Musiqa Presents Contemporary Theater & Music, 4/6

Contemporary classical ensemble Musiqa, winner of the 2013 Chamber Music America/American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music, presents the electric, eclectic Word Play, the group's final Downtown Series performance of the season, on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hobby Center's Zilkha Hall. The concert features the world premiere of a one-act play by 2012 Susan Smith Blackburn prizewinner Jennifer Haley, with incidental music by Musiqa Artistic Director Anthony Brandt.

The play, a first-time collaboration for Musiqa with Haley and the Blackburn Prize, is titled Sphinx and explores the relationship of a couple during different periods in their life.

Leslie Swackhamer is the play's director and Jen Lucy and Joshua Estrada star in the leading roles.

The concert's musical program features fresh new works by Musiqa artistic board members, including a world premiere of Las Pilas, a new string trio by Rob Smith and Quelques Fleurs for clarinet, violin and piano by Karim Al-Zand. The concert also features compelling works by two contemporary composers of note: Roshanne Etezady and the Dutch avant-pop composer JacobTV, whose piece is accompanied by a film by visual artist Amber Boardman.

The concert's featured artists include Tali Morgulis, piano; Johnny Salinas, saxophone; Barrett Sills, cello; Yung-Hsiang Wang, violin; Ivo van der Werff, viola and Michael Webster, clarinet.

Musiqa's Word Play

Saturday, April 6, 2013

The Hobby Center for the Performing Arts, Zilkha Hall, 800 Bagby, Houston, Texas

7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $40-$20; 50% off for students and seniors

Tickets may be purchased at www.thehobbycenter.org