In a full review, Marc Weidenbaum of disquiet.com masterfully describes the Oakland Opera Theatre performance of the Philip Glass version of La Belle et la Bête:
As if to emphasize the thoroughness of Glass’s accomplishment, the Oakland Opera Theater has dropped Cocteau’s film entirely, turning “La Belle et la Bête” into a stage production. Lovers of the movie will find no disrespect in the company’s exercise. This is a three-dimensional homage to Cocteau’s imagination, from the moving heads in the Beast’s fireplace mantel to the comical rendering of Beauty’s sisters.
Last show tomorrow. I hope I don't regret the decision to attend Doctor Atomic twice instead of La Belle et la Bête. Last year's Oakland production of Akhnaten still resonates. Not to compensate but I did buy the Philip Glass : remixed CD today. A first pass indicates it may be better than the Steve Reich remix from 1999.
Marc also recently posted on the 2005 San Francisco Electronic Music Festival, including Morton Subotnick.
Wow, haven't thought of Subotnick in a long time! Is he still at CalArts?
Posted by: Michael J. West | October 03, 2005 at 06:41 AM