ADORNO at the Quad Cities

in Iowa and Illinois

March 19-24, 2007

ADORNO spent one week in the Quad Cities in Iowa/Illinois through a wonderful program held by Quad City Arts. We visited several places that included grade schools, communities, and colleges. Many of the kids were already making visits to the local orchestra, as they demonstrated their knowledge of composers and performance practice. We performed Ned Rorem's String Quartet No. 4 which is based on ten works of painter Pablo Picasso. The music was presented with a slide show of the works with an integrated discussion on how the music related to each painting or drawing. Students had some very creative and individual responses to the music. We were all very impressed with each school. With as many as 500 children in each performance, they all seemed very well-adapted for concert going. We hope that they will attend more concerts in the future! We finished our tour of the Quad Cities with a final concert at the Capitol Theater, where we performed an all-American contemporary program with works by Derek Bermel, Andrew Imbrie, Ned Rorem, and Ernest Bloch.

At Moline Highscool in Illinois

Taking a break in between shows at Largomarchino's,

an old confectionary store in downtown Moline.

Some of the best chocolate easter eggs

and milk shakes we've ever had.

Arriving at the First United Methodist Church for a noontime concert.

ADORNO performing at Black Hawk College

Quad City Arts housed us in The Lodge in Bettendorf. Generously donated by the hotel in support of visiting artists, The Lodge is a medieval faux German castle lodge complete with paintings and other early European-like ornaments AND a moat! We have all witnessed the eyes from the various portraits following us around the hotel.

In the Lodge lobby

Not venturing too far from our Lodge, because we had early morning shows everyday during the week, we discovered an Old Chicago restaurant across the street. Also discovered their addictive trivia TV game. ADORNO played against heavy hitters such as Toyota, Porn, and our biggest nemesis, ZOG! We have NO idea who these people are, but we were able to win a few games (when no one else was there...)

At Old Chicago

Where do people in Quad Cities eat? Probably at home mostly... but we found a wonderful Lebanese restaurant in Davenport called the Phoenician Cafe. We HIGHLY recommend this place. A small family run restaurant that makes incredible lamb and beef, hummus, and the freshest pita bread (flat bread?) ever. Apparently not enough people know about this place!

If you ever find yourself in the Quad Cities,

be sure to check them out.

The Phoenician Cafe

The Lodge is used for various purposes,

including conventions and other gatherings.

I think that the National Clockmakers convention visited?

However, we drove back in one night to see this:

(we have no idea what this means)

Towards the end of our week, we performed for an insurance company, The Modern Woodmen of America. A wonderful audience to play for, we were happy to perform a live concert to these very thoughtful and fine people. MWA has been a large supporter for the arts, and we really appreciate it!


Playing for the Modern Woodmen of America

ADORNO members setting up for the final concert at

the Capitol Theater in Davenport, IA.

The Capitol Theater in Davenport is a historical movie house. From what we understand, all the fixtures are all original from the 1920's. It is a beautiful theater in terrible need of repair. You can still see the old glamour of the traditional movie house with its pipe organ and piano, and incredible facades. The day before our concert, it was raining and the theater's roof began to leak. Water stains were on the stage, and plaster fell from the ceiling before and during the concert. If there is a theater that should be saved, it really should be the Capitol.

Keisuke's dream piano...