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Thursday, May 20, 2010 • HERITAGE NEWSPAPERS/WESTERN REGION
U of M conductor pens book Greater Bridgeport Symphony in Connecticut, and heads the directing program at Peabody Institute in Baltimore, all while living in Kerrytown with his wife, Emy. Meier finished the first draft of his book about 20 years ago, but couldn’t find a publisher. Five years ago, he revisited the book when one of his students offered to send it to his girlfriend, a literary agent. Within a month, he had publishing offers from university presses at Yale and Oxford, and he went with Oxford. “It’s good to have students,” he said with a laugh. Meier pointed out that there is a great deal of literature on conducting already, with a new book coming out every several years. “It has to do mainly with academia because the people who teach at the university or school of music, they eventually want to … pass on their teaching knowledge,” he said. “It’s good for their tenure, for their future job to have a printed book.” So how does “The Score, the Orchestra and the Conductor” stand out?
By Ellie Falaris Ganelin Special Writer
Considered one of the world’s greatest conductors, Gustav Meier is leaving his legacy in a detailed book about conducting. And he happens to live in Ann Arbor. On May 8, Meier celebrated the release of “The Score, the Orchestra and the Conductor” at a book signing at Barnes and Noble in Ann Arbor. Meier’s conducting students are considered some of the best in their craft. They include Marin Alsop of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Yakov Kreizberg of the Netherlands Philharmonic and Jun Markle of Mannheim National Theater. He has taught at Yale University, Eastman School of Music, Tanglewood Music Center and the University of Michigan. A native of Switzerland, Meier learned the trumpet and piano from an early age. But rather than pursue a music career in performing or teaching, he chose to learn the art of conducting. These days, he conducts the
“This is very different,” he said. “It’s much more detailed, much more specific. “There are several chapters that are not covered in other books at all. So, I hope very much that they will eventually be recognized.” The book covers some unique techniques such as the “zigzag way,” in which the conductor travels from one function to another, as well as a chapter on the common denominator, a method to connect different tempos or speeds within the same piece that have the same rhythmic components. “I think, as a craft, conducting is not that complicated. It’s much more complicated to know how to play the flute, or the violin or piano,” Meier said. “There are motions, a few signals here, and the orchestra plays.” “What is complicated is, of course, is to learn the scores because it’s not just one line. “That’s where the craft really comes in –– how well do you know the score, how you can oversee all these instruments playing.”
Spotlight on you Marina Mayne Marina Mayne is a student and works as a docent at the University of Michigan Museum of Natural History. She shows to the public how the different specimens are stored at the museum, and talks about how birds adapt to different environments.
Photo by Ximena Erickson
U of M announces 2010-11 dramatic season ing. Presented by the Department of Theatre and Drama and directed by Professor John NevilleAndrews (Uncommon Women and Others), “Much Ado” runs Dec. 9 through 12 in the Power Center. The University Dance Company’s 2011 concert, “Dancing Americas,” celebrates the intertwining of music and culture throughout the Americas. Acclaimed dance artist Dianne McIntyre creates a new work, entitled “Diddley Daze,” based on the music of Bo Diddley. McIntyre’s career has stretched from performing to choreographing for modern dance, theater, television and film. PBS declared her “one of the most important black woman dance artists to emerge during the 1970s.” Rounding out the program are new works by faculty choreographers Melissa Beck-Matjias and Sandra Torijano, along with a piece by Merce Cunningham to be announced later. “Dancing Americas” runs Feb. 3 through 6, 2011, at the Power Center. The Department of Theatre and Drama will present “Arms and the Man” by George Bernard Shaw. Shaw’s first commercial success, the play revolves around Raina, a young woman who must choose between the war hero she idolizes and a quiet young soldier who unexpectedly drops into her life. “Arms and the Man” is directed by Professor of Theatre Philip Kerr and plays at the Mendelssohn Theatre, Feb. 17 through 20, 2011. Composer-librettist Mark Adamo attracted national attention with his successful debut opera, “Little Women,” based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera in 1998, “Little Women” is the poignant coming-of-age chronicle of the four March sisters — Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy — in 19th century New England. The Los Angeles Times described the work as “beautifully wrought, tightly executed and consistently entertaining.” Presented by the University Opera Theatre under the direction of Assistant Professor of Opera Robert Swedberg, “Little Women” plays at the Mendelssohn Theatre, March 24 through 27, 2011. Arthur Miller’s 1953 Tony Award-winning tale of individual conscience and social tyranny, “The Crucible,” plays at the Arthur Miller Theatre, March 31 - April 10, 2011. Set in the 1600s during the Salem witch trials, Miller’s drama is an indictment of censorship. “The Crucible” is presented by the Department of Theatre and Drama, with direction by Assistant Professor of Theatre Jerry Schwiebert. The season concludes with “Brigadoon,” presented by the Department of Musical Theatre. Premiering in 1947, “Brigadoon” established the team of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe as a successful songwriting duo.
