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Austin Symphony / Barbara Nissman : 4 of 5
3.01.2010 5:21 PM \| Link 0 comments	Although I wasn't familiar with Barbara Nissman, who was the featured pianist for the Austin Symphony's latest concert, the program selections featuring Rachmanioff and Shostakovich looked too interesting to pass up, and my friend Matt and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance! The concert opened with Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, a short work that was instantly recognizable to me (and still singing through my mind for the rest of the evening), and then continued with Rachmaninoff's third piano concerto, considered one of the most difficult pieces for the instrument. After seeing so many "young and upcoming" featured performers with the Austin Symphony, it was interesting to watch Barbara Nissman, who has certainly spent a lifetime perfecting this incredible piece of music, which kept her fingers flying! I really enjoyed the work, which has lyrical moments combined with incredible flourishes that must make the score look like an explosion of notes. The audience's applause was so long that Nissman decided to play an additional solo piece that was beautiful (I love it when soloists are kind enough to do that!). The second half of the program featured Shostakovich's 5th symphony, which is quite an epic work that requires a huge orchestra including two harps and additional percussion. I have listened to very little Shostakovich, since he's a bit modern for my usual taste, but I was really impressed by this interesting work (and Matt considers it the best piece he's heard the Austin Symphony perform so far), so I'd like to study it further! As always, listening to the Austin Symphony was an inspiring experience, and I appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to more flavors of classical music. Labels: arts, symphony
The Star / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
2.03.2010 6:08 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although I love seeing the usual opera hits over and over, it can definitely be a a fun experience to enjoy something completely new. Austin Lyric Opera hasn't been afraid to "take chances" with some relatively obscure productions in recent years, so I had no idea what to expect with their current opera, The Star, a somewhat modern French comedy opera. Opening night fell on my birthday, and I'm glad to say that The Star was a hilarious way to celebrate the occasion! While the music was certainly wonderful with accessible melodies and light songs that reminded me of The Magic Flute (especially the kissing song), this production is truly visual. The costumes are full of outlandish colors, combined with props like umbrellas, bowler hats, and even scooters, and the set is an unbelievable mix of mirrors, sloped floor, garish backdrops filled with eyes, and even six remote-controlled spotlights in the ceiling that can project shapes and move them all over the stage. There's even a huge inflatable throne! When I saw the combination of these elements it seemed like Magritte meets Laugh-In, but somehow it works! The plot is really clever and funny, and although it seems impossible to follow when reading a written synopsis, it actually flows easily. The lead male role is played by a woman, who did a fantastic job with broad comedic overacting, but I thought the king was the best role of of the show, especially during one hilarious song where he gets drunk with the count astrologer. This production of the The Star requires an open mind and definitely challenges various pre-conceived notions about opera, but there's no denying that every minute was sheer entertainment and fun! Labels: arts, opera
La Boheme / Austin Lyric Opera : 5 of 5
11.09.2009 7:47 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although I would have to choose Mozart's operas if I were forced to listen to only one composer, Puccini's creations simply define what makes opera great. Everyone in the world, regardless of music preference, should experience La Boheme at least once, and if they saw a performance like Austin Lyric Opera's season opener this weekend, new opera fans would be born across the globe! La Boheme simply has it all - romance, comedy, tragedy - set to some of the most incredible, soaring melodies that completely say "this is how opera should sound". This production had a spectacular global cast, with a Russian Mimi and a French Rodolfo (all singing in Italian, of course!), as well as a massive chorus of all ages that completely filled the stage during the hilarious scene at Cafe Momus. The sets were wonderful, using brilliant forced perspective, and I especially enjoyed the huge window in the artists' apartment with its soft views of Paris outside. Rodolfo's voice was fantastic, and his chemistry with Mimi was perfect (in spite of an age difference in the actors, which completely disappeared as they became their characters), making for an especially believable and heart-wrenching final scene. I was particularly impressed with the philosopher's farewell song to his beloved coat before he sells it, which was touching and deserving of applause, though the audience was a little too wrapped up in the story at that point. Because this was opening night for the new season, ALO provided free champagne to everyone during the first intermission, which was festive and generous! I think everyone in the crowd fell in love with opera all over again, and even though I've seen La Boheme many times before, Austin Lyric Opera succeeded in making it a unique and moving experience! Labels: arts, opera
Leave It to Beverly / DA! Theater Collective : 4 of 5
11.08.2009 5:53 AM \| Link 0 comments	This is a somewhat biased review, since the playwright and director Kirk German is my pal and bandmate in the Greatest American Heroes, but I have to say that it was fantastic to see Kirk display his talents in yet another way via DA! Theater Collective's production of Leave It to Beverly! While on the surface this play is a hilarious spoof of classic TV sitcoms like Donna Reed and I Dream of Jeannie, it also carries several interesting messages about gender roles and the effort to live a unique and genuine life in general. Gags that begin as funny (like ubiquitous canned laughter) sometimes become suddenly creepy, and the tension between humor and uneasiness really draws the audience into the story! But without over analyzing things, Leave It to Beverly is definitely a comedy, and every element from the incredible cast (who dance as well as act!) to the fantastic sets (which include special effects like magical kitchen utensils and surprise portals for characters' heads to poke through) all add to the hilarity. There are so many fun references to TV and other entertainment mixed into the story, ranging from Six Million Dollar Man sound effects to a brilliant use of Mickey Mouse Club ears (which are said to render the wearer "virtually brainless", which I loved)! It's obvious that Kirk loves this source material and found a way to pay tribute to it while expressing himself as a wonderful playwright. I was lucky enough to see the play on cast party night, and it was fun to play with the Greatest American Heroes right there on stage with a group of folks who had a special affection for TV show themes. It was a fantastic evening, and I'm definitely looking forward to the next production featuring my pal Kirk! Labels: arts, bands
Austin Symphony / Chee-Yun : 4 of 5
10.12.2009 8:17 PM \| Link 0 comments	I was looking forward to the latest concert of Austin Symphony's 99th season for quite a while, since I love Mendelssohn's famous violin concerto and I was interested to see the soloist Chee-Yun for the first time. Maestro Peter Bay began with some friendly, insightful comments - although there were technical problems with his microphone, it was a good opportunity to show off the acoustics of the Long Center, since he was easily heard just speaking normally from the stage! He mainly spent time preparing the audience for Bruckner's 4th Symphony, which was entirely new to most of the audience (including me). But first was the Mendelssohn, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I've always loved the first movement the most because of its emotional intensity, and Chee-Yun brought that out beautifully. I tend to enjoy hearing the "mechanics" of the instrument, and I enjoyed the somewhat "rough edge" feeling to her playing (not to mention that her 300-year old Stradivarius violin was fantastically resonant!). After a beautiful second movement, the incredibly difficult third movement was executed wonderfully. Although I'm always astounded at the technicality of this movement, unfortunately I've heard it so many times that it's hard to just sit back and enjoy it anymore. It was time for Bruckner after the intermission, and even though the piece wasn't something I would want to listen to everyday, I was happy to be exposed to it. Everything Peter Bay mentioned was certainly true, with each section playing lots of rhythmic unison like parts of an organ, and the full brass section sounded particularly spectacular (I just wish there had been more percussion than tympani). I had trouble appreciating Bruckner's extensive repetition, but I had a nice time watching all of the musicians and enjoying their intense concentration as they played. As usual, it was another great night at the symphony and I'm looking forward to the rest of the season! Labels: arts, symphony
Wicked : 5 of 5
