As the story goes, the jazz-loving über-soprano RENÉE FLEMING, who
just released a new crossover album, was checking out the pianist BRAD
MEHLDAU'S show at the VILLAGE VANGUARD a few years ago when she bumped
into none other than ROBERT HARTH, who was then the executive director
of CARNEGIE HALL. The two classical Mehldau fans started conspiring, and
it led to Carnegie's commissioning the pianist to write for Ms. Fleming
a pair of song cycles, which will both be unveiled tonight at Zankel
Hall. It should be interesting to see what the omnivorous Mr. Mehldau
has created for this foray into classical territory. He describes the
music - through-composed settings of poetry by RAINER MARIA RILKE and
LOUISE BOGAN - as drawing from a kaleidoscope of influences: SCHUMANN
and FAURÉ, MESSIAEN and PROKOFIEV, singer-songwriters like NICK DRAKE
and JONI MITCHELL, pop and jazz. Could be too much or a brilliant
cocktail. 7:30 p.m., Zankel Hall, (212) 247-7800.
On the other end of the spectrum, you won't find many Joni Mitchell
references tonight at the KNITTING FACTORY, where the dependable DA
CAPO CHAMBER PLAYERS are performing contemporary music for acoustic
instruments and tape including Steve Reich's mellow musings for many
clarinets in "NEW YORK COUNTERPOINT" as well as MARIO DAVIDOVSKY'S more
jagged and nervy "SYNCHRONISMS NO. 6," which won the Pulitzer Prize in
1971. 7:30 p.m., Knitting Factory, (212) 219-3006.