 22, 2012 at 1:34 pm

By Lawrence A. Johnson

The International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) performs Saturday night at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Photo: Liz Linder

The NATO summit is over, but the anti-establishment mood continues this week with two envelope-pushing programs of contemporary music.

The Spektral Quartet and High Concept Laboratories present “Theatre of War” in two performances. The multimedia program, which will examine the effects of war on soldiers and their families, will include George Crumb’s Vietnam-era quartet Black Angels and Drew Baker’s Stress Position for solo piano,  as well as poetry readings and short films. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division. spektralquartet.com  All proceeds will be donated to the Vet Art Project.

Seattle Symphony music director Ludovic Morlot will join the International Contemporary Ensemble Saturday night for their final season concert at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The program will spotlight the music of experimental French composer Georges Aperghis with his Signaux for two violins and two violas and the Chicago premiere of Shot in the Dark, for soprano and large chamber ensemble, commissioned by ICE. The program will also feature Golpe en la diafragma by Juan Pablo Carreño and Omaggio a Berio by Patricia Alessandrini. Concert time is 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art. MCAChicago.org; iceorg.org.

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