8.23.2009 7:36 AM \| Link 0 comments	Although I really didn't know much about Wicked, my parents and I always enjoy Broadway shows, so we went to see it (at the newly remodeled Bass Concert Hall) during their recent visit. Of course, we all knew the plot was about the Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz (still one of my favorite movies), but I had no idea how amazing the story would be, which skillfully weaves a background thread in and out of the classic tale, in a clever re-imagining style that's become so popular in recent years. Elphaba, the green-skinned girl who eventually is known as the Wicked Witch, is portrayed as a sympathetic character (even when she gets mean it seems justified to the audience), while Glinda the Good Witch is mostly a stereotypical blonde with a hilarious voice. Just about every Wizard of Oz event and character is somehow explained during the story in clever and surprising ways, and I completely enjoyed figuring everything out like a puzzle! Along with the great plot is some wonderful music, and the performances were incredible. From the moment Elphaba began her first solo, it was obvious she was absolutely fantastic (and actually played the role on Broadway before she began the tour), and the other performers were wonderful as well (even Glinda proved she could drop the silly voice and sing seriously during her touching duet with Elphaba in the second act). The sets were really nice, incorporating lots of detailed lighting and partitions that could be changed instantly, and I was impressed by the huge stone dragon above the stage that moved during moments evil was afoot! The flying monkeys were also cool, especially the initial transformation scene when wings sprout from the creature's back (the monkey performers all did a great job of energetically hopping around, too!). I guess you can say I was spellbound by Wicked, mostly because of the well-crafted extension of The Wizard of Oz, but also because the production was wonderful in every way! Labels: arts
Austin Symphony / Sarah Chang : 3 of 5
5.05.2009 5:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	I don't think I ever realized the importance of a symphonic program as a whole until I experienced the Austin Symphony's latest concert, which featured three works that were individually OK, but became kind of a disjointed mess when put together. I think this was probably just a case of bad timing, since the first work was a modern symphony written as a gift for Maestro Peter Bay's 10th anniversary with the symphony, and Sarah Chang was probably scheduled to appear way in advance, so there was only room to throw in some quick Tchaikovsky to fill out the evening. Unfortunately, each work was a little disappointing, starting with the world premiere of Welcher's Symphony No. 5, which should be called the "use every crazy percussion instrument you can find" symphony. It was almost laughable to see the four percussionists constantly switching between everything from bongos to bowed cymbals, and truthfully it was a bit trying to listen to the whole thing (although I did enjoy many of the musical themes). It was really nice to see Sarah Chang perform, since she is such a renown violinist, but her stage presence was a little less refined than I had hoped (I liked the passion behind her walking around the stage, but her uncontrollable bow flourish got old quickly). Of course, she was technically magnificent, and I would definitely enjoying hearing more of her playing on CD! Finally, Tchaikovsky's Capiccio Italien is like a musical cartoon, which is wonderful on it's own, but was simply bizarre sounding after the first two works of the evening. My pals Matt & Kumiko and I still had a wonderful time at the symphony, but we all agreed that this strange program left us hoping for some better choices next time. Labels: arts, symphony
The Pajama Game / Mary Moody Northern Theater : 4 of 5
4.28.2009 12:32 PM \| Link 0 comments	It's been a long time since I've seen a show at St. Edward's University, but I've never been disappointed with the quality of their productions. I'm happy to say The Pajama Game was no exception, which my pal Tom and I saw last weekend! I really knew nothing about this famous musical (and I haven't seen the movie), but as the show went on I recognized several familiar tunes that most people know (with Hernando's Hideaway being the most popular). The Mary Moody Northern Theater is a round space, so it's always interesting to see how the sets will be built, and this time they constructed some cool elevated "rooms" around the perimeter to act as the factory offices, machine room (complete with moving gears), and Babe's house, with great attention to detail. Speaking of detail, St. Edward's always goes the extra mile, and this time they even had the factory workers in custom embroidered smocks with the "Sleeptite Pajama Company" logo! The live band was fantastic, and all of the singing was marvelous, although they decided to use taped-on microphones that were totally unnecessary (most of the time they were barely on, sometimes loud notes caused some feedback, and the stupid battery packs were kind of unattractively tucked above their butt cheeks!). The actors were really energetic and wonderful, especially the role of Gladys, which was played with incredible comedic timing (she was absolutely hilarious!). The large musical numbers where everyone goes nuts (like the classic Once a Year Day) were so full of excitement that the audience was swept along into the glee. The Pajama Game was a super-entertaining experience that reminded me I should check out St. Edward's theater more often! Labels: arts
Dialogues of the Carmelites / Austin Lyric Opera : 3 of 5
4.20.2009 7:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	The last production of Austin Lyric Opera's season was Dialogues of the Carmelites, a 1957 French opera by Poulenc, which I was really interested to see since I enjoy experiencing new works for the first time. But I have to say that while this production was extremely well performed, it's just about the most disturbing and depressing opera I've ever seen. The subject matter is a convent of Carmelite nuns during the French Revolution who are all executed by guillotine in the final scene. A major theme of the plot is fear, and the main character Blanche is so possessed by it that I could hardly look at her horrified face thinking I would go insane, too! (Interestingly, the original Blanche from the opera's 1957 premiere was in the audience.) While the plot is certainly thought-provoking and deals with questions of faith, overall there is almost nothing uplifting about the story (except for the character of Sister Constance, who shines as the one source of joy in the entire cast). The sets were simple but effective (and all changed visibly on stage with no delay between scenes), and the costumes ranged from simple habits (I was impressed that the nuns actually had cut their hair super-short for their roles) to French Revolution "zombies" (I can't think of any better way to describe the chorus!). Even though the music is modern, it's certainly accessible and similar to a film score, and I enjoyed the use of piano as well. Dialogues of the Carmelites certainly isn't for everyone, and I can't imagine a worst first opera for someone to see (I'm amazed ALO chose to make this production the season finale). A few people in the audience didn't even return after the first act, but in my opinion, you have to be exposed to all kinds of opera to be a true fan. I'm glad I experienced this work, although I don't think I would want to see it again. Labels: arts, opera
Mystere / Cirque du Soleil : 5 of 5
4.08.2009 12:22 PM \| Link 0 comments	The last show my parents and I saw in Las Vegas was Cirque du Soleil's Mystere at Treasure Island, which you may have already read about since I got to be in the show! Even though I've written about that experience, I still thought I should mention that this is a great production. Mystere is actually one of the oldest Cirque du Soleil shows, and the first one to have a permanent theater in Vegas, so at first I wasn't expecting it to be that amazing (since their style has become so much bigger with shows like O and Ka), but I was quickly proven wrong. All of the essential Cirque elements are here, from incredible live music to flawless acrobatic performances, along with the usual clowns and semi-comprehensible themes. Mystere seems to be about birth, since before the show starts there are two baby carriages on stage, and the audience is soon introduced to a baby boy and girl who kind of become guides for the rest of the show. There are amazing flying acts, which are breathtaking from the front row when the performers fly overhead, and some cool pole climbing and trampoline routines, but my favorite was the intense balancing feats performed by two men. Every move they made was slow and intentional, and even though it looked so smooth, we were sitting close enough to see the agony on their faces as they did things that would completely tear normal muscles apart! The stage had some nice moving pieces that could raise and lower, but nothing as incredible as some of the more recent Cirque productions. I really enjoyed the finale of the show which features a huge inflatable snail (which the girl baby gets to ride), and it was wonderful to applaud all of the artists from the front row. Regardless of its age, Mystere is a fantastic show that no Cirque du Soleil fan should miss! Labels: arts, cirque du soleil
Terry Fator : 4 of 5
4.07.2009 6:25 PM \| Link 0 comments	The second show my parents and I saw in Las Vegas was Terry Fator, the amazing ventriloquist who won the America's Got Talent competition, at the Mirage. Since I never watch those TV shows, I hadn't even heard of the guy, but my parents assured me that he was a great entertainer, and they were right! Terry has a variety of different puppets, from simple cloth animals to complex people with moving eyes and arms on rods, and he does a great job giving each one of them a unique (although totally stereotyped) personality. My favorites were Julius, the soul singer who looks a lot like Louis Armstrong, and Vicky the "cougar", who was amazing not only for her female voice, but also for the way she expertly flips her hair around. Of course Terry is a flawless ventriloquist, but I think his singing impersonations are much more impressive (in fact, he could probably pull off a puppet-less show if he just kept singing). He did a variety of popular hits, both old and new, sounding absolutely identical to the original artist, which was amazing. Actually, I was blown away the most by a few bars of Patsy Cline's Crazy - watching that voice come out of his male mouth was so real that it looked like he was lip synching! I also really enjoyed it when Terry himself was impersonating Michael Jackson while conversing with another puppet, so he has to switch back and forth between two personas and voices! This show also used an on-stage band and video screens (like Donny & Marie), but the band was definitely kept in the background to keep the focus on Terry. Even though Terry Fator has hit the big time and he's making millions of dollars now, it was plain to see that he's humble and thankful for his success. He encouraged everyone to take photos during the show (which is practically unheard of) and even tries to meet any fans that want an autograph. This may not be the flashiest show on the Strip, but I still highly recommend it! Labels: arts
