Pierrot lunaire and etc.
Tuesday night at the Harris Theater eighth blackbird took on the challenge of presenting a 97 year old work by Arnold Schoenberg: Pierrot lunaire.
It was staged and choreographed for dancer Elyssa Dole and other members of eighth blackbird. Lucy Shelton, a well versed Schoenberg interpreter did the singing and Sprechstimme. There were supertitles which I chose to ignore, because I was totally wrapped up in the music and movement on stage. It’s hard to imagine how an audience in 1912 would have accepted this work, because even today it’s challenging, but none the less rewarding.
In the first half of the concert, eighth blackbird and Lucy Shelton performed some Weill/Brecht songs of that I’m familiar with, but not in these specific arrangements.
Another ear opener for me in the first half was Alban Berg’s Adagio from
“Kammerkonzert” arranged for violin, clarinet & piano, circa 1925. I’ve
never been a fan of serialists, but this wasn’t half bad. Probably because
the performers treated it with such nuance and delicacy.
Bruce Oltman
on December 10th, 2009 at 9:42 am
This was the third 8bb / Pierrot I’ve seen this this year and the most beautiful and relaxed. Decades ago, who would have thought of Schoenberg & Berg (and more recently – & Perle) as beautiful — this was a wonderful evening of music and drama and dance and spirit and fun.
Also I think it is important to acknowledge the audio sound work of Ryan Ingebritsen. I struggle through too many sound reinforced events – this one was a pleasure: soft & subtle; not so loud that directional realism was destroyed. Big Bravo here too