Culture for Hobos

It’s often said of Phoenicians – not unfairly – that we’re less than worldly wise. In fact, we at New Times were recently batting the issue around: Is it better to live in a place where life is permanently in yo face or one where the living is easy? Our middle names are “Lazy” and “Bones,” so we pick facile every time, but the Phoenix Symphony is trying to blow our indolent high with its inaugural Target World Music Festival. Hell, even we shiftless hobos have heard of Kronos Quartet and Béla Bartók. Kronos plays September 12, but Bartók tops the marquee tonight and September 13, when the 19th-century composer’s Concerto for Orchestra is performed by the Symphony and Chinese pipa superstar Wu Man (pictured). Other special guests during the 11-day Fest include Afro-Peruvian singer Tania Libertad and Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster.
Thu., Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.; Sat., Sept. 13, 8 p.m., 2008