Donny & Marie : 4 of 5
4.04.2009 3:14 PM \| Link 1 comments	The first show my parents and I saw during our recent Vegas vacation was Donny & Marie at the Flamingo. Even though I know I watched their show many times as a kid, truthfully I wasn't too excited about this show, but Mom really wanted to see them, and I was able to get seats right next to the stage (seriously, I was resting my arm on the stage itself for most of the show!). But surprisingly, this turned out to be a fantastic production and I was totally impressed! Of course, it's kind of cool to see familiar celebrity faces live on stage, but instead of just a simple show with the two of them singing, the stage was filled with an incredible live band and dancers, which really added to the energy of the performance! Donny & Marie are still pretty funny, and do a fantastic job ad-libbing tons of insults at each other, but their real talent is their singing voices, which are still top-notch after all these years. Marie is even trying out some operatic pieces, and sung a nice version of Pie Jesu. The Flamingo itself is one of the skankier places on the Strip, but the stage was still awesome and included some great giant screens that enhanced the show with video clips. There was lots of audience interaction, too - since we were so close to the stage, Mom and I both got to shake Donny's hand at the beginning of the show (and he even walked out on the table right in front of us), and at the end of the show we shook Marie's hand, then she pulled Dad towards the stage and planted a big kiss right on his forehead! My parents and I had an incredible time, and I was pretty inspired that someone like Donny could be in such great shape and still so talented at 51. Even if you're not a big fan, I would still recommend Donny & Marie for excellent Vegas entertainment! Labels: arts
Rigoletto / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
2.02.2009 7:59 AM \| Link 0 comments	Rigoletto is one of my favorite operas, not only because of the incredible music (most of which is much more dramatic than the famous La donna e mobile), but because the story is so sad and tragic in a Shakespearean way. I tend to enjoy character extremes such as Gilda's total innocence and the evil of the duke and his men, while poor Rigoletto is stuck in the middle, responding the only way he knows how. I've seen this opera many times in very different productions, from Austin Lyric Opera's coliseum version in 2002 to an incredible modern interpretation with Rigoletto in a wheelchair (rather than being a simple hunchback), but I was happy to see this year's more traditional version, with period costumes and beautiful sets. The moonlit look of Rigoletto's home was just like a painting, and the assassin Sparafucile's two-story house was particularly amazing! Rigoletto himself was wonderful, able to express his inner hatred in each swing of his jester's staff, and Gilda was simply as beautiful as her excellent voice. The duke was played well with lots of gusto, although there were moments that made me feel he was a bit unsure of his voice (but these didn't detract from the overall ensemble performance). While I love to experience new pieces, there's just something special about seeing something so familiar, ready for each turn of the music before it happens, and I enjoyed every minute of it (even though I was fighting off my runny nose and cough!). I'm really happy with my new season subscriber seats, which are so convenient and have a fantastic view, so I'm looking forward to the rest of the season (as well as the next!). Labels: arts, opera
Austin Symphony / Garrick Ohlsson : 4 of 5
1.13.2009 6:05 PM \| Link 0 comments	It's an amazing feeling when there's a melody you've known forever, and suddenly you're presented with the original source for the first time. That was my experience listening to the third movement of Rachmaninoff's 2nd Symphony, beautifully performed by the Austin Symphony! I really enjoyed the entire work - although the first movement seemed a little rambling, I was really drawn into the syncopated rhythms of the second, the famous emotional phrases of the third, as well as the excitement of the fourth. The Rachmaninoff symphony was a fantastic finale to an evening of Russian composers, starting with a gentle intro piece by Mussorgsky (incredibly quiet for an opening work) and followed by a Dvorak piano concerto featuring guest performer Garrick Ohlsson. He was really interesting to watch, since his body remained relatively still while his hands effortlessly flew over Dvorak's romantic full chords and chromatic runs. The orchestra was reduced quite a bit for this piece, which made the piano more prominent, though I missed all of the absent horns. After the concerto, Garrick Ohlsson decided to play a short "bonus" work not on the program (an easily-recognized Rachmaninoff piece), which was generous and unexpected! I usually go to the symphony alone, but this evening my pals Matt & Kumiko went with me, and it was fun talking about the music and seeing their reactions to everything (they were especially impressed with their first visit to the Long Center)! As always, the symphony was a wonderful experience, and I've been introduced to some wonderful works that I hope to hear again sometime. Labels: arts, symphony
Cinderella / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
11.12.2008 8:05 PM \| Link 0 comments	A new opera season is always exciting, but I was looking forward to this season opener even more than usual, since it was my first time to experience Rossini's Cinderella, plus I was anxious to find out where my new seats for the season were! My seats turned out to be quite a bit to the side, but they are so close to the stage that it doesn't matter at all (and in fact, I'll be able to beat the crowd at intermission for a drink!). The opera was fantastic for many reasons, including the original take on the classic fairy tale (no hint of Disney), the incredible performances, and the genius decision to set the whole story in 1930's Hollywood, with beautiful sets and spectacular period costumes. I was really pleased to see Sandra Piques Eddy perform again (she was amazing in The Barber of Seville a few seasons ago), who is definitely a triple threat on the stage - she has a wonderful voice and range (I was surprised to hear some of the low notes that Rossini wrote), perfect comedic timing, and she's absolutely beautiful as well! The libretto is really funny and I really enjoyed such a unique version of the plot, with elements such as the movie producer taking the place of the Fairy Godmother. Rossini's music is light-hearted and energetic, so everyone in the audience couldn't help but love it - I tend to like my operas with a little more tragedy, but Cinderella was still a magical treat. I'm really looking forward to enjoying the rest of the opera season! Labels: arts, opera
Glengarry Glen Ross / City Theater : 4 of 5
10.27.2008 12:02 PM \| Link 0 comments	I haven't been to many plays recently, but when my pal Conrad let me know that he had a role in David Mamet's amazing Glengarry Glen Ross, I had to go see it! I've always enjoyed Mamet's work for it's intensity and realism, and this play is no exception. Even though I know nothing about the world of cut-throat real estate salesman, somehow this story makes you simultaneously despise and feel sorry for each of the characters. Reading Mamet's dialogue is a real challenge - he almost never finishes a sentence (exactly like real people talk!), but this cast pulled off the difficult lines with expert timing. There are so many fascinating, rambling speeches that surprisingly get across real philosophical points, and it's totally up to actors to make that happen. Conrad did an amazing job - I've really enjoyed seeing his acting prowess grow in past productions, and now it feels like he's hit the big time! The office set was realistic and expansive, but the Chinese restaurant set wasn't so great (although they did what they could with limited space), and other details like lighting and the use of music were all good. But for a play like Glengarry Glen Ross, none of that really matters - it's all about the acting, and the cast completely delivered. This was my first production to see at City Theater, and I'll definitely keep my eyes open for their shows in the future! Labels: arts
Austin Symphony / Anton Nel : 4 of 5
10.21.2008 8:18 PM \| Link 0 comments	This particular symphony experience was unique for a couple of reasons. First, I decided to experiment with balcony seats (I usually sit up close), and although I really enjoyed the great view of the full orchestra (I like to watch the percussionists in the back), I felt a little disconnected being that far from the sound (although the acoustics were excellent). Second, this was the first program in a long time where I wasn't already familiar with any of the pieces being performed, so it was nice to be introduced to totally new works! The concert began with Messiaen's The Ascension, which was much more modern than I expected, but the way the movements used different sections of the orchestra was fascinating. The guest performer was pianist Anton Nel, who played on two major works (which was nice, since most guests only do one piece) - a short Schumann and the Mendelssohn concerto, which were both incredible. The slow movement of the concerto was particularly fantastic, and it really makes me want to hear more Mendelssohn (I don't have much of him in my iTunes library)! But my favorite work of the evening was Respighi's Church Windows, which uses huge instrumentation (including an onstage piano) and is filled with booming drama and symbolism. I'm a big fan of Pines of Rome (which I first heard in Fantasia 2000), so it's no wonder that I enjoyed this four movement masterpiece so much - I've already put the CD on my wish list! As usual, going to the symphony was an exciting and peaceful experience - but I think I'm going to see what the Mezzanine feels like next time! Labels: arts, symphony
Austin Symphony / Leila Josefowicz : 4 of 5
