By David Luhrssen
Armenian music from the present and past will be live on stage in Milwaukee during the next several months.
First up, a composition by Detroit’s Eve Beglarian, based on a traditional melody, will be performed as part of Present Music’s "Women in the Chamber" program. An internationally acclaimed ensemble from Milwaukee dedicated to exploring classical music from the 20th and 21st centuries, Present Music will perform Beglarian’s music as part of a concert of work by contemporary female composers. The concert is scheduled for 2 p.m., Jan. 9 at the Women’s Club of Wisconsin, 813 E. Kilbourn Ave.; and 7:30 p.m., Jan. 10 and 11 at Anodyne Coffee Roasters, 224 W. Bruce St. For tickets call (414) 271-0711 or go to www.presentmusic.org.
Later this year, a nationally recognized touring group called East of the River will present a performance of centuries-old music in a program called "Levantera." Led by Jesse Kotansky on oud and violin, the concert promises to "travel east through the Balkans to Armenia and the Middle East." East of the River will perform at 5 p.m., March 15 at UWM’s Zelazo Center, 2400 E. Kenwood Blvd. For tickets call (414) 225-3113 or go to EarlyMusicNow.org.