SDSO Previews, Reviews & Features: Oct. 9 through Nov. 6

THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

26-01 OCT.

NOV.

LIVE FROM POWAY...

It’s ‘SNL’ alum Ana Gasteyer with a jazzy show of standards and contemporary songs >6

Critic’s Choice

Los Angeles Times

NIGHT ‘EVIL DEAD — THE MUSICAL’ 8 DAY RENAISSANCE FAIRE 20

Written and performed by James Lecesne Directed by Tony Speciale Original music by Duncan Sheik

The San Diego Union-Tribune

Critic’s Pick

“A tour de force performance!”

Fiinal Performances!

Must Close Sunday M

San Diego Reader

(619) 23-GLOBE (234-5623) James Lecesne. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

TheOldGlobe.org

Night + Day | THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE | THURSDAY • OCTOBER 26, 2017

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DEPA RTMENTS RADAR.......................................4 COVER STORY ............................6 STAGE........................................8 CLASSICAL MUSIC ...................10 DINING ....................................12 BEER .......................................13 POP MUSIC ..............................17 FAMILY ....................................20 MOVIES ...................................24

L I ST I N GS STAGE........................................9 ART/CLASSICAL MUSIC.............11 MUSIC .....................................19 EVENTS ...................................22 MOVIES ...................................25 MOVIE TIMES...........................26

CULINARY MILESTONE

I N FO R M AT I O N

Fifteen years later, chef Jeff Jackson’s Celebrate the Craft still pays homage to local chefs and food producers. PAGE 12

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Michael Rocha, (619) 293-1724 michael.rocha@sduniontribune.com ADVERTISING John Fields, Sales Manager (619) 293-2547 john.fields@sduniontribune.com MAILING ADDRESS: Night&Day, P.O. Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191 FAX & EMAIL: (619) 260-5082; night&day@sduniontribune.com GETTING LISTED Event information should be submitted to our online calendar at utsandiego.com/news/ entertainment/things-to-do at least three weeks before publication.

Limited space prevents printing all submissions, but we attempt to publish a representative sample.

NIGHT & DAY is published each Thursday.

THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE

26-01 OCT.

GOLDEN AGE The Escondido Renaissance Faire — with its romance, adventure and mystical magic — is back with a Halloween twist.

MUSICAL CHALLENGE

NOV.

PAGE 20

Violinist Nicola Benedetti asked composer Wynton Marsalis to make his concerto more difficult to perform. PAGE 10

LI FRO It’s ‘SNL’ alum Ana Gasteyer with a jazzy show of standards and contemporary songs >6

ON THE COVER Courtesy photo

NIGHT ‘EVIL DEAD — THE MUSICAL’ 8 DAY RENAISSANCE FAIRE 20

TA L K TO US

James Hebert Twitter: @JimHebert Facebook: UTTheater

Pam Kragen Twitter: @pamkragen Facebook: San Diego Theater Critics Circle

Michele Parente Twitter: @sdeditgirl Facebook: U-T Entertainment

Peter Rowe Twitter: @peterroweut Facebook: Brewery Rowe

— THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE

– R1 W E O B N EM V O N

“A vibrant winning revival! ”

George Varga Twitter: @GeorgeVarga Facebook: sdutpopmusic

“...powerful, riveting, and mesmerizing...masterfully directed”

“Director Richard Baird’s striking vision was so intense you could hear a pin drop.” — CAROL DAVIS, THEATRE CRITIC (858) 481-1055 | NORTHCOASTREP.ORG

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— DESERT LOCAL NEWS

BY GEORGE VARGA

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A

Night + Day | THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE | THURSDAY • OCTOBER 26, 2017

s one of the world’s most acclaimed young violinists, Nicola Benedetti has earned a stellar reputation for her ability to perform some of the most challenging works in classical music with flawless technical mastery and deep emotional conviction.

So what did this Scottish-born virtuoso tell jazz legend Wynton Marsalis after he sent her the first page of the violin concerto he had composed especially for her?