9.21.2008 3:14 PM \| Link 0 comments	At the last minute I decided to treat myself to the Austin Symphony's season opening concert, and once again I realized how much I love going to the symphony! This was the first non-opera event I've seen in the Long Center, and I was really amazed at the acoustics. I always enjoy people watching at arts events - I was inspired by an elderly woman sitting next to me, since I hope I'm still going to see concerts when I'm her age! The guest artist was violinist Leila Josefowicz, who played Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D Major with flamboyance and energy. She really stood out from the orchestra in her blue and gold, gypsy-like dress, and she even wrote her own cadenzas (even including tympani in one of them). The concert also included the world premiere of Field of Infinite Forms, which is a combination orchestral and electronic work that was commissioned by the Austin Symphony. I have to say this was a really bizarre piece, but the use of speakers throughout the hall was very cool (I just had a problem with all the Doctor Who synthesizer sounds!). The finale was Stravinsky's Firebird Suite, which I have listened to a million times, but it was absolutely incredible to hear it live. I'm always astounded at how much it sounds like a movie score - modern films really owe a lot to Stravinsky's groundbreaking work. I was also struck by the thought that audiences back in 1919 probably thought The Firebird sounded just as weird as the electronic piece I had just heard - maybe that's why it was chosen for the program! There's absolutely nothing like hearing a live orchestra - I think everyone, regardless of how they feel about classical music, should go at least once! Labels: arts, symphony
Beauty and the Beast / Zilker Summer Musical : 4 of 5
8.02.2008 6:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	One of Austin's unique attractions is the Zilker Hillside Theater, where Broadway-style musicals are performed (for free!) each summer under the stars. I've been to several of these in the past, but I usually end up taking a little wine-induced nap during the second act. Now I can say I've stayed awake during an entire production, since my pal Melinda and I went to see the Zilker production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast! I was pretty surprised when I heard about it, since I'm sure the licensing fees aren't cheap, not to mention the complex costumes need for the show. Amazingly, Zilker went all out, making this show just as great as any production you would see at a Disney park! The Beast's costume was pretty unique, showing just enough of the actor's face for emotion, but still quite different than the Broadway version. Gaston was absolutely hilarious, and the actor definitely fit the part perfectly. But the real star of the show was Belle (as it should be!), whose speaking and singing voice were so closely matched to the animated feature that it was uncanny! Basically, this was the perfect Belle - every song was fantastic and filled with Belle's warmth and kindness. The big production number Be Our Guest suffered a little because there's only so many dancing spoons and plates you can fit on a smaller stage, but the opening song Belle was really nice (and I'm always amazed that one song can setup the entire story!). The live band did a great job with some difficult music cues - there were a few bad notes, but I can't fault them when playing in 90 degree weather! The hillside was completely packed for this production, so I hope they received enough donations to cover this show's considerable expense. It was a great Disney-filled musical evening! Labels: arts, disney
The Bat / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
6.10.2008 7:08 AM \| Link 0 comments	When I first heard that Austin Lyric Opera was closing their season with a special "Keep Austin Weird" version of Strauss' Die Fledermaus (The Bat), I was pretty skeptical. I can understand the obvious temptation, since Austin is home to the world's largest urban bat colony, but I thought I would rather see the traditional opera, since I hadn't seen this piece before. I decided to go with a positive attitude with my pal Melinda, and the production was surprisingly wonderful! I was expecting to hear the original German libretto sung in Austin settings, but ALO joined forces with Esther's Follies comedy troupe to actually re-write the entire thing! So, everything was sung in English, with some of the most ridiculous (and hilarious) lyrics you can imagine. I'm pretty sure you won't hear warnings about bending over for the soap in prison in any other opera experience! Actually, that's my one complaint about the production - if this was someone's first opera, they've been a bit cheated out of the "real thing" (but the crowd certainly loved it all!). Strauss' waltz-filled music was wonderful and somehow appropriate to singing about bats filling the skies, getting drunk, and loving Luckenbach. The main action of the story takes place at a costume ball, and the party-goers were all Austin references, such as the capitol, the UT tower, hippies, rollergirls, Lance Armstrong, and even restaurants like the Mangia Godzilla and the Hyde Park Grill fork (I'm glad I've lived here long enough to recognize them!). Since this is a short opera, they extended the show by inserting local musical acts into the party - I got to enjoy a spoken word performance (with harmonica) by Wammo, which was fantastic, but still pretty weird in the middle of an opera! Finally, all of the performers were wonderful, especially the maid Adela, who's comic timing was incredible. The Bat was certainly a unique experience, but I'll be looking forward to a return to normalcy next season. Labels: arts, opera
Carmen / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
4.27.2008 12:08 PM \| Link 0 comments	Last night was a special opera evening for me, since this was Austin Lyric Opera's debut production at the new Long Center (which means this review is for both the venue and the opera)! Since I had no idea how parking was going to work out, I arrived almost an hour early, which turned out to be a great plan, since I had time to explore (and take a few photos) before the show. Actually, this may be my new routine, since the Long Center has a beautiful terrace that overlooks the city, which is perfect for enjoying a glass a wine before settling down to three hours of entertainment. The architecture is modern, but still feels somewhat classical to me, but unfortunately everything (right down to staircases) is labeled with donor names, which gets old pretty fast. The theater itself is fantastic, designed so every seat is much closer to the stage compared to the Bass Concert Hall, and I was thrilled with my new seats! So, on to the opera, which was an incredible production of Bizet's Carmen. I think that operas containing so many "hit" arias are difficult to make relevant, since the audience just ends up tapping their toes to the tunes they know, but ALO really did a fine job at making the story itself more prominent. In fact, I think I got into the characters in this production more than any other Carmen I have seen before! The sets and lighting were wonderful (although I have to complain about the incredibly long pause during the third act for a set change, which was simply uncomfortable), and the performers were absolutely amazing, especially Carmen herself, who really made some sense of the character's thoughts and motives. And of course, the popular Habanera and Toreador arias were fantastic and full of spirit! For me, it was a wonderful first experience at the Long Center, and I'm definitely looking forward to many more arts events there in the future. View photos: The Long Center Labels: arts, opera, photos
The Beatles: Love / Cirque de Soleil : 5 of 5
4.25.2008 12:15 PM \| Link 0 comments	For our last show in Vegas, my parents and I continued our tradition of going to a Cirque du Soleil production by seeing The Beatles: Love at the Mirage. I somehow expected this to be a simple show filled with more dancing than acrobatics, but it turned out to be a huge production with all of the beauty and spectacle of a typical Cirque experience! Of course, the music consists of fabulous remixes of popular Beatles songs (all sounding incredible in the custom theater with speakers embedded into each individual seat!), and roughly follows a kind of timeline of the band, beginning in Liverpool. The opening number is really unexpected, since after watching all the performers partying to Get Back, the Liverpool set is suddenly destroyed (down to individual bricks) in World War II. This leads nicely into some sadder songs like Eleanor Rigby, which also introduces other characters (like Father McKenzie, for example), who show up throughout the rest of the show. The plot seems to follow The Beatles through several stages of their career (and ages of the performers), but includes typical Cirque touches like a persistent character representing "love" (in my opinion), forever offering a bouquet of flowers to the world. Acrobatically, there are some great flying routines and trampoline jumping, and theatrically, the stage itself is really unique, featuring huge translucent screens that are used to extend the set with projections, display silhouettes of the band, or even as a slide show of Beatles images for the wonderful finale. The Beatles: Love is an incredible production, combining drama, artistry and fantastic music that everyone knows and loves into one of Cirque du Soleil's best shows ever. It was a great show to finish our Vegas vacation! Labels: arts, cirque du soleil
La Rêve : 4 of 5
