Music fest set to bring the world to the Union

If pianist-composer Gunnar Johansen articulated the world of ideas through music, the World Music Festival at the University of Wisconsin–Madison employs music to give voice to the world itself.

From Mexico to Finland, from Brazil to Zanzibar, from Turkey to Sicily, artists from around the globe and down the street will offer salient insights into international culture at the third annual event, Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 21-23.

Artists scheduled for the Madison program include Mexican folk ensemble Tien Huicani of Veracruz, guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriella, Forro for All of northeastern Brazil, Nordic musicians Gjallarhorn, Sicilian singer-songwriter-political activist Carmen Consoli, Culture Musical Club of Zanzibar, Afro-Brazilian performer Curumin, Berber ensemble Aza, the Whirling Dervishes of Turkey, the Alaev Family of central Asia and Les Yeux Noirs, French violinists specializing in Jewish and gypsy musical traditions.

In addition, Natacha Atlas will get the festival off to a rousing start on Tuesday, Sept. 19, with a concert at 8 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater. Moviegoers may recognize Atlas’ fusion of North Africa, Arabic and Western music from the soundtracks of “The World is Not Enough,” “Die Another Day” and “Hulk.” A tireless campaigner for women’s rights worldwide, Atlas’ collaborators include Sinead O’Connor and Amnesty International.

Tickets to the concert are $26, $22 and $18 for the general public, and $10 for UW–Madison students. Tickets are available through the Wisconsin Union Theater Box Office, (608) 262-2201.

All other festival events are free and open to the public, and will take place on the Union Terrace or Wisconsin Union Theater.

A week of lectures co-sponsored by the UW–Madison Division of International Studies and International Institute will precede the festival, giving additional depth and context to klezmer music (Monday, Sept. 18), international percussion (Tuesday, Sept. 19), traditions of Swedish-speaking Finns (Thursday, Sept. 21), central Asian music (Friday, Sept. 22) and more.

The lectures begin at noon at the Memorial Union (check Today in the Union for exact location).