People Are Talking: UMS presents Ryoji Ikeda’s...
Posted: 10/31/14
POPULAR most recent most commented
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-no Derivate Works 3.0 United States License.
© University Musical Society | 881 N University - Ann Arbor, MI 48109 - 734.764.2538 Connecting Audience and Performing Artists in Uncommon and Engaging Experiences
All comments by Sudha Rajderkar
People Are Talking: UMS presents National Theatre of Scotland: Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol:
Simply fantastic! I was sulking at the price of tickets being used to purchasing student tickets most of the time, absolutely no regrets now. Thank you UMS – you are a significant part of the enriching experience and countless beautiful memories I will have of my time here at UM/Ann Arbor. Go blue!
People Are Talking: UMS presents Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Hill Auditorium:
I found the performance to be a drag, the soloists failed to engage me, in fact I thought there were places where the tenor seemed off key in the beginning pieces. The entire group seemed tensed, if you don’t enjoy presenting, why should the listener enjoy what you’re presenting?! It became uneasy to sit through and we left during the intermission. By all means, there will be others who think highly of the performance; different people have different tastes and understanding, I respectfully differ.
People Are Talking: UMS presents Asif Ali Khan Qawwali Ensemble at Rackham Auditorium:
Mixed feeling. Was the concert entertaining – yes. Guess it is also hard to cater to an audience so diverse, there was too much vocal gymnastics. But thats what the majority of the audience likes and appreciates. It seemed more like the Bollywood version of Qawwali. The essence of Qawwali/Maqaam music is to bring forth the spirituality in the lyric using a certain “lagaav” or employment of the note in a certain way. That was somewhat absent. The likes of Amir Khusrau, Rumi are hard to grasp anyway, it is the immersive experience of the music which was lacking. Using sargam, taraana style singing is all part of qawwali but it has its distinct flavor, what was demonstrated on stage was what we see these days in run-on-the mill Indian Classical concerts. Man Kunto Maula and Damadam Masta Kalandar are compositions that will drive a listener crazy (in a good way), when done well, they evoke spontaneous reactions from the audience in different ways. No one needs to be told to stand up. Technically, the singers were very gifted, I especially observed their skillful and highly aesthetic transitioning from one raga to another. In the first piece, am not certain but it seemed like gliding from a variation of Yaman/Kalyan to Nand-like patterns, then definitely resting upon Raga Lalat. More like Moorchana style of singing, very deeply rooted in Hindusthani/Dhrupad forms of music – very rarely sung on stage by performers of the day. Feel sad when artists of such high calibre cater a concert to populist tastes. Rigor is good, rigor will reveal most aesthetic possibilities of sound and if the audience is not conditioned enough, it is upon the performers to raise the bar, that is the highest service to one’s art. I would love to listen to the artists’ riyaaz, where am sure they must sing their best…thanks UMS.
People Are Talking: UMS presents The Manganiyar Seduction at Power Center:
This was a fantastic show, very true to Indian Classical music and avoiding the flashy bit, despite them being on stage now for 7 years. This is the kind of music that should be labelled heritage, I doubt there are many people in India, let alone outside who truly understand the essence of Indian Classical Music. Especially, witnessing Indian concerts in the US feels like one is being short changed but this one was a pleasant surprise. Last year’s Amjad Ali Khan concert was a complete shame. Perhaps most Ustaads who perform outside of India think we listeners are naive and they can command such huge numbers of the diaspora in the audience because of their personal greatness but really, we go there to show respect to a culture and musical tradition that has been within the reach of handful of gifted minds who work hard to achieve those standards…the Manganiyaars have preserved a lot of that essence , I’d highly recommend attending if any one gets a chance. UMS, Id love to see Kishori Amonkar perform at the Hill before I graduate!!!
People Are Talking: UMS presents Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Power Center:
Your reply made me think, are you a writer by any chance?
Thank you, Paul.
"by Sudha
People Are Talking: UMS presents Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Power Center:
Hi Jeremy,
Although I have not followed Philip Glass all the time, I did have an idea of what it would be like. Nothing wrong with repetitions. I guess my main skepticism was because I felt a disconnect between what I saw and heard with temporal/cerebral reception of the input. Those small changes over time need to unfold sufficiently to enable one to “see” events per unit time. Cognition of the piece was not well facilitated by the choreography +music combo. For a performing art, if one has to painstakingly go back to notes/references to get anything out of a piece, it has not done its role. No matter whether the piece is realistic or abstract. Even abstract will convey or extend a experience, unique to the observer. RE eternal love, the idea in itself is certainly not juvenile, it seemed to be out of context at least the way it was done. Well, nice to see so many replies, I have more ways of looking at something than I did before. Guess that is one of the important contribution of art in our lives..Thanks!
Sudha,
"I am not trying to be critical of your negative viewpoint, but just wanted to point out that the music of Philip Glass is by it’s very nature very repetitive, with small changes unfolding over time. It is more an attempt to paint an auditory tapestry of sound that stays the same long enough for you to “see” each part of the tapestry. Either you like Glass or you don’t.
The “teenager-y” love poem you talk about is actually taken from the groundbreaking Opera Einstein on the Beach, and is originally performed by an older man. The idea of eternal love need not be thought of as juvenile. I came to this show as a first-time viewer of contemporary dance and I loved it. I thought the choreography was perfectly married to the music of Philip Glass and found meaning in many aspects of the show. To each his/her own…
by Jeremy Palmer
People Are Talking: UMS presents Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Power Center:
Thank you, Paul.
Don’t apologize for writing negative reviews. It is GOOD to write them, read them and have them – good for the performers – who always tend to be wrapped up in the rigor of their own effort and value – for other viewers and good for the soul. Would you apologize for writing honest reviews? For having feelings or your own reactions, history or perspective? There are almost NO venues in Ann Arbor for critical commentary – on performances, restaurants, movies, or events. We sorely need them. Ann Arborites tend to congratulate themselves on everything and to effuse gratitude at the slightest effort made to entertain them, as if politeness, small-mindedness and passive approval were virtues and critical standards – as if we lived on Sinclair Lewis’ Main Street. A voice like yours is a valuable contribution and, sadly, a rarity in a town that mysteriously, incredibly, often shies away from honesty and calling out waste, pretense, cliche, and simple inferiority when it is most needed.
"by paul wiener
People Are Talking: UMS presents Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Power Center:
Thanks Michael! Although I must say UMS has spoiled me with majority of its way above the bar performances. They always brighten my typical graduate student weeks..
No need to avoid writing negative reviews. It is always important to hear the full range of opinion. Thanks for weighting in.
"by Michael, UMS
People Are Talking: UMS presents Hubbard Street Dance Chicago at Power Center:
Certainly not one of the nicer performances I have attended with UMS. Having an idea of what Chagall’s Windows is, I didn’t think the theme was well represented. Use of water is ok, didn’t quite mean much; neither did the stunt of suspending by rope convey much. What was that teenager-y view of eternal love again? I thought the music & choreography was terribly repetitive, stagnating my brain’s receptiveness. The woman sitting next to me said she fell asleep for the same reason. I could have watched free youtube videos of figure skating instead of paying for this performance. Sorry UMS, I avoid writing negative reviews, thinking its okay if a performance did not appeal to my individual esthetic/intellectual taste but this one tested my patience. In all, the essence of the so called theme was not brought out even 10%. Will not recommend this one. Thank you.