4.24.2008 8:27 AM \| Link 0 comments	The next show my parents and I went to see in Vegas was La Rêve, performed in a special theater in the new Wynn casino. There's no doubt this production was inspired by Cirque du Soleil's O, since it incorporates water, rising stages, and theater in the round, but that doesn't make it any less spectacular! La Rêve means "the dream", and so the show opens with a girl being put to bed by her lover, then quickly transforms into a dream world full of angels, demons, bald guys, and lizard creatures. The show is made up of water and flying acts, and I really enjoyed the incredible wire work - there are moments where it seemed like the theater was overflowing with flying performers, which was really beautiful! The water numbers made good use of fountains and all kinds of spray (amazingly leaving the audience dry even though we were very close), and one portion features several incredible high dives that were exciting to see. There was a group of four "clown" characters for comic relief who did a funny sketch about bringing a dove back to life, too. I thought the music could have been a little better, but the rising stage was a marvel of engineering, since it could be low enough to create simple walkways on the water, or rise above in multiple levels as diving platforms for the finale. I think my favorite aspect of the show was seeing the performers constantly wet, since their glistening hair and droplets of water always flying around looked so cool in the stage lighting! Of the three Vegas shows I saw during this trip, I have to place La Rêve third, but I still recommend it for a night of beautiful entertainment! Labels: arts
Blue Man Group : 5 of 5
4.23.2008 7:58 AM \| Link 0 comments	The first show that we enjoyed during our Vegas vacation was Blue Man Group, which was especially convenient since it plays at the Venetian where we were staying. Even though I had seen short clips and photos of the show, I really didn't know what to expect, but I figured it would be something cool. Amazingly, the show was even more incredbile than I had imagined, and my parents and I loved it! It's really tough to describe or categorize the show, which is sometimes a percussion exhibition like Stomp, and other times a futurist social satire. Since the Blue Men never speak and seem to be "discovering" everything they are doing for the first time, I kept thinking of the show as a party with alien beings! There are several numbers that feature their unique PVC pipe instruments (backed up by a super cool on-stage band wearing glow-in-the-dark robot style costumes), segments that are pure comedy, and other portions that combine both elements, like their famous "how to become a rock star" sequence. My favorite part by far was the finale, which featured reams and reams of white streamer paper (nicely glowing under black light) that begins in the rear of the theater and is pulled to the stage by everyone in the audience! It was just wave after wave of paper, and with all the music, lights, and excitement, everyone in the audience (including my parents) were transformed into five year old kids giggling like crazy! The whole experience was simply unique beyond belief, and afterwards I felt like I had just been to a rave or something. If you're looking to really have an interactive blast in Vegas, I definitely recommend seeing Blue Man Group! Labels: arts
Austin Symphony / Andre Watts : 5 of 5
3.15.2008 10:54 AM \| Link 0 comments	I decided to see the Austin Symphony's last performance at Riverbend Center (since their next will be at the new Long Center), and I'm so glad I did, since this special night of French composers was one of the best concerts I've seen in the past few years! The program began with Francaix's The Flower Clock, which was interesting since it uses about a half-size orchestra, and because of the great solo oboe by Beth Sanders, a long-time member of the symphony. This was followed by Roussel's Suite in F, which expanded the number of musicians on-stage, and this piece was theatrical and exciting with lots of percussion! After the intermission, Andre Watts was the featured performer for Saint-Saens' Piano Concert No. 2, and I can't even begin to describe how great it was! The first movement is full of fire, and it just keeps increasing - by the time the third movement began, I was sure Andre Watts had three hands, and they were flying! Normally when the applause starts, there's the usual lag time before people start deciding to stand up. But when he hit the last note, the entire audience jumped to their feet - it was an instant standing ovation! It was certainly some incredible energy and enthusiasm for a "refined" classical concert! Finally, the program ended with Debussy's La Mer, which I've been a fan of for some time, and it was wonderful to see the orchestra expand even more for this huge piece. It's amazing that it takes two harps to pull it off! This was certainly an exciting night at the symphony, and I'm looking forward to seeing them again at their new venue! Labels: arts, symphony
Porgy and Bess / Zach Scott Theater : 3 of 5
2.16.2008 2:09 PM \| Link 0 comments	Everyone is aware of this famous Gershwin work (sometimes called an "american opera"), mostly from the many jazz standards in the show (Summertime being the best known), but strangely, actually seeing Porgy and Bess is a rare opportunity. My pal Tom found out about this Zach Scott production (which only played two weekends at Austin Music Hall, even though it was funded with an NEA grant), so we took in a Sunday matinee. Overall, I had a great time and enjoyed the show, but let's get the bad stuff out of the way first! Austin Music Hall was never designed for this kind of show, and the lobby was completely overflowing with the will call line, stupidly intersected by the entrance line for ticket holders! The theater also has terrible sound, which made the drums (especially the cymbals) sound like crap. My only other dislike was the bizarre Stomp percussion rip-off number, inserted into Act 3 for no good reason - it was completely out of place and embarrassing. But now on to the good points! All of the singing, dancing, and acting performances were wonderful, and the actors were really able to pull me into the story. The sets were large and interesting - I especially liked the rooftops that everyone sat on after the dramatic hurricane scene. Gershwin's music is really amazing, combining everyday jazz singing with film scoring techniques, although the story is a little strange, especially because it just ends without any true resolution (though I'm not sure if that's the fault of Gershwin or the original book). Even considering my pet peeves, I really enjoyed the show and I'm glad I got to experience such an important musical work! Labels: arts
Roy Lichtenstein / AMOA
1.28.2008 7:23 AM \| Link 0 comments	Yesterday I kept up with my art-exposure resolution by seeing the Roy Lichtenstein exhibit at the Austin Museum of Art downtown. I used to go to AMOA quite often, and was even a member for awhile, but for the past several years I've been missing out. But since I really enjoy Pop Art, and Lichtenstein in particular, I decided I would regret it if I missed this exhibit (which ends next weekend), and I'm glad I went! Everyone knows Lichtenstein from his reinterpretation of comic book panels (using primary colors and tons of Benday Dots), so of course this show has a few of those to enjoy, but I was even more impressed by other series that I hadn't seen before, including some as recent as the 90s (the artist died in 1997). I really enjoyed the Reflections series, which presents various subjects partially obscured by comic-style mirror reflections (including a great Wonder Woman work), and the Interiors series, including the furniture from the Blondie comic strip (with her leg walking out of the picture). This AMOA exhibit featured audio commentary that you could access via cellphone, which was incredibly cool (such a simple idea that I can't believe this is the first time I've experienced it)! I was able to dial a number on my iPhone right there and listen to art professors and even interviews with Lichtenstein himself while I looked at the art - it was fascinating! Labels: arts
Austin Symphony / Benedetto Lupo : 4 of 5
1.16.2008 9:22 PM \| Link 0 comments	One of my goals for 2008 is to experience more art, so I made sure to see the Austin Symphony's first concert of the season. I've always enjoyed the symphony, since it's just amazing to me that so many musicians can perform together so precisely, and while I'm listening to the music I almost always have interesting thoughts or come up with new ideas. This concert was at Riverbend Center, so even though I had to deal with the uncomfortable pews, it was nice to have an easy drive without heading downtown (although it took me forever to find my car after the concert!). It looks like every performance this season includes works by Beethoven, so this concert began with the King Stephen Overture (which I had never heard, but it was simple and enjoyable), and ended with the Symphony No. 5 (yes, it's the one you're thinking of!). Truthfully, I wasn't too excited about hearing the Fifth Symphony, but actually I had forgotten what the other movements were like besides the first (that everyone in the world can hum), and the 4th movement was incredible! The featured performer was the pianist Benedetto Lupo, who played Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 1 (another first hearing for me), which was full of dark emotion that was well-explained by the program notes. Lupo was fantastic, though I wish I could have seen his hands on the keys (my seat was great otherwise!). It was a really nice evening, and I felt really peaceful just enjoying the music, people watching, and marveling at some new classical works that I'd like in my library! Labels: arts, symphony
Simply the Best / Austin Lyric Opera : 3 of 5
11.09.2007 8:05 AM \| Link 0 comments	Austin Lyric Opera has been transitioning from the Bass Concert Hall (which is closed for renovations) to the new Long Center, which will be an amazing theater and their new permanent home. But for the end of last season and the beginning of this one, they've been stuck at Riverbend Center, which is a nice facility, but just doesn't accommodate the spectacle of opera (Riverbend is a church, after all). ALO did a nice job with Barber of Seville in this environment, but they decided to open this new season with a "greatest hits" concert called Simply the Best. I was a little disappointed when I first heard about it, since it felt like I was getting cheated out of a full opera, but the concert was surprisingly well planned and beautifully performed! It was wonderful to see the orchestra onstage (since I haven't been to a symphony in months), and the vocalists were simply amazing, both for their incredible voices and acting ability, which I didn't expect to see in this type of concert. The selections were all over the place, including not only sure-fire hits like the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute or the Toreador song from Carmen, but also pieces ranging from a Baroque aria from Handel's Xerxes to some modern songs from Bernstein's Candide (presented with great comic flair!). The complete ALO chorus was also onstage and their combined voices certainly were powerful! I'm looking forward to ALO's next production in April, but Simply the Best was definitely more than filler, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Labels: arts, opera
