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The practice of imbuing instrumental music with “extra-musical” meaning--infusing a story, a theme, or imagery into a piece of music--dates back many centuries (an familiar early example is Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, which describes each of the seasons in musical tones). This practice, termed “program music” (as opposed to “absolute music,” which ostensibly carries no meaning [...]
A MUSICAL MODEL. Over several decades, my travels have given me the opportunity to learn from a wealth of different voices—from the immense compassion and grace of Bach’s Cello Suites, to the ancient Celtic fiddle traditions alive in Appalachia, to the soulful strains of the bandoneón of Argentina’s tango cafés. I have met and been [...]
Beautifully funny, poignant and often heart wrenching, Cyrano de Bergerac is one of the most famous romantic adventures in world literature. Cyrano is an excellent swordsman from Gascony, a region of France famous for producing stubborn, courageous and grandiose soldiers. He is besotted with the beautiful and alluring Roxanne, and yet, because of his famously [...]
Set in the idyllic town of Padua, The Taming of the Shrew tells the story of the timeless battle of the sexes. Bianca Minola, the beautiful daughter of a lord, is eligible for marriage but cannot be courted until her elder sister, Katherina, finds a husband. Katherina’s quick temper and acerbic wit, however, frighten off [...]
At its core, in 1968 “Hair” was a protest against the Vietnam War. Or more exactly, it was a protest against being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War. The war is long over – the Vietnamese won. We now send them tourists, including war tourists. They grow much of our cheap coffee. The draft [...]
One daughter, called a “shrew” for being loud and unruly, is given over by her father to be “tamed” by a man who openly woos her for her money. The other daughter, the supposedly mild and obedient one, is auctioned off for marriage to the highest bidder. In bare outline, the two central plots of [...]
For nearly two thousand years (ending in the 14th century), the historical Silk Road, a series of land and sea trade routes, crisscrossed Eurasia, enabling the exchange of goods and innovations from Japan to the Mediterranean Sea. Over the centuries, many important scientific and technological innovations migrated to the West along the Silk Road, including [...]
ABOUT THE COLLABORATION This ambitious collaboration is over a year in the making. Since June of 2011, The King’s Singers and the Seán Curran Company have been sharing creative ideas, carving out and rehearsing the program, which brings the Seán Curran Company to concert stages for the first time. The performances will add dynamism and [...]
Eating is the most common and direct ethical action; every meal, every snack and every beverage you consume is an active decision. Implied in these decisions are choices about where your food comes from, who makes it, how it is made, and how it is distributed so that it makes its way to your plate. [...]
With Diavolo, universes collide. Art meets science, matter and space coexist, reality ends where imagination begins…And everyday objects are used for extraordinary purposes! To better help you prepare and understand this incredible performance, which comes to the Norton Center on March 10, we thought we’d offer a deeper look into how Diavolo redefines our expectations… [...]