“I told him, ‘It’s too easy!’ ” Benedetti, 30, recalled, laughing at the memory.

How did Marsalis, 56, react to her “too easy” comment?

“He loved it!” she replied.

“He was relieved that somebody had responded like that. He’s

BRING IT ON

Violinist Nicola Benedetti asked composer Wynton Marsalis to make his concerto more difficult to perform SIMON FOWLER

used to having the opposite happen — that everyone tells him what he wrote is too complicated and will take too long to rehearse.”

As reference, Benedetti sent him scores to violin concertos by Beethoven, Shostakovich, Stravinsky and other composers. At her request, Marsalis happily and extensively reworked his Concerto in D Major before she debuted it in 2015 at concerts in Europe and last year in North America, including at the Hollywood Bowl and at the Ravinia festival in Chicago.

In his notes about the concerto, which draws largely from jazz, blues and Scottish reels, Marsalis points out some musical characteristics he and Benedetti share.

“Because Anglo-Celtic mythology, process, dance and music are all up in the roots of most forms of American folk expression, Nicky and I were able to mine our natural ancestry and mutual heritage,” Marsalis writes. “She gave me a first-class course on violin.”

Benedetti will perform the concerto Friday and Sunday with the San Diego Symphony and guest conductor Cristian Macelaru. The Jacobs Masterworks concert, which is billed as “Romance, Mystery, Marsalis,” will also feature Suite No. 1 from Bizet’s Carmen and RimskyKorsakov’s Scheherazade, Op. 35.

A tantalizing gourmet feast of various Americana music styles and

“ROMANCE, MYSTERY, MARSALIS” What: A San Diego Symphony Jacobs Masterworks concert, featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti and conductor Cristian Macelaru When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Sunday Where: Jacobs Music Center’s Copley Symphony Hall, 600 B St., downtown Tickets: $25-$76 Phone: (619) 235-0804 Online: sandiegosymphony.org classical, the concerto’s four movements are titled “Rhapsody,” “Rondo Burlesque,” “Blues” and “Hootenanny.”

They are a showcase for Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marsalis’ love of vernacular American music. In turn, his concerto provides Benedetti with a stunning vehicle for her balletlike ability to dance across the strings, her exceptional execution, and her skill at performing with pinpoint articulation at even the most accelerated tempos.

“It has evolved a lot,” she said of the 2-year-old concerto, speaking by phone last week from London. “The cadenza is almost entirely changed. I don’t think there’s a single note in it now that I played at the world premiere in London. But that’s always been the case — Wynton has rewritten the cadenza for almost every single performance.

“I think the solo instrumental profession is quite an extreme version of a discipline. By that, I mean most of the music we play — if not all of it — is music that, by necessity, you have put in a lot of hours just to get the virtuosic tempo and to have that element of magic you’re looking for onstage.

“That takes a lot of time and input.

What I was trying to explain to Wynton is that I sound better playing something I find really hard to begin with, and that I have to go through hell to learn. Because that’s where my comfort level lies.”

Benedetti was just 17 when she met and performed for Marsalis at New York’s Lincoln Center, where her audience also included two other legends — soprano Kathleen Battle and fellow violinist Itzhak Perlman.

“It was quite an overwhelming night!” she recalled with a laugh.

This summer, Benedetti became the youngest recipient ever of Queen Elizabeth’s prestigious Medal for Music. Have she and Marsalis ever performed together?

She laughed. “No, but next time you speak to him, tell him he should really consider it!” george.varga@sduniontribune.com

STAGE “The Tin Woman”: Through Nov. 5.

Lamplighters Community Theatre, 5915 Severin Drive La Mesa. $17-$20. (619) 303-5092 or lamplighterslamesa.com “Disney’s The Lion King”: Through Nov. 5. Lawrence Family JCC, 4126 Executive Drive San Diego. $15. sdcjc.org “Hand to God”: Through Nov. 12. San Diego Rep’s Lyceum Stage, 79 Horton Plaza, downtown. $20-$74. (619) 544-1000 or sdrep.org San Diego Opera presents Taste of Opera: Community Dialogue on Transgender Visibility in the Arts: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Diversionary Theatre, 4545 Park Blvd. #101, San Diego. $25. sdopera.org “On Golden Pond”: Oct. 27-Nov. 5.

