As guitar legend Kirk Hammett took the stage with chamber musicians FLUX for the final song at the Morrison Series 50th Anniversary Gala, a crowd of around 900 thundered with praise worthy of a rock concert.

Fans clad in either fur and pearls or Metallica t-shirts and jeans crowded the Herbst Theatre for the event which was held on Sept. 15.

“The Morrison Artist Series has been presenting world-class chamber music free of charge for the last 50 years at (SF State) … I’ve had the privilege of being series director for the past 16 years, and as I look through the halls here tonight, this is my dream,” said Saul Gropman, the artistic director of the series and classical guitar lecturer at SF State, to roaring applause during his opening speech.

“This is the most varied and diverse chamber music audience that I have ever seen,” he said.

Immediately after Gropman's speech, both the St. Lawrence String Quartet and FLUX performed the first piece, “Last Round” by Osvaldo Golijov, which is an ode to Astor Piazzolla, the great Argentine tango composer.

Six violinists furiously drew their bows across their strings, while a single upright bassist sat in the center of the half-circle, plucking away.

The fingers of the two cellists looked like spiders as they crawled up and down the necks of their instruments, while horsehair from their bows flew carelessly all over the stage during the contemporary piece.

The St. Lawrence String Quartet played a traditional piece by Antonin Dvorak called “String Quartet Op. 96 in F major (American),” while FLUX chose a more modern piece “String Quartet No. 3.,” by Conlon Nancarrow.

After intermission, the crowd waited in anticipation and stared anxiously at the treble and bass clefs that covered the music stands for the moment they’d all been waiting for - the arrival of Kirk Hammett.

As FLUX and Hammett began, it sounded like screeching tires and moaning violins, but as the song progressed, Hammett’s unique electric guitar riffs were showcased.

“It was eclectic, it was awesome,” said SF State classical guitar major Eric Escarraman. 26.

“As a classical guitarist I’m usually on the more educated side of music, but you know, I did listen to
Metallica before I got into classical music … I really hope that (Metallica) gets more into a mix of classical and modern music. I don’t like the division in the two,” he said.

Some of the audience members, such as SF State music professor Susan Hall, said they preferred the more traditional music of the night.

“I prefer the Dvorak,” said Hall.

After the concert fans bombarded Hammett with programs to sign, Hammett, who was generous enough to donate a large appearance fee to the Morrison series, offered a few short words of advice to aspiring bands.

“Play as many free shows as you can,” he said.

And then, in true celebrity fashion, he rushed to his next appearance.