Re: Boulez Project Invitation

[Mikis Theodorakis <michael.theodore@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

hello,
re: the boulez thing - a couple of thoughts.
i first saw email about this project well before the recent tension across
the pond. i don't think that this project has anything to do w. boulez being
'french' per se. (although, the kind of polemic that he (boulez) was
engaging in when he made those statements could possibly be characterized as
'french' - non?)
also perhaps interesting in this light is an experience an old friend of
mine had. my friend was participating in a conducting workshop with boulez
in new york just about the time the taliban were gleefully destroying the
cave buddhas. boulez was asked what he thought about this (in light of his
semi-youthful comments) and he gave a very ambiguous reply. he didn't say he
thought it was a good idea, but he also didn't take a clear stand against
it, saying something like, 'who knows, there might be a positive aspect.'
(to be fair, i should say that i wasn't there, and that my friend has a
tendency to exaggerate, so who knows exactly what was said.)
pax,
m

ps - an amusing thing happened at that same workshop. boulez was wearing a
clip-on mike to address the conductors from various positions around the
hall. turns out he forgot to turn it off when he took a trip to the john, so
his visit was broadcast all around carnegie recital hall. luckily for all,
his visit was of the less involved variety. when he returned he instantly
realized what had happened and was very good natured about it.

pps - before i wrote this i had an idea for a somewhat minimal
music/performance/video thing. part of it involves a performer saying:
"dancer.....banana.......dancer.......banana......dancer.......banana" over
and over again. i made a super quick sketch video sketch:
http://imig.colorado.edu/~theodore/dancerbanana.html
i know it sounds stupid. all of my best ideas do at first....

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