Welk Resort Theatre, 8862 Lawrence Welk Drive, Escondido. $51 show only; $72 dinner and show; group pricing available. (888) 802-7469 or welkresorts.com/san-diego/theatre

Opera Wednesdays: 7 p.m. Nov. 8, Dec. 13. La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd., La Jolla. Suggested donation: $10. (858) 459-0831 or ljcommunitycenter.org San Diego Opera: “As One”: Nov. 10-12.

Joan B. Kroc Theatre, 6611 University Ave., San Diego. (619) 533-7000 or sdopera.org

Dance California Ballet: “Swan Lake”: Oct. 28, 29. San Diego Civic Theatre, 1100 Third Ave., downtown San Diego. $25-$125. (858) 560-6741 or californiaballet.org “Slumber Zone / Dreams, Daydreams & Fantasies”: Oct. 28, 29, Nov. 4, 5. The Vine Theater @ The Bernardo Winery, 13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego. $21-$36. 858 243-1402 or mojalet.com Russian Grand Ballet: “Swan Lake”: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway. $65-$85. russiangrandballet.com or powaycenter.com

“Tuck Everlasting”: Oct. 27-Nov. 12.

Casa Del Prado Theater Balboa Park, 1600 Village Place, San Diego. $11-$16. juniortheatre.com

San Diego Ballet: “Home Grown”: Nov 3-5, Nov. 10-12. White Box Live Arts, 2590 Truxtun Road #205, San Diego. $25-$55. sandiegoballet.org

“Clever Little Lies”: Oct. 27-Nov. 12.

Point Loma Playhouse, 3035 Talbot, Point Loma. $15-$20. pointlomaplayhouse.com

Comedy

NACAC Performing and Visual Arts College Fair: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28.

University of San Diego’s Hahn University Center, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego. (703) 299-6825 or nacacfairs.org/attend/pva “The Zoo Story”: 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, from Oct. 28-Nov. 12. Pioneer/Mission Hills Park, 1429 Washington Place, San Diego. $20 cash (only). sdactorstheatre.net “Crescendo: An Improvised Musical”: 9 p.m. Oct. 28. Old Town Improv Co., 2415 San Diego Ave Suite # 103, San Diego. $14-$17. oldtownimprov.com Poe Show, with New Fortune Theatre Company: 7 p.m. Oct. 30. San Diego Central Library, Neil Morgan Auditorium, 330 Park Blvd., San Diego. Free.

(619) 236-5831 or sdplcalendar.org Puppet Show in Balboa Park: Performances Wednesdays through Sundays.

Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater, 2130 Pan American Road, San Diego. $5.

(619) 544-9203 or balboaparkpuppets.com

Upcoming Let’s Drink! Fundraiser for Black Kat Theatre: 6 p.m. Nov. 3. Next Door Craft Beer & Wine Bar, 7235 El Cajon Blvd., San Diego. Free admission. blackkattheatre.com

Improv Shows: Thursdays through Sundays. Finest City Improv, 4250 Louisiana St., San Diego. (619) 3066047 or finestcityimprov.com Old Town Showdown — Improv Comedy Show: 7:15 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Old Town Improv Co., 2415 San Diego Ave. Suite # 103, San Diego. $7-$15. oldtownimprov.com/shows Mainstage Improv Comedy Shows: 7:30 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. National Comedy Theatre, 3717 India St., San Diego. $13-$18. (619) 295-4999 or nationalcomedy.com Comedy Hypnotist Marsha Starr: 8 p.m. Oct. 27, and Fridays through Nov. 24. Pala Casino Spa & Resort, 11154 Highway 76, Pala. $15. (800) 585-3737 or palacasino.com Joe Machi: Oct. 26-28. American Comedy Co, 818 Sixth Ave., San Diego. $14-$16. americancomedyco.com Rob Deez: 8 p.m. Oct. 27. Java Joe’s Old Town, 2611 Congress St., San Diego. $10. javajoessd.com Ron White: 8 p.m. Oct. 28. The Events Center at Harrah’s Resort, 777 Harrah’s Rincon Way, Funner. $45. harrahssocal.com Improv Comedy Show: “Hocus Pocus”: 9 p.m. Oct. 28. Finest City Improv, 4250 Louisiana St., San Diego. $15. (619) 306-6047 or finestcityimprov.com

