Present Music to Host Forty Something Concert
The ensemble performs genre-bridging works on October 30, 2026, at the UW-Milwaukee Zelazo Center.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Medieval and Renaissance
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Present Music will perform its Forty Something concert at the Zelazo Center on October 30, 2026. The program explores the human body as both instrument and subject through various musical works.
Why it matters
The concert program examines the intersection of physical movement and sound by pairing historic pieces with genre-bridging contemporary compositions. It highlights the ensemble's focus on experimental music during its 45th season.
The performance features diverse works including Vinko Globokar's 1985 piece ?Corporel and Alex Temple's 2013 composition 3 Arms and 17 Half-legs. Aviva Kopelman's 2013 remix of Mozart's Symphony No. 40 also appears on the program.
The players
Present Music
This is a Milwaukee-based contemporary music ensemble currently celebrating its 45th season.
Deanna Tham
She serves as the conductor for the ensemble pieces being performed at the concert.
Wild Space
This is a dance company contributing a performance to the Forty Something concert program.
Michael Mizrahi
He is the performer scheduled to play the 2026 piano concerto titled Limina.
The details
Deanna Tham conducts the ensemble as it performs pieces ranging from Nico Muhly's 2011 work Doublespeak to a piano concerto by Donnacha Dennehy. The event also incorporates a dance performance from Wild Space.
Timeline
October 30, 2026, marks the Forty Something concert at the UW-Milwaukee Zelazo Center.
November 22, 2026, is the date for the Present Music Thanksgiving celebration.
September 2026 was when the work 7x7x7 premiered at the Woman's Club of Wisconsin.
Industry Dynamics
This performance aligns with the 45th season of Present Music, which anchors the ensemble's ongoing commitment to staging contemporary works. The program reflects a broader trend of bridging classical repertoire with experimental, genre-defying new music.
Residents can attend the performance at the Zelazo Center on October 30, 2026. Those interested in attending can call 414-229-4308 to secure their tickets for the event.
The takeaway
Attending live experimental performances allows audiences to see how modern composers reinterpret historic structures like Mozart's symphonies. These events provide a deeper look at how the human body acts as an instrument through sound and motion.
What happens next
Present Music will release video selections to its YouTube channel throughout the year following the concert.
Further reading
Explore more performances in the Medieval and Renaissance section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Urban Milwaukee.
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