Pianist Sergio Tiempo and the Quad City Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven's third piano concerto as Beethoven never could - on a modern piano. But when the composer wrote the piece in 1800, that's certainly how he intended it to be played.

His Mozart-era piano couldn't sustain the heavy style of playing Beethoven envisioned; it actually snapped the strings.

"In a way, it is the first Romantic concerto which only found its true vehicle through later instruments," Tiempo said in an e-mail interview from Belgium.

The 34-year-old pianist has played the concerto for years, but he has yet to tire of the work. "It is one of those pieces that keeps growing inside of you throughout your life," Tiempo said.

Iowa has moved into the 10 smartest states in the nation, according to the Morgan Quinto Press, an organization that analyzes and publishes state statistics. Its Education State Rankings 2006 report places Iowa second in the Midwest and ninth among the 50 states in education, an increase of five positions over last year's rankings. Illinois is listed as the 35th smartest state. The organization also ranked Iowa first this year in per-capita personal-income growth, and named it the fifth healthiest state, the third most-livable state, and the eighth safest state. Morgan Quitno Press is an independent private research and publishing company located in Lawrence, Kansas. The Education State Rankings report, which includes the "Smartest State" rankings, looked at 21 different factors and assigned a score based on how each state performed. For more information on the report, visit (http://www.morganquitno.com/edpress06.htm).  

 

For those of us who have frequented the Davenport City Council Chambers for meetings, the charming, outspoken-but-always-diplomatic "ole lady" wearing all the different fun hats is a familiar face. Her name is Susie Bell, and she is the Republican candidate for House District 86 of the Iowa legislature, running against Democrat incumbent Cindy Winkler.

Susie has been following politics since her youth. A wide variety of issues has piqued her curiosity, and more often her ire. She has campaigned in more grassroots efforts than she can name, but give her time and she will recall key aspects of every one, including their outcomes.

Unshackled by the restraints of traditional CD manufacture and distribution, Yep Roc Records is using the "digital-only" delivery model to release a Halloween-themed compilation for groovy ghouls and boys. Available only as a download through the label's Web site for a budget price, the 15-track Rockin' Bones boasts the exclusive "Ghoulman Confidential" by the Fleshtones, and other tricks and treats from Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys, Robyn Hitchcock, The Minus 5, Radio Birdman, Los Straitjackets, and more.