“The Secret Garden”: Nov. 3-Dec. 24.

New Village Arts, 2787 State St., Carlsbad. $23-$47. (760) 433-3245 or newvillagearts.org

Steve Lemme & Kevin Heffernan: Nov. 2-4. The American Comedy Co., 818 Sixth Ave., Ste. #B, San Diego. $22. americancomedyco.com

“Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”: Nov. 4-Dec. 24. Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage at the Old Globe Theatre, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego. (619) 234-5623 or theoldglobe.org

Ana Gasteyer: 8 p.m. Nov. 4. Poway Center for the Performing Arts, 15498 Espola Road, Poway. $23-$60. (858) 748-0505 or powaycenter.com

“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”: Nov. 7-Dec. 17. La Jolla Playhouse’s Mandell Weiss Theatre, 2910 La Jolla Village Drive, La Jolla.

We are in the process of upgrading our online calendar. Until then, please email event information to night&day@sduniontribune.com

New Music Concert: “In:Transit,” with the Hausmann Quartet: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 26. Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $20-$25; $5 student. (858) 454-5872 or ljathenaeum.org Jacobs Masterworks: Romance, Mystery, Marsalis: Oct. 27, 29. Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego. $25-$63. sandiegosymphony.org Celtic Concert with The Center Chorale: 7 p.m. Oct. 27. California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 340 N. Escondido Blvd., Escondido. $10-$20.

(800) 988-4253 or artcenter.org “Ratatouille” in Concert: film with live orchestration: 4 p.m. Oct. 28.

Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., San Diego. Starting at $20. sandiegosymphony.org

NACAC Performing and Visual Arts College Fair: 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 28.

University of San Diego’s Hahn University Center, 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego. (703) 299-6825 or nacacfairs.org/attend/pva Opening: Kantha: Recycled and Embroidered Textiles of Bengal: Oct. 28-March 25. Mingei International Museum, 1439 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. $7-$10. (619) 239-0003 or mingei.org Reception: Conjuring Colors with Concetta Antico: 6 p.m. Oct. 28.

Mission Hills, San Diego. Free only with RSVP to info@concettaantico.com Reception: Josie Rodriguez: Collaborating with Nature: An Exploration of Contemporary Encaustic: 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 29; exhibition through Dec. 31. Pacific Beach/Taylor Library, 4275 Cass St., San Diego.

Free. pblibraryfriends.org Art History Lectures: Cornelia Feye: German Art of the 20th Century: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31. Athenaeum Music and Arts Library, 1008 Wall St., La Jolla. $14-$19 per lecture. (858) 454-5872 or ljathenaeum.org

erfineart.com Downtown at Sundown: We Are Here/Estamos Aquí: Exhibition through Oct. 29. SDSU Downtown Gallery, 725 W. Broadway, San Diego.

Free. art.sdsu.edu/we-are-hereestamos-aqui Gallery Selections 2017 / A Group Show: Exhibition through Oct. 29.

Sparks Gallery, 530 Sixth Ave., San Diego. Free with online RSVP required. (619) 696-1416 or sparksgallery.com 37th International Exhibition: Through Oct. 31. San Diego Watercolor Society: Gallery at Arts District Liberty Station, 2825 Dewey Road, Bldg #202, San Diego. Free. (619) 876-4550 or sdws.org James Austin Murray: Light On Black: Exhibition through Nov. 1.

