Bamboo Dream; the sadness that comes out at midnight... said Princess Haiku

Waking dreams or Watching the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan.

A DVD of Bamboo Dream arrived from Netflix today and I have viewed it three times already. For those of you who pan netflix do be advised it has a superior collection of documentaries and performing arts films. Yes, I know that one waits forever to receive new releases, but high art awaits your summons.

I saw Wild Cursive at Cal Performance two years ago and would dearly like to see Bamboo Dream live. Artistic Director and Choreographer Lin Hwai-min's esthetic exploration of the bitter symbolism of the bamboo evokes pristine beauty and pathos. It speaks to the tragic and temporal nature of human life and the constant movement of the psyche.

The evergreen Chinese bamboo survives even the bitterest of winters thus symbolizing integrity and also representing elegance. Bamboo plays a role as metaphor in many ancient tales. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants and the delicate and constant movement of the dancers evokes this mysterious process.

Before even the lyrical dream sequences representing the seasons are over, an entire new forest of bamboo has arisen around heart and soul. In my Western interpretation it is difficult to decide if the rapid and amorphous movement is the protection or the dense forest that results. As spirits of a bamboo netherland, dancers create and recreate haunted landscape and ancient history before our eyes. The dancers of Cloud Gate benefit from the ideas and concepts of collectivity and perform as one breath. Arvo Part's paens to the mythology surrounding bamboo in Asia is perfectly expressive of Hwai=min's concept.

Each of the dancers in this ensemble are qualified to be a danseur/ballerina. Put them all together and voila. you have Cloud Gate Theater of Taiwan dancing for Princess Haiku. Of note also is the flute improvisations of Chinest flute player Huang Sheng-Kai. I am going to check youtube so check my video player, right side of blog.

Here is a great review:

From the initial strains of an unearthly Chinese flute, played by a solitary wanderer on a stage forested with bamboo trees, Bamboo Dream promises to be a mystical work of exquisite beauty. Using an intoxicating array of styles, choreographer Lin Hwai-min has created a piece which seamlessly marries the grace of classical ballet with the drama of traditional Asian gesture and the self-discipline of martial arts

Reviewer is Nina Miall.

mirror within a mirror

In January of 2005, Christopher Wheeldon created and staged "After the Rain" an exquisite ballet with the New York City Ballet. It is set to two short pieces; one of them "Mirror in the Mirror" by "Arvo Pärt. The Estonian composer is given to spare, choreographic syntax,that is bare boned and elemental. The music is hypnotic and prismatic. Part is one of my favorite modern composers.

"Something Wild," by Helene Grimaud

Piano virtuoso, Helene Grimaud is as dynamic and unique off stage as she is on. In her dual role as musical performer and protector of wild wolves she stands alone. Rather than assuming the role of "diva" she has risen to the "call of the wild." Grimaud is as committed to the cause of saving wolves in their natural habitat as she is to performance art; a rare contrast of interests.

I had the opportunity of hearing Grimaud play Chopin at a rehearsal performance with the San Francisco Symphony a few years ago. Rehearsal performances are special in that they allow the audience personal glimpses of an artist's personality that are otherwise hidden during the formality of concert performance.

The lovely, Helene arrived slightly late for rehearsal and was dressed in blue jeans and leather. She strode onto the stage with elegance and ease, casually tossing her jacket under the piano. When she began to play her gorgeous playing and singular capacity for musical absorption drew a collective breath from the audience.

Grimaud recorded her first CD at the age of fifteen and won the French equivalent of a Grammy the next year. Every since her concerts have continued to amaze and delight an international audience. "In 1991, Grimaud encountered a wolf-dog hybrid in Florida and felt an immediate, instinctual connection to the animal--one that the wolf also seemed to share. Determined to do what she could to protect this threatened species, she committed her time and resources to becoming certified to found her own wolf preserve on the grounds of her home in New York State."

I haven't read Grimaud's new book, "Something Wild" yet but I intend to as soon as I can purchase a copy and expect to find her life story as fascinating as her music.

As an aside, I would like to mention that my favorite Helene Grimaud CD is,"credo." On this amazing CD is music Grimaud recorded with the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchesta & Choir. "Credo" for piano, mixed choir and orchestra was created by modern composer Arvo Part.

Hélène Grimaud - Credo

The links will take you to samples of the music on the CD.