Details

Who: Magik*Magik String Quartet

When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts

Tickets: $30 general, $15 students; www.mondaviarts.org, (530) 754-2787

The San Francisco-based Magik*Magik String Quartet will give a concert at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Vanderhoef Studio Theatre at the Mondavi Center.

This diverse foursome — a pull-out group featuring members of the Magik*Magik Orchestra — will explore some traditional works for string quartet, including a movement of Haydn’s “Emperor” String Quartet, from 1797, as well as a more modern classic, a movement from Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet, from 1903.

Then, the quartet will move into selections drawn from contemporary film music, as well as a cover version of “Paranoid Android,” adapted from the popular song by the group Radiohead.

The Magik*Magik String Quartet was picked for this concert by UC Davis students participating in the Aggie Arts program, which aims to build a stronger connection between the Mondavi Center, students and the campus community.

Aggie Arts was initiated in 2011 with support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Aggie Arts participants train in the field of arts presenting — including planning the concert, handling the contracts and promoting the event.

Annie Phillips, manager of the Magik*Magik Orchestra, said the cabaret-style program will start at 8 p.m. and feature a pre-concert talk, including the musicians and the Aggie Arts interns. Topics likely will include how the public perception of the string quartet has changed as groups have moved from the traditional recital hall repertoire into new settings, playing in clubs or recording film music.

After this short discussion, “we’ll have about an hour of music from the string quartet,” Phillips said.

The various members of the Magik*Magik Orchestra have regular jobs with a variety of Bay Area musical institutions.

“Most of us are recent conservatory grads (many from the San Francisco Conservatory), a lot of us are freelancers,” Phillips said. “A lot of us play in the (so-called) Freeway Philharmonic” — i.e., multiple gigs with part-time orchestras, involving a fair amount of time on the highway, driving to rehearsals and performances in different locations.

“My day job is with the San Francisco Symphony, in public relations,” Phillips added.

“We started Magik*Magik in 2008, appearing with Radiohead guitarist Johnny Greenwood in a performance of his piece ‘Popcorn Superhet Receiver,’ ” Phillips said. “We’ve also played with Sting, Chicago, cellist Zoe Keating, and others.

“Right now, some of our people are on tour with the group Death Cab for Cutie. We also just recorded our first film score, for the movie ‘Looper,’ which is coming out in September. It’s directed by Rian Johnson, and Bruce Willis is in it.”

Aggie Arts intern Megan Friel said, “This performance especially targets a student audience, in keeping with Aggie Arts’ mission of building a stronger bridge between the Mondavi Center and the campus community. The performance will help students look closely at patterns in music that exist in classical pieces that they may not be familiar with, and in contemporary pieces that they know well.”

Friel added that “following the performance, there will be a reception in the lobby including music and refreshments, giving guests a chance to continue conversations about music sparked by the performance, and become more familiar with the venue that we are lucky enough to have right here on campus.”

While the program is geared toward university students, the general public is welcome. Tickets are $30 general, $15 for students, available at www.mondaviarts.org or (530) 754-2787.

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Magik*Magik String Quartet members who will perform Tuesday evening at the Mondavi Center are drawn from the larger group, based in the Bay Area. Courtesy photo

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