The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance has announced its 20102011 dramatic season. Featuring 10 productions from the departments of theater, musical theater, opera and dance, the season runs Oct. 7 through April 17, 2011. The season begins with “Pentecost,” written in 1994 by English political dramatist David Edgar, who is known for the stage adaptation of “Nicholas Nickleby.” The discovery of a potentially history-changing fresco in an old church begins a heated debate between art historians. When the church is seized by a group of refugees demanding asylum, events spiral toward an explosive climax. “Pentecost” runs Oct. 7 through 17 at the Arthur Miller Theatre and is directed by Assistant Professor of Theatre Malcolm Tulip, who last directed “Trafford Tanzi.” Next is Stephen Sondheim’s fairy tale for grown-ups, ”Into the Woods.” The musical features various characters from Grimm’s Fairy Tales seeking “happily ever after” — only to realize there are consequences when their wishes are fulfilled. “Into the Woods” plays Oct. 14 through 24 at the Mendelssohn Theatre, directed by Assistant Professor of Musical Theatre Mark Madama, with music direction by Cynthia Kortman Westphal. One of the most popular works of the opera repertoire, “The Elixir of Love,” was composed by Gaetano Donizetti (Lucia di Lammermoor) in just two weeks in 1832. The opera balances comedy with poignancy, simplicity with detailed invention, in an example of bel canto. The score is filled with arias, duets and ensembles, including two tenor arias for Nemorino: “Una furtiva lagrima” and “Quanto è bella.” Sung in Italian with projected English translations, the opera is directed by Assistant Professor of Opera Joshua Major with the University Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Professor Martin Katz. “The Elixir of Love,” presented by the University Opera Theatre, runs Nov. 11 through 14 at the Power Center. Still to be announced is the second offering from the Department of Musical Theatre. Previous productions at this time have included first runs of new works and contemporary musicals. Musical Theatre II plays at the Arthur Miller Theatre from Nov. 18 through 21. Written in 1598, “Much Ado About Nothing” immediately became one of Shakespeare’s most popular works. A romantic comedy that nearly becomes a tragedy, the play is filled with wooing, misunderstandings, eavesdropping and clever wordplay. “Much Ado” depicts the absurd behavior of men and women in love and takes two couples along different paths to the same end-
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Lerner and Loewe’s musical fantasy is filled with memorable songs such as “The Heather on the Hill,” “Come to Me, Bend to Me,” and “Almost Like Being in Love.” Brigadoon plays at the Power Center April 14 through 17, 2011. Associate Professor of Musical Theatre Linda Goodrich directs, with music direction by Catherine Walker Adams, assis-
tant professor of musical theatre. Tickets are on sale now for the 2010-2011 Power Series, a subscription package for all shows presented in the Power Center: “The Elixir of Love,” “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Dancing Americas” and “Brigadoon.” Tickets for the four show series are $80 (center orchestra/balcony) and $60 (side orchestra/balcony).
For more information on the Power Series, call the League Ticket Office at 764-2538. Internet sales for single tickets will begin Aug. 30 at www.music. umich.edu/performances. Inperson and phone sales for all performances at the SMTD start on Sept. 7. Performances are held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 2
p.m. Sundays. Tickets are available at the League Ticket Office, located within the Michigan League on U of M’s Central Campus. The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Reservations may be made by phone at 764-2538 or online at www.music.umich.edu.
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