The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion

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Shakespeare's 'Othello' made a triumphant return to Venice last week.

St Mark's Square in Venice last week was the spectacular backdrop to a tragic opera in the first open-air performance in 43 years by the famous La Fenice theatre – a new must on the global culture calendar.

La Fenice staged Italian maestro Giuseppe Verdi's interpretation of Shakespeare's Othello, The Moor Of Venice – with South Korea's Myung-Whun Chung conducting La Fenice's orchestra and choir.

The performance, which coincided with the 200th anniversary of Verdi's birth, was the first since 1970 and was held in the courtyard of the richly decorated Doge's Palace that took up one side of the square. Othello was a popular opera in Venice in the 1960s.

US tenor Gregory Kunde played Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and Italian soprano Carmela Remigio played his spouse Desdemona.

Othello is one of Verdi's last works and premiered to a rapturous welcome at La Scala in Milan in 1887. Verdi at the time had not composed an opera since Aida in 1871 and there were doubts about his career.

Othello is set in a town in Cyprus in the 15th century when the glory of Venice was at its peak and is filled with references to the great trading empire.

In a Venetian production "the spirit of the place of course plays a role", producer Francesco Micheli told Italian daily La Stampa.

"All this is taking place in a city suspended on the water, always on the point of falling down, but always miraculously surviving," he said.

Othello is "a man of the sea who won against his enemies and a storm, but also shows his personal frailty -- a Messiah who walks on water but then drowns in a glass of water," he said. Othello is the highlight of a music festival in Venice running until Aug 24. - AFP Relaxnews

Keeping the shine

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Dewan Filharmonik Petronas unveils new season packed with diverse flavour.

NEW season, new delights! It's that time of the year again when you thumb through Dewan Filharmonik Petronas' brochure for the upcoming season's highlights.

Outside the classical repertoire, the 2013/2014 season of performances at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur will offer audiences a contemporary cultural snapshot of music and beyond. Together with resident orchestra the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO); discerning music fans can look forward to everything from songbirds, accomplished jazz artistes, an acclaimed dance legend, indie rock straight through whimsical tunes from Pixar.

Kicking things off the new season is a performance by teen prodigy and piano virtuoso Tengku Ahmad Irfan on Aug 17. The showcase will see Irfan premiering his original composition titled Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture alongside pieces by R. Strauss, Sergei Prokofiev and Jongen.

MPO specifically chose Aug 17 because it was on this day – 15 years ago – that the orchestra performed its first concert at DFP. In September, the celebration continues with the fourth instalment of DFP Seni Festival. Look out for Malam Melayu Klasik; a nostalgic showcase featuring veteran singer Datuk Andre Goh and Badan Kesenian Yayasan Warisan Johor on Sept 16. There will also be an MPO & All That Jazz showcase on Sept 22, featuring the likes of singers Atilia Haron, Elvira Arul and Dina Nadzir.

It's an opportunity to catch these songbirds on the big stage as they run through favourites from the jazz songbook and beyond. Then on Oct 8, Kelab Sukan & Rekreasi Petronas and DFP will present a one-night only charity concert featuring the undisputed jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid and Indonesian pop crooner Harvey Malaiholo. Expect to hear hits like Sinaran, Lagenda and Ku Mohon by Sheila Majid as well as Dia, Aku Begini Kau Begitu and Jerat by Harvey Malaiholo.

Music lovers can also look forward to rousing performances by the Vienna Boys Choir (Oct 30), Grammy-nominated German guitarist Ottmar Liebert (Nov 18) and Icelandic jazz-funk fusion band Mezzoforte (Nov 25).

Vienna Boys Choir, is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world. For nearly 500 years it has been an enduring symbol of Austria. Its first-class training has produced numerous highly qualified vocalists, violinists and pianists.

Liebert, 54, is no stranger to jazz guitarists. Despite being European, he is best known for his Latin-influenced music and brings contemporary flamenco to the forefront. His new album Dune, is a slight detour from the man's signature sound as it embraces a more intimate and reflective tone. All said, Liebert's guitar style will be the focus on stage at DFP.

Mezzoforte, meanwhile, is considered to be Europe's most important jazz funk fusion band since it emerged as a teenage jazz outfit in 1977.

In 2012, the band celebrated its 35th anniversary. Its latest album Islands documents the band's process of maturing musically and adds another gem to its discography.

In 1996, the three founding members Eythor Gunnarsson, Johann Asmundsson and Gulli Briem expanded the band with the saxophonist Oskar Gudjonsson, in 2006 with the guitarist Bruno Müller and trumpet player Sebastian Studnitzky, adding new colour.

On Nov 25, you can bet Mezzoforte will be a hot concert ticket. Watch the fans go crazy as the band plays its summer hit Garden Party.

Homegrown indie outfit Hujan will end the year with an acoustic set on Dec 2 under the DFP Spotlight Series. The band's catalogue of hits will be significantly rewired but you can count on Hujan frontman Noh and bandmates to deliver an enjoyable performance.

The New Year brings in more joy as MPO presents a series of Valentine's Day concerts next February. Prepare to be serenaded by the smooth vocals of English singer Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Feb 8-9), husband-wife piano duo Robert Levin and Ya-Fei Chuang as well as violinists Liza Ferschtman and James Ehnes.

It's Beatlemania all over again as MPO Plays The Beatles next March. Movie buffs are also in for a treat. Next June, MPO presents Disney's Pixar in Concert. For the first time ever, the orchestra will perform memorable tunes from feature films like Toy Story and Finding Nemo. The musical arrangement will be accompanied by visually stunning film clips.

For a dance spectacle, legendary dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim will also hold down a two-night engagement with the MPO next June.

For enquiries and subscription (03-2051 7007) or email dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my. Visit the Box Office to get your copy of the new brochure or download it at www.mpo.com.my.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Isnin, 15 Julai 2013