State of the Arts

State of the Arts: April 30, 2010 Archive

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Singing across the internet

Posted at 11:34 AM on April 30, 2010 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music, Technology

Composer Eric Whitacre is known for his lovely choral pieces that evoke a deep sense of calm and connection to the universe.

Now his work is being performed in a way that evokes a deep sense of connection... via the internet.

After seeing a video of a soprano sitting at her computer, singing along to his piece "Sleep." Whitacre realized he could have all the parts sung by people anywhere on the earth, and create a virtual choir.

Since then, Whitacre along with producer Scott Haines, have completed two virtual choral pieces: "Sleep" and "Lux Aurumque." You can read more about the process of putting the project together here.

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Dawn Upshaw can't sing

Posted at 2:43 PM on April 30, 2010 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music

Well at least not tonight. Nor did she show up for her performance with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra last night, either. The vocal legend has been hit with "seasonal allergies" and was forced to pull out at the last minute.

For both performances, Upshaw's pieces (Ravel's Chansons madecasses for Soprano, Flute, Cello and Piano and Barber's Knoxville: Summer of 1915) were/will be replaced with Johannes Brahms' Quartet in C Minor for Two Violins, Viola, and Cello.

Still no word on whether Upshaw will be able to perform Saturday night.

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Creepy, Kooky, Altogether Ooky

Posted at 3:50 PM on April 30, 2010 by Marianne Combs (0 Comments)
Filed under: Music, Theater

Get ready to snap your fingers; The Addams Family musical is coming to the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in St. Paul as part of a five city national tour starting in September 2011.

While the show (which stars Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia) hasn't proved favorable with critics either on Broadway or on its tryout run in Chicago, it has been a huge success with audiences, breaking box office records.

In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Ordway Vice President of Theatrical Programming James Rocco said "The iron is hot. Let's go. I want the show today. The public likes what it likes."

The Addams Family made it to Broadway in the first place thanks in part to the Ordway.

Ordway joined the producing consortium Five Cent Productions back in 2005, and soon after Five Cent became a producing partner in Elephant Eye Theatrical. The Addams Family is the first production to emerge from this partnership.

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