High School Musical / Zach Scott Theater : 4 of 5
11.07.2007 6:50 PM \| Link 0 comments	Being a hard-core, card-carrying Disney fan, I used to feel bad that I hadn't explored all the High School Musical hype. I just never got around to watching the movie on the Disney Channel or even listening to the songs (although I had heard a few during park visits), but I knew it was my Disney duty to check it out soon! Thankfully, Zach Scott Theater gave my pal Melinda and I the opportunity to enjoy this super popular phenomenon, and I totally loved it! The stage show was my first exposure to the story and music, so I couldn't compare it to the original movie at the time, but it was still a treat to see it onstage, actually performed in a school auditorium for extra atmosphere. The young performers that Zach Scott cast were all spectacular at dancing, singing and acting, putting lots of energy into their roles. The dance numbers were pretty complex, but they somehow managed to pull them off with no mistakes, including lots of synchronized basketball dribbling on Get'cha Head in the Game! I've finally seen the original movie now, so I can comment on a few blaring differences, such as portraying Sharpay's brother Ryan as flaming as possible, which made the character much funnier on stage than in the movie (if you ignore the questionable taste). Even though this was a local production, it definitely had the Disney mark, using official logos, stage music and so on – I wonder how Disney makes sure no theaters mess up their valuable property? They definitely had nothing to worry about with Zach Scott, since this particular High School Musical was a blast! Labels: arts, disney
The Barber of Seville / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
4.16.2007 9:45 PM \| Link 0 comments	Austin Lyric Opera is now officially in transition from their old home at Bass Concert Hall to the new Long Center next year, so the last opera of this season was performed at Riverbend Centre. This venue definitely wasn't designed for opera (since it's really a church!), but it allowed this production to go all out with a light-hearted total comedy version of The Barber of Seville. Since the stage is small and has no curtain, the only sets consisted of huge decorated boxes with drawers and cabinets full of props. The orchestra itself was onstage, so the actors took every opportunity to include them in the jokes (it's not often the conductor becomes part of the show!). For the most part, the humor was hilarious, but there were a few times I thought it went too far (especially when at times it actually took the audience's attention away from the aria being sung!). Even so, this is still one of the best productions of this opera I've seen, and I managed to enjoy it all without thinking of Bugs Bunny the entire time (since Rossini's music is all over Warner Bros. cartoons)! I was completely impressed with Sandra Piques Eddy making her Austin debut as Rosina - besides having a beautiful, powerful voice, she was downright beautiful and bursting with energetic charisma. I don't think the pews at Riverbend were designed for three hours of sitting (ouch!), but I still thoroughly enjoyed the close of the opera season! Labels: arts, opera
All aboard the theater bus
3.09.2007 7:30 AM \| Link 0 comments	I have so many things to write about stacking up lately, so I finally need to mention seeing Kirk German, my pal and singer for the Greatest American Heroes, staring in Temple Civic Theater's production of the musical She Loves Me! Kirk does lots of theater work, but this time he had the lead in a cool show, which happened to be an hour's drive away. His parents were so thrilled that they chartered a bus for all of Kirk's friends, and it was a really fun trip! This was an amazing luxury bus with a bathroom and everything, and it was jam-packed with artsy folk (so we got to hear several live selections from Cabaret and Man of La Mancha). The show was really well done, and Kirk was fantastic. He's really natural onstage, and it was great to see him in his true element. (I wasn't overly impressed with the music itself, since some of the songs were a little so-so, but everyone's performance was wonderful, and the story was heartwarming.) After the show, we waited in the mile-long line to congratulate Kirk, and then enjoyed the comfortable ride home. It was a great evening of entertainment with friends! There are lots of nice photos of the production on the theater website, so take a look at the show. Labels: arts, life
The Lion King : 5 of 5
2.28.2007 7:28 AM \| Link 0 comments	Seeing The Lion King on Broadway was one of the highlights of my trip to New York City with my parents, but even though we had great seats, we were almost too close to enjoy the overall spectacle of the production. My pal Melinda and I had fantastic seats for the Austin touring performance, right in the center and far enough back to enjoy the wonderful costumes parading through the aisles (although the Bass Concert Hall was definitely a little cramped for giant elephants and rhinos!). The show was fantastic to see again, and I enjoyed the music more than ever before, especially all the African chant numbers (that were added for Broadway). They are just so rhythmic and exciting, and since the two lead percussionists were setup in plain view on either side of the stage, I enjoyed them even more! All of the performers were really strong - Mufasa's voice was even deeper than James Earl Jones, Scar was really skilled at moving his incredible lion mask in front of his face, and Zazu was a flawless puppeteer (and so was everyone else). I had even forgotten a few scenes, such as when Timon almost gets eaten by a crocodile, so the whole show was full of surprises for me. The Lion King is just an amazing Broadway show, and I think it's one that everyone should see (even if you're not a Disney nut like me) again and again! Labels: arts, disney
Waiting for the Barbarians / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
1.31.2007 10:36 PM \| Link 0 comments	It's always interesting to see a modern opera, especially since Austin Lyric Opera's performance of Philip Glass' Waiting for the Barbarians was actually the US premiere of this work! This opera was interesting for a number of reasons, but also incredibly dark and depressing (I saw it with my pal Jonathan, and we were both in a somber mood afterwards) due to the plot, based on a famous allegorical novel. The story is about a society where the military becomes so fearful of an impending barbarian invasion (which never comes), that they are allowed to torture and abuse people without restraint. Glass's music is definitely similar to his other works (which can be expected from one of the most well known minimalist composers), but it works well here to convey both terror and monotony. The stage settings were created almost entirely by a series of scrims and ingenious lighting, which allowed a scene to switch from the middle of the desert to the inside of a building in the blink of an eye. The performers were amazing, especially the Magistrate, who is the main character that almost makes this a one-man show. There's not a single negative thing I can say about this performance, except that this dark subject matter just isn't my cup of opera. However, this is still an important and fascinating work, and I'm glad to have seen the premiere! Labels: arts, opera
Madame Butterfly / Austin Lyric Opera : 5 of 5
11.20.2006 11:30 PM \| Link 0 comments	As this opera ended, I commented to my pal Melinda (who went with me) that this was one of the best performances I've ever seen. At the same time I was thinking, I'll bet I said that the last time I saw this opera performed! Thanks to a much older (and shorter) WEBmikey review, I see I was right, so maybe I just really enjoy this Puccini masterpiece! From what I remember, this production was far more amazing, however. The set with it's Japanese sliding doors was wonderful, especially the large painting of the sea and mountains that seemed to change color with the time of day, thanks to the incredible lighting (which really impressed me during the long interlude between Acts 2 and 3). The singing was wonderful, although Pinkerton's tenor didn't project very well - I enjoyed the voice of Sharpless much more. But it was Jee Hyun Lim as Butterfly who completely impressed me in every way - not only was her soprano fantastic, but she was definitely one of the best actresses I've seen in opera in a long time! Her delicate movements, her joy at seeing Pinkerton's ship in the harbor, her tragic death - everything was full of emotion that completely won me over. A performance like that can make me forget that I know the story, and start hoping that somehow Butterfly's dream of love can come true! Labels: arts, opera
HMS Pinafore : 3 of 5
7.04.2006 10:17 AM \| Link 0 comments	My friend Tom and I had never seen a Gilbert & Sullivan production before, so we decided to go see the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of Austin's HMS Pinafore. I don't think anything can really prepare you for one of these shows - all I had seen before were countless parodies of the various songs (including Stewie singing the the best HMS song on Family Guy), but the reality is that the actual show is so bizarre that it's exactly like the parody! HMS Pinafore tells the simple story of a lowly sailor who's in love with the captain's daughter, but their love isn't "proper" because they are in different social classes. Hardly anything happens in the plot - just some wooing, a failed attempt at eloping, and a sudden revealing of a secret that makes everything turn out happily. The holes are filled with song after song, and each song is filled with mountains of lyrics, all written with wry British wit. The rhymes are really quite remarkable, and lots of fun to listen to (although the slower numbers were a little boring). The cast was really good, mainly because it was obvious that they were all Gilbert & Sullivan fans who were having a wonderful time! It was great that they had a live mini-orchestra, too, which I didn't expect (since the production was in a high-school auditorium). It was a packed show, with a huge number of senior citizens, so there's definitely a bunch of Austinites who love this stuff! I'm glad we went to see it, and I wouldn't mind checking out another show sometime. Labels: arts
