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Neilson will be present at First Thursday to talk about her work.
A second Gallery Walk-Through at Broderick Gallery is scheduled on
Thursday, May 22nd from 7 pm to 9 pm. Yaacov Bergman,
conductor of Portland Chamber Orchestra, will join Keith Scales, artistic director of the Classic Greek Theatre of Oregon
to discuss Beethoven’s music and the Prometheus myth. Artists
Neilson and Robinson will explain the narrative imagery in their oil
paintings. Detailed close-ups of Neilson’s paintings will be projected
above the orchestra during the May 24th concert to highlight
the original interpretation of Prometheus by Seattle-based David
Robinson.
PORTLAND
CHAMBER ORCHESTRA TO PREMIERE NEW MULTI-MEDIA INTERPRETATION OF
BEETHOVEN’S “THE CREATURES OF PROMETHEUS”
Concert – Saturday, May 24th, 2008 – 7:30 p.m. at Kaul
Auditorium, Reed College
Pre-Concert Lecture at 6:30 p.m.
Free Dress Rehearsal for children and families at 10:00 a.m.
Free concert related activities for children prior to dress rehearsal at
9:30 a.m.
The Portland Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Yaacov Bergman,
will present an innovative multi-media version of Beethoven’s early
masterpiece “The Creatures of Prometheus” which premiered as a
ballet in 1801.
The concert entitled “BEETHOVEN UNDERGROUND” features an original
narration by Seattle author/storyteller David Robinson with digital
projections of oil paintings by New York visual artist Liz Gill Neilson.
The original scenario of Beethoven’s
ballet is lost. However a broad outline of the story survives in the
form of a theatre bill from the first performance.
Inspiration for the imaginative story and paintings was derived from the
outline left by Beethoven for the ballet. According to Greek mythology,
Prometheus is the Titan who brought fire, reason, and enlightenment to
human kind. Prometheus, the great provider, helped humans transcend
their animal nature, giving them consciousness of self, customs, ritual,
and an appreciation of beauty.
While Beethoven’s rhythmically vivacious score awaits a creative modern
choreographer to reconstruct the original ballet, the Portland Chamber
Orchestra, in collaboration with storyteller David Robinson and artist
Liz Gill Neilson, revives Beethoven’s original score in a tapestry of
music, narration, and visual imagery.
The
program brings to life universal themes explored by Beethoven and many
great masters across all ages and cultures through the story of
Prometheus and his gifts to humanity, a multi-media performance in
music, story, and art.
PRE-CONCERT LECTURE
AND CONCERT DETAILS
Before the evening’s performance on May 24th is a pre-concert
lecture at 6:30 p.m. called “Recreating Prometheus” presented by
panelists David Robinson, Liz Gill Neilson, Keith Scales, and Yaacov
Bergman. Scales, an expert in Greek mythology, will shed light on the
mythical character Prometheus, while artists Neilson and Robinson will
discuss their interpretation (a prequel) of the myth. Bergman will
comment on the movements in the ballet score by Beethoven.
The Concert begins at 7:30 pm on Saturday, May 24th, 2008 in
the Kaul Auditorium at Reed College located at 3203 SE Woodstock Blvd,
Portland, Oregon 97202. Parking and handicap accessibility is at 28th
and Botsford Drive.
Tickets for the Concert are on sale now for $25. For students, seniors
and Portland Chamber Orchestra Association members, tickets are $20. To
purchase tickets, call 503-771-3250 or order on-line at
www.portlandchamberorchestra.org.
FREE DRESS REHEARSAL
AND CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES
There is a free dress rehearsal on Saturday, May 24th at
10:00 a.m. open to children and their families. Bring children earlier
at 9:30 a.m. for concert related activities. Portland Chamber Orchestra
provides free dress rehearsals to make live performances accessible to
children of all ages and economic situations. Led by Portland Chamber
Orchestra Conductor and Music Director Yaacov Bergman, the dress
rehearsal provides a welcoming environment for children to be themselves
while enjoying the magic of sound and sight through music, storytelling,
and visual imagery.
For more information, visit
www.portlandchamberorchestra.org
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