Madison Gallery, 1055 Wall St., Suite

100, La Jolla. Free. (858) 459-0836 or madisongalleries.com

Ongoing Cannibals: Myth & Reality: Ongoing.

San Diego Museum of Man, 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego. $12.50 general admission. (619) 239-2001 or museumofman.org Monsters!: Ongoing. San Diego Museum of Man, 1350 El Prado, Balboa Park. $12.50 general admission. (619) 239-2001 or museumofman.org Skulls: Ongoing. San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park. $12-$19; free to members and children 2 and under. (619) 232-3821 or sdnhm.org

We are in the process of upgrading our online calendar. Until then, please email event information to night&day@sduniontribune.com

2017-2018 Season

La Jolla Symphony & Chorus

Closing 25 Art Prints from “The Saint John’s Bible”: Select hours Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 5.

First United Methodist Church, 2111

Vintage and Contemporary Poster Exhibit: Exhibition through Oct. 28.

Meyer Fine Art, 2400 Kettner Blvd., San Diego. (619) 358-9512 or mey-

Cecil Lytle piano

Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 pm Sunday, November 5 at 2:00 pm George Gershwin

An American in Paris Rhapsody in Blue Duke Ellington

Mood Indigo Solitude

STEVEN SCHICK conducts

Aaron Copland

Quiet City Guest artists: Cecil Lytle and Asher Tobin Chodos, piano; Stephanie Richards, trumpet

TICKETS: $15-$35

Pre-concert lecture by Steven Schick one hour prior to concert

858-534-4637 • lajollasymphony.com Mandeville Auditorium, UCSD

11 THURSDAY • OCTOBER 26, 2017 | THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE | Night + Day

FROM PAGE 9

Camino del Rio S., San Diego. Free. fumcsd.org/thesaintjohnsbible

(858) 550-1010 or lajollaplayhouse.org

Benedet t i l a ughed. “ I tdi dn’ ts eem tma t t erhowmuc hI ment i onedt ha tt oWy nt on, ” s her ec a l l ed. “ Heonl ybel i ev edi twhen hehea r di tf orhi ms el f . ” S hel a ugheda ga i n.

“ I t hi nkt hes ol oi ns t r ument a l pr of es s i oni squi t ea ne x t r emev er s i onofadi s c i pl i ne , ” Benedet t i s a i d. “ By t ha t , I mea nmos toft hemus i cwepl a y— i fnota l l ofi t— i smus i ct ha t , bynec es s i t y , y ouha v eputi na l otofhour sj us tt ogett hev i r t uos i ct empoa ndt oha v et ha tel ementofma gi cy ou’ r el ook i ngf orons t a ge . “ T ha tt a k esal otoft i mea ndi nput .

Wha tI wa st r y i ngt oe x pl a i nt oWy nt oni st ha tI s oundbet t erpl a y i ng s omet hi ngIndr ea l l yha r dt obegi nwi t h, a ndt ha tI ha v et ogot hr oughhel l t ol ea r n.

Bec a us et ha t ’ s wher emyc omf or tl ev el l i es . ” Ma r s a l i swa sonl y18whenhej oi nedAr tBl a k ey’ sf a bl edba nd, T heJ a z zMes s enger s , i n1980.

Wi t hi na f ewy ea r s , hewa saj a z zs t a ra ndba ndl ea deri nhi sownr i ght .

I n1983, t hea uda c i ousy oungt r umpet erbec a met he r s ta r t i s tev ert owi nGr a mmyAwa r dsf orbot h j a z za ndc l a s s i c a l a l bums— af ea ther epea t edt hef ol l owi ngy ea r .

I n1997, hewont hePul i t z erPr i z ef orMus i cf orhi sa mbi t i ousor a t or i o, “ Bl oodont heF i el ds . ” I n2009, t he F r enc hgov er nmentpr es ent edhi m wi t ht heL egi onofHonor , t ha tc ount r y’ shi ghes thonor .