Still the Greatest Show on Earth
7.01.2006 10:23 PM \| Link 0 comments	Today I took my pal Melinda to see the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus for her birthday. I love going to the circus every year, and since I buy my tickets the moment they become available, I get the good seats right in front of the center ring! We went early to see the "animal compound" (not a very nice way to put it, but oh well) and to walk around the rings for the pre-show. The pre-show seemed way more crowded this year than it has been before, but it was still fun. The show started right off with the double human cannonball, which I thought would be the finale! The excellent clown/acrobat Bello was back this year - I saw him a few years ago and I'm still really impressed with his performance! There were tons of cool acts, but I like the ones that really make me nervous, like seeing an elephant walk over a bunch of girls lying on the ground! I think my favorite was the high wire act, since the performers had a cool attitude, like they were really having fun. There was a near fall (the band even stopped for a second!), which was pretty exciting! It also looked like some zebras were going to break loose and run away, but I'm sure it was no big deal. The whole show was tons of fun, and I got my giant program just like I always do. I ate way too much cotton candy, but that's just part of the circus experience! Labels: arts, life
Don Giovanni / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
4.30.2006 11:12 PM \| Link 0 comments	Austin Lyric Opera ended this season with one of my favorite operas, Mozart's Don Giovanni. It's a wonderful opera because it has a little bit of everything, from comedy to romance, with just a dash of walking, talking statue from Hell! I was really impressed with both the vocal and acting work, especially from Leporello, Don Giovanni's comedy relief servant, who has the honor of singing the "list aria" that everyone loves - his physical comedy was simply excellent! Zerlina was quite beautiful, which always makes seduction scenes more compelling. The sets and lighting were interesting, since they used fairly minimal walls that could be raised and lowered from the ceiling, along with large paintings, but this was just enough to really convey the feel of different locations or rooms. The transition to the ballroom was particularly good, which actually used some house lighting to make the audience feel that we were all in the ballroom. Musically, the performances were solid, although I thought some of the conducting was a little fast (based on the recordings I listen to often), especially the overture. I've seen Don Giovanni a few times before, and as usual, I think the last scene seems completely non-essential, but at least this performance made it light-hearted, almost like they agreed with me. It was a great opera, and I'm looking forward to next season! Labels: arts, opera
Mamma Mia / Las Vegas : 4 of 5
4.08.2006 8:22 AM \| Link 0 comments	I decided my parents and I should see a different show each night for our recent Las Vegas trip, and since I know they love Broadway productions, I thought Mamma Mia would be a good choice, since I enjoyed it when it came to Austin. Mom & Dad initially couldn't think of any ABBA songs except for Dancing Queen, but I knew they would remember many more once they heard them in the show, and they did! Since I bought the tickets so far in advance, we were able to snag first row - it made it really wonderful to see the performers' faces, as well as the musicians and the director (which Dad really enjoyed). The show was fantastic - I thought that Sophie was incredibly cute (complete with dimples), even though her voice wasn't so fantastic (but still good). Donna (the mother) had the best voice of all, and was really able to sing with emotion on The Winner Takes It All. We ended up sitting next to a Mamma Mia "groupie" - she said she had seen the show over 200 times, and she knew everyone in the cast! I was surprised that at the end of the show during the Dancing Queen reprise, the Las Vegas audience was too lazy to get up and dance a little - in Austin the whole theater was up on their feet! Oh well, it was still a show full of energy and a ton of fun! Labels: arts
Barry Manilow / Music & Passion : 4 of 5
4.02.2006 7:43 AM \| Link 0 comments	I remember singing Barry Manilow songs in grade school music class, so even though I'm not a diehard fan, I still know all the words to most of Barry's hits, so I was pretty interested to see his Las Vegas show. Now, that I've seen it, I'm really impressed with him! Not only is he an incredible performer, who really expresses his love of music and his fans, but I have a new appreciation for his songwriting, especially his lyrics (and he's definitely king of the key-change)! Barry is a bit more expensive than other Vegas shows, so when I was booking everything back in December, I opted for "medium" level tickets - we had a great view of the show, though, and there are giant video screens on stage for close-ups. Barry did lots of mini-melodies of his big hits, and plugged his new album by doing some nice 50s songs, too. My favorite segment was watching his first television performance on The Midnight Special in the 70s (where he looked about 14 years old and 97 pounds) - Barry sang with "himself" on the video, doing harmonies and counter-melodies, for a great version of Mandy. The whole audience was given glow-sticks on the way in, so the theater was definitely lit up during I Write the Songs. The finale was a huge Copacabana production, complete with a giant staircase that came down from the ceiling so Barry could walk out over the audience, and a weird hip-hop segment in the middle of the song (proving Barry has a great sense of humor about his own compositions!). It was an incredible show, and my parents and I loved it! Labels: arts
Cirque du Soleil / Ka : 5 of 5
3.31.2006 5:41 PM \| Link 0 comments	The first show my parents and I saw in Las Vegas was the latest Cirque du Soleil production called Ka, since we've seen several other productions together and loved them all. I can easily say that Ka is my new favorite (and Mom agreed)! Seeing Ka is like watching a movie that happens all around you - even though all of the Cirque productions have some sort of deeper meaning, only Ka tells a complete story with a defined plot. The story is about two Imperial twins who are separated in a shipwreck (after their parents are killed in a dramatic archer attack), and follows their separate journeys until they finally unite to fight the evil ones who caused their tragedy. All of the show's acrobatics work into the story - there are exciting battles, daring escapes, and tender moments, too, all right before your eyes. The stage is a complete miracle - it's a huge platform that can be lifted and twisted in almost any direction so it seems to be floating, and it can even stand completely upright so performers can climb up it! There are lots of great special effects, too, featuring live fire and plenty of cool projections, many of which follow the performers. I can't even begin to describe all the fantastic scenes! The costumes and make-up have a strong Asian influence in their design, and the performers are all great actors as well (especially the boy and girl twins!). We had third row seats, so it was amazing to see all of their expressions (and also cool to have performers flying above our heads at times!). I could easily see Ka again and again - it's simply magnificent. Labels: arts, cirque du soleil
Austin Symphony / Alisa Weilerstein : 4 of 5
3.05.2006 2:27 PM \| Link 0 comments	Yesterday I went to another wonderful concert of the Austin Symphony. Since I don't have season tickets, I just buy whatever seat I can get online, and believe it or not, I managed to snag the exact same fourth row seat that I had last time (and I got to say hello to the same guy I met before)! This time I didn't regret sitting so close, since the featured cellist, Alisa Weilerstein, was absolutely amazing! Her style was dramatic and full of energy, and it was wonderful to watch her face express what she was playing (and her good looks didn't hurt either). Seeing her up close was incredible, especially noticing details like playing an extremely high note off the fretboard of her instrument! The guest conductor, Ernest Hoetzl, was entertaining, too - he chose the program as a "panoramic tour of Austrian music" (from his introduction), and you could tell he was proud to show off the music of his home. Unfortunately, the long Schubert symphony was kind of flighty and lacked emotion, but they made up for it with several shorter works, including some polkas, and ended with the Blue Danube Waltz (which was the first time I've heard it performed live). The entire orchestra even did a short encore piece! I wonder if I'll get the same seat next month? Labels: arts, symphony
Twelfth Night / State Theater : 4 of 5
2.24.2006 7:45 PM \| Link 0 comments	Part of my experiencing art resolution this year is to see more plays, so when I heard that Shakespeare was being performed by the always professional State Theater, I had to go. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a Shakespeare play on stage, with the last one being Comedy of Errors (since I was in the band!). I was actually surprised at how similar Twelfth Night is to Comedy of Errors - both have twins (though one of them is a girl dressed as a man in the Twelfth Night plot), plenty of hilarity, and the big "A-ha!" moment when the entire cast is onstage. This production was really amazing! The actors were all quite good (with impressive biographies, too), and came across with that speaking comfort that's so necessary with the language. Both lead females (Viola, who spends the play as Cesario, and Olivia, who falls in love with him/her) were really amazing, giving a lot of strength and depth to their characters. The set design was remarkable, with a true three-level performance space - it was fascinating to see actors on the third level, which acted as a balcony window, while other action was taking place on the actual stage below. I laughed a lot and had a great time, and it was nice to see the play that's hinted at in the final scenes of Shakespeare in Love. I guess all those Shakespeare college courses I took haven't worn off yet! Labels: arts
