Photo: Akira Kinoshita

Susan Isaacs Nisbett
Ann Arbor, Mich. (Sept. 12, 2014)
You can pretty much count on the fingers of one hand the classical musicians who can fill a hall without announcing what the heck they’ll play when they finally show up in town.

My informal poll, limited to living musicians (no fair naming Horowitz, folks!) and conducted at dinner parties, at lunch with friends and in chats with classical music aficionados here and elsewhere, turned up (in alphabetical order) mezzo Cecilia Bartoli, soprano Renee Fleming, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Murray Perahia and violinist Itzhak Perlman. (Who would you put on the list?)

Perlman, of course, just happens to be opening the University Musical Society Choral Union Series, with a recital at Hill Auditorium Sunday at 6 p.m., accompanied by pianist John Root.

And, on name and iconic status alone, the 69-year-old violinist almost sold out Hill before he got around to declaring at least some repertoire for the recital as Labor Day approached. At this writing only a few clusters of rear balcony seats remain.

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