Gi v enhi ss t a t ur e , di dBenedet t i hes i t a t et ot el l Ma r s a l i st os t a r tr ewr i t i nghi sc onc er t of orher ? “ I woul dn’ ts a yI wa shes i t a nt .

I k nowhi m wel l a ndha v ek nownhi mf oral ongt i me , ” s hes a i d, bef or e pa us i ngt or ec ons i dert heques t i on. “ I don’ tk now.

Per ha psI wa sal i t t l ehes i t a nt .

I k i ndofl ea r neddur i ngt hepr oc es s .

I t ’ sadel i c a t et hi ng whens omebodyi swr i t i ngs omet hi ngi nc r edi bl yper s ona l f ory out opl a y .

Andy ouwa ntt os a yt hi ngs t ha ta r eper c ei v eda sy ouwoul dl i k et hem t obe , bec a us ei t ’ sk i ndofda nger ousmi x i ngwor dsa nd ( mus i c a l ) not es . “ T her e ’ sal otofi nt el l i gentc onv er s a t i ont ha tc a ngoon.

Wha ts omeonei spl a y i ngha ss uc hdeni t i v e power … Ont heot herha nd, myhes i t a nc yt ot el l Wy nt ona ny t hi ngwa s n’ tbec a us eI f ea r edhi sr ea c t i on, butbec a us eI f ea r edhows er i ous l yhewoul dt a k ewha tI ’ ds a y .

I ’ dma k eamoment a r yc ommenta nd— t hene x tt hi ngI k new— her ewr i t t enac ompl et epa s s a ge!

S o, s eei ngt ha tha ppenac oupl eoft i mes , I wa sf a i r l yc ons i der eda ndwa i t edl ongerbef or et el l l i nghi ma ny t hi ng. ”

Benedet t i wa sj us t17whens hemeta ndper f or medf orMa r s a l i sa tNewY or k ’ sL i nc ol nCent er , wher eher a udi enc ea l s oi nc l udedt woot herl egends— s opr a noKa t hl eenBa t t l ea ndf el l owv i ol i ni s tI t z ha kPer l ma n. “ I twa squi t ea nov er whel mi ngni ght ! ” s her ec a l l ed. “ I wa se x t r emel yner v ous , notl ea s tbec a us eI t z ha k wa ss i t t i ngr i ghti nf r ontofme! “ T hewhol eev eni ngwa sl l edwi t hs oma ny( f a mous ) na mesa ndgr a ndeurt ha t , ev ena tt hi sa ge , I woul dbeov er whel medbyi t .

I pr oba bl yt ooki tmor ei ns t r i det hent ha nI woul dnow. ” Bef or ebef r i endi ngMa r s a l i s , t het hent eena gedBenedet t i wa saf a nofF r enc hv i ol i ngr ea tS t épha ne Gr a ppel l i a ndCa na di a nj a z zpi a nogi a ntOs c a rPet er s on.

Di dt het r umpet eri nt r oduc ehert ot hemus i cofs uc hAmer i c a nj a z zv i ol i ngr ea t sa sS t uffS mi t h, J oe Venut t i a ndRa yNa nc e? “ Al l oft hos ev i ol i ni s t s , ” Benedet t i r epl i ed. “ I twa snot hi ngenf or c edbyWy nt on, butheenc our a gedmet o l i s t ent os uc hahugedi v er s i t yofmus i c .

S omeofi ts eemeddi r ec t l yr el a t ed( t ot hec onc er t o) a nds ome l es ss o.

Hewoul ds ha r et hi ngswi t hme , outofi nt er es ta ndi nt r i gue , t ha thel ov edt hes oundof . ” I na ddi t i ont oi mpr ov i s a t i on, j a z zv i ol i npl a y i ngc a nut i l i z ec er t a i ns oundsa ndi ns t r ument a l a ppr oa c hes —s l ur s , bends , s pont a neouss y nc opa t i ons— r a r el yempl oy edi nc l a s s i c a l mus i c .