ORION by Philip Glass @ Bass Concert Hall

[Updates below.]

Damn near missed this one.

I'm a newbie to Glass's work. Though I own Glassworks, "Low" Symphony, and Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass and I saw him perform Koyaanisqatsi live, I'm still treading in what I consider unfamiliar waters.

I hadn't heard of Orion until now. Here's what Glass had to say about the idea behind the project:

Orion, the largest constellation in the night sky, can be seen at all times of year, from both hemispheres. It seems that almost every civilisation has created myths and drawn inspiration from Orion. As the project advanced each of the musicians and composers, myself included, used part of this inspiration to aid us in our creative task.

The UTPAC website says this:

Inspired by the challenge to create a work for a world audience on the occasion of the Athens Cultural Olympiad in Summer 2004, Philip Glass' new evening-length work contemplates the Earth's relationship to the constellations as interpreted by the world's many cultures. Commissioned by the Cultural Olympiad 2001-2004, Glass has envisioned a work truly international in scope, reflecting the very spirit of the Olympiad. This groundbreaking event features live performances by Philip Glass and the Philip Glass Ensemble in collaboration with a group of renowned composers and performers chosen for their unique mastery of a global musical tradition.

[...]

ORION begins with the low throbe of Australian Mark Atkins' dijeridoo, then Wu Man on Chinese pipa, Brazilian flute and precussions of UAKTI, Nova Scotian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac, Indian composer and sitar master Ravi Shankar (work to be performed by sitar virtuoso Kartik Seshadri), West African Griot Foday Musa Suso on Kora, and ends with the soprano of Greece's renowned Eleftheria Arvanitaki.

"World music" indeed.

Tomorrow night should be very interesting. We got wicked seats, too: Row R, numbers 114 and 115. Nearly dead center on the orchestra level!

Doesn't hurt that my old UT ID card got me the tix for only $10 each.

Un-freaking-fortunately:

...due to copyright laws and in consideration of the performers, the use of photographic or recording devices of any kind inside the theatre is strictly prohibited. If you bring a camera with you, we will politely ask you to check it at our Patron Services window, or with an usher before entering the theatre.

I can't explain how badly I want to snap a few shots of the musicians in action.

UPDATED 10/18/2005 8:03am
Excellent performance. We had a great time. Each musician put out an impressive effort and the audience responded enthusiastically. I'm definitely buying the 2-CD set.

My biggest gripe was that Wu Man and the Uakti group occasionally suffered from quiet play drowned out by relatively loud accompaniment. Part of this is simply due to the subtle nature of their instruments and part of it was simply because at the end, there were at times 16 different people playing at once.

My biggest thrill was probably Ashley MacIsaac's wild ending performance. Wearing combat boots/Doc Martins, a kilt with sporran, a white muscle shirt, and sporting a hot pink/orange dyed hair, he opened with a mournful tune that was the meat of his participation...and then he exploded into an energetic jig. Halfway through this, he walked in front of the floor monitors and began dancing to the music. Even though Ravi Shakar's sitar stand-in Kartik Seshadri received the only entrance applause and of course everyone cheered loudly for Mr. Glass, I think MacIsaac earned the most enthusiastic response for an individual player for his accomplishment.

Posted by Drizzten at October 13, 2005 01:25 PM