Cellist Matt Haimovitz has embarked on a mission to bring the usually elite art of classical music to the public.
Imagine this: A group of people are sitting in a small, dingy, smoky neighborhood bar, listening to the normal variety of rock music while drinking their drink of choice. Suddenly, bar patrons become the audience for one of the world's most accomplished classical cello players without ever leaving that smoky neighborhood bar. Is this a gripping scenario?
Haimovitz thought it would be and so far, he's been right.
The cellist is taking classical music out of opera houses and concert halls and into the same sort of venues where you might find your favorite local band.
Tomorrow, Haimovitz will be busting into Puccini's Golden West, bringing with him Bach, Jimi Hendrix, Lou Harrison and others.
"Years of looking at my audience and not seeing my peers was a sad experience," he said.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
So it all clicked - taking his music to smaller venues would make it more accessible. During the next year he will visit all 50 states to do just that.
His new album, Anthem, fits the bill perfectly as it is a celebration of living American music. Although written mostly in the last two years, Anthem begins with an acoustic rendition of Hendrix's version of the "The Star-Spangled Banner."
"The album goes through a wide variety of styles - blues, jazz, world music," Haimovitz said.
He also personalized all of the pieces for his cello, making it sound like a variety of other instruments in the classical world.
"There are moments when you don't recognize the cello," he said.
So what's a classical music show at a bar like?
"The atmosphere is like a rock concert," Haimovitz said. "There's a lot of cheering going on, lots of feedback if the audience thinks something is impressive. There has been an amazing response so far."
Haimovitz said he keeps the pieces relatively short, six or seven minutes, to keep the audience interested and having a good time.
"People have a great time," he said." I want them to take something more out of the show, but I also want them to have fun."
He said because he performs in unconventional places, the atmosphere is unpredictable which makes it a fun and different experience for the now 32-year-old who began playing with an orchestra when he was 12. At a show in Los Angeles, two men almost broke into a fight over spilled wine, cell phones were ringing all night and instead of feeling frustrated, Haimovitz said he found the experience comedic.
"You get a whole range of audiences, you really don't know what to expect," he said. "When I started this it was very intimidating going to these clubs. I was brought up to play in a concert hall, but now it has become something I can't live without."
His firm belief that classical music should not be an elitist art really drives him.
"It's not meant for the few, it is meant to be enjoyed," he said.
Puccini's Golden West is at 620 Central Ave. Tickets are $12. Haimovitz will take the stage at 8 p.m. Call 243-7546 for more information.
