Concert to Benefit Phillips Brooks House

A Benefit Concert Performances by Scott Yoo and Max Levinson Friday, October 9 At Sanders Theater

Find it difficult to enjoy higher culture? Scared of arriving underdressed at a gala event or ending up mired in conversations with condescending elite?

Fear no more, say Scott Yoo '93 and Max Levinson '93, the featured performances in A Benefit Concert to be given tomorrow night in Sanders Theater. In a recent interview with the Crimson, Yoo and Levinson remarked that while they provide "entertainment on a different, more `profound' level," it can touch everyone in a way that other weekend entertainment cannot.

Under the supervision of producer Richard J. Lim '93, Yoo and Levinson agreed to take time out of their busy performance schedules to raise money for Phillips Brooks House by way of a classical music concert. Lim said that he was "inspired by the letters [which followed] Four Seasons asking to see [Scott] again," The letters make him hopeful that the show will be successful enough to raise a substantial sum for PBH.

The real draw for the show, however, will be the incredible and versatile musicianship of Yoo, highly sought after violinist throughout the United States and beyond, and Levinson's sincere passion and skill at the piano. Expect to see some impressive talent and a "professional" performance for little money and in a light-hearted setting.

Both Yoo and Levinson commented on the attractive diversity of the music they will play. The first half, said Yoo, will be "more serious," and boasts a Beethoven sonata in G major and a Franck sonata in A Major. After giving a vigorous interpretation of the familiar classics, the pair will switch gears, and "keep it on the less pedantic side." Levinson said that the show's second half will include "more virtuousic stuff" like Scott Joplin's "Ragtime" and four other short pieces.

Besides being two of the most astounding musicians around, Levinson and Yoo take great pride in their performance as art. Said Levinson, "we could make a lot more money doing studio jobs," but both prefer to make their post-graduate living doing studio jobs," but both prefer to make their post-graduate living doing live performance and classical recording. Yoo expects that his love for musical expression "will keep [him] doing this for a long time."

Though they realize that notoriety these days is difficult without being in Madonna's backup band, Levinson and Yoo are satisfied with the "real honor" of performing. Yoo said, "They're three to hear you," which seems to mean more to them both than a short-lived sellout making music for TV commercials.

Max Levinson and Scott Yoo encouraged both music mavens and "regular" Harvard students to show up Friday at Sanders. While Yoo believes that kicking back with a little Led Zeppelin now and their is great, he and Levinson realize that their music is an entirely different level of entertainment--one which everyone can enjoy if they first make the effort to expose themselves to it.