Austin Symphony / Janina Fialkowska : 4 of 5
2.06.2006 5:55 PM \| Link 0 comments	Since I enjoyed the last symphony so much, I decided to go again, and I was lucky enough to get a 4th row seat just by booking online! (Now I wish I had purchased season tickets, but if I keep going it will be fun to see what kind of seat I can get.) Sitting that close was perfect for watching the guest pianist Janina Fialkowska perform the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 1, and I even had a great angle so I could watch her hands on the keys the whole time. The disadvantage to my seat was that all I could see were the strings, and I like to watch the woodwinds and percussion, too, but they were hidden to me. The pianist was really remarkable, playing with absolute precision, but I think she sounded much better in the slow expressive passages - the fast sections seemed a little mechanical, but still spectacular! The concert opened and closed with Mozart, which is always wonderful, starting with the overture to The Abduction from the Seraglio, which is up-tempo and full of percussion, and ending with the 41st Symphony, which has the incredible fugue-like section in the 4th movement. It was a really enjoyable evening, and also interesting since an older man sitting next to me was really friendly and talkative (actually, he reminded me of my Uncle Glenn because of his curiosity about my opinions on things). Going to the symphony is such a relaxing evening of entertainment, so I hope I can go again soon! Labels: arts, symphony
Austin Symphony / Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg : 5 of 5
1.22.2006 9:58 AM \| Link 0 comments	I love going to the symphony, but according to the WEBmikey archives, the last time I went (and wrote about it) was in 2000! It was definitely time to go again (as another part of my resolution), and I was lucky enough to see Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg as violin soloist. The concert began with two Shostakovich works (as part of the 100 year anniversary, just like the recent opera), including the Violin Concerto No. 1, which is full of brooding and fire, but also great comedy in the Scherzo. Nadia was truly amazing, working up actual perspiration as her fingers flew. She was also very much in touch with the audience - when a few folks mistakingly applauded after the first movement, she just spoke up to say "It's not over yet!" During the intermission there was a huge line for autographs (which I watched from afar), including "groupies" who brought musical scores for her to sign. The final work was the Sibelius Symphony No. 1, which I had never heard before (I had to be able to identify Finlandia in college, but that was it). It's a beautiful symphony, with grand sweeping melodies that used everything in the orchestra, including two harps and lots of percussion, which I always enjoy. It was so nice to be back at the symphony - I actually remembered some of the faces of the musicians, and it's so amazing to let the beautiful sound of the orchestra wash over me. I'm definitely planning to see their next concert! Labels: arts, symphony
Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk / Austin Lyric Opera : 4 of 5
1.08.2006 10:40 PM \| Link 0 comments	This was definitely an unusual choice for Austin Lyric Opera, but since this is the 100th anniversary of Shostakovich's birth, there are lots of his works being performed this year. I had no idea what to expect from this opera, but I'm glad to say that I was really surprised (and sometimes shocked)! The music is extremely dramatic and theatrical, with hardly any true arias, and even long sections without vocals that serve as incidental music while action is taking place on stage. The story is full of violence and sex, including two murders (occurring in plain view), a rape, and extended bedroom scenes (the actors definitely had to go far beyond the usual opera activities!). The set design was interesting, using lots of industrial pipes and platforms, with windows and doors being rolled on by members of the chorus as needed. Speaking of the chorus, they were nearly always onstage, and even doubled as furniture! This was supposed to have a kind of oppressed worker significance, but it was a little funny to see people sitting on someone's back for breakfast. The acting was pretty spectacular, from the evil father-in-law to the love-starved, crazy Katerina herself. I was surprised they performed an English translation (I've never seen Austin Lyric Opera do that before), but it certainly didn't detract from the experience. It's great to be introduced to such a riveting work! Labels: arts, opera
Opera neighbors
10.10.2005 6:13 PM \| Link 0 comments	I've had the same season tickets to Austin Lyric Opera for several years now, which means I always sit in the same seat, season after season. Of course, there are other season ticket holders around me, so I end up with the same "neighbors" all the time, too. Since I'm pretty quiet with strangers, I never talk to these people, but I always like listening in on their conversations. Right behind me are two large ladies who always talk up a storm. They love to read the program and pronounce character names with foreign accents, and I think they must be living on easy street, since I'll hear them say things like "Oh, I just don't feel like going to Europe this year. Well, maybe I'll go at Christmas." Next to me is a quiet Clark Kent kind of guy who always shows up about 30 seconds before the curtain goes up, and then without fail he snoozes through most of the performance! I can't fault him much, since I've been there myself - it's just so easy to nod your head when you're in the dark listening to soothing music (which is why I usually take a little nap before going to the opera). Still, it's pretty funny to see his head sink deeper and deeper, and then pop back up to watch some more (and this happens over and over). See, going to the opera can be fun for a variety of reasons! Labels: arts, opera
Il Trovatore / Austin Lyric Opera : 3 of 5
6:05 PM \| Link 0 comments	The new opera season has started with a nice production of Verdi's Il Trovatore (The Troubadour), which most people probably know from the famous Anvil Chorus. It also has one of the more complicated plots in opera, since the audience has to understand the history of the former Count and the Gypsy witch (I think it all makes sense if you pay attention!). Verdi has some truly wonderful arias in this opera, and they were skillfully delivered by the wonderful singers in this production, all of whom were great actors, too. I was interested to see what ALO would do for a set, since they were planning to borrow the set from New Orleans Opera, which was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. They did they best they could, I suppose, with a simple platform and stairs, along with a dual curtain effect that used lighting and projections to signify changes in scene. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me, and I felt the production was really missing something, since the fantastic costumes were such a stark contrast! At times the effect was nice though, especially at the end where the entire stage was bright blood red as the gypsy tells the Count he's just killed his brother! Overall, I really enjoyed the opera - I just wish I had been overwhelmed by it. Labels: arts, opera
Sheer Madness / Zachary Scott Theater : 3 of 5
9.30.2005 7:35 PM \| Link 0 comments	It seems like every time my parents come to visit, we end up seeing whatever production is playing at Zach! This time we saw Sheer Madness, which was one of the most unique shows I've seen there. The action takes place in a beauty salon, where there's a hilarious gay hairstylist (of course) plus his sexy assistant, along with a couple of interesting customers and undercover cops. A murder takes place offstage, and then the audience is asked to help the "police" solve the crime, first by speaking up when mistakes are made during a reenactment, and then by directly questioning the characters! In the end, the audience votes on the killer, and the actors perform whatever ending lines are appropriate based on the choice. The actors were all really talented, especially the funny hairstylist, who was so natural and at ease in his delivery (he also improvised a big kiss for the lead cop, which really brought the house down!). The stage was cool, too, since they had working sinks onstage so they could actually wash and style hair during the show! Besides some nightmarish parking problems (since most of Zach's lot was full of Austin City Limits festival-goers!), it was a great show that would even be fun to see again, just to check out an alternate ending. Labels: arts
Chicago : 5 of 5
9.29.2005 5:56 PM \| Link 0 comments	Mom & Dad love Broadway shows like I do, so they planned their recent trip so we could all go see the official touring production of Chicago! We all loved the movie, of course, so it was a lot of fun to see the show with all of the songs and characters relatively fresh in our minds. Right away I was impressed that the band was onstage, which took up quite a bit of room! It was cool to watch and listen to them play, since I've heard the movie soundtrack so many times that I knew when every punch was coming. There are no costume or set changes in the show - the chorus dancers simply take over any other roles as needed (such as cops, reporters, or the courtroom jury), which really makes the show move fast! In fact, there's very little dialogue between songs, so the plot really moves along, even though the whole show was over two hours. The two main female roles, Velma and Roxie, were both incredible, though I was much more impressed with Roxie, mainly because of her fantastic musical monologue with the audience - her emotions and way of talking were just so natural! Billy was played by Tom Wopat - it was funny seeing Bo Duke onstage at first, but he did a fine job and can sing fairly well. The whole show was just wonderful to see, with tons of great music, excellent dancing, and lots of laughs - definitely one of my favorite touring productions ever! Labels: arts