Mixed Media

Great Composers & a World Premiere with the Binghamton Philharmonic tomorrow (4/5/08)

Binghamton Philharmonic Composer-in-Residence Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez (pictured, right) and Music Director José-Luis Novo stopped by for a live radio interview today. I hadn't had the opportunity to interview either gentleman before, so it was a treat for me. I could have kept them for an hour, especially on the subject of new music and its place in the concert hall and on our airwaves.

The new music in question today is ...Ex Machina for for Piano, Marimba and Orchestra by Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez , which was commissioned by the Binghamton Philharmonic. Guest performers for the work are marimbist Makoto Nakura and pianist Cristina Valdés.

Sánchez-Gutiérrez also appeared on WSKG TV's Expressions program last night, holding forth on the same subject. You can see that program online.

The concert tomorrow night in Binghamton University's Anderson Center also features Brahms Symphony No. 2 and Beethoven's Egmont Overture (which we inadvertently played twice on WSKG Radio today within the same hour--I played it with the interview then our network classical service coincidentally played it right after the 10am news. I hate it when that happens.)

Interestingly, Sánchez-Gutiérrez work is inspired by the kinetic sculptures of Arthur Ganson, who joins the composer for a pre-concert talk in the Anderson Center Chamber Hall an hour before the concert. The lecture is free for ticket holders.

--Gregory Keeler

www.binghamtonphilharmonic.org

composer Carlos Sánchez-Gutiérrez' website

sculptor Arthur Ganson's website

On Stage: Bed No Breakfast at the Kitchen Theatre

Warm up and get out of the snow this January/February with a host of quirky characters who are also escaping the cold. In BED NO BREAKFAST, six people are waylaid by a blizzard in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and seek shelter at the UP B&B - a bed and breakfast probably not found on the list of "best cozy and quaint" places to stay. The owner would prefer no guests at all and was certainly not expecting so many this particular night. And what a group it is! Compounding the lack of camaraderie of the group is the lack of comforts of the inn. How long can strangers wait out a storm outside before a storm erupts inside?

BED NO BREAKFAST is the fourth musical by the creative team of Rachel Lampert (book & lyrics) and Larry Pressgrove (music). Their previous musicals are TONY AND THE SOPRANO, COMFORT FOOD, and The Angle of the Sun (chosen for inclusion in the 2007 New York Musical Theater Festival and had performances in September 2007 at the Sage Theater in New York City.) In BED NO BREAKFAST, Lampert and Pressgrove do something new again: they have written a musical that revels in full ensemble scenes and songs, with a cast of seven.

The cast brings together many Kitchen favorite actor/singers, including Erica Steinhagen, Norma Fire and Jessica Flood . Dan Kiely, seen last season in AFTER ASHLEY, makes his KTC musical debut. They are joined by Brett Bossard and Jessica Carr, who have appeared in original musicals on the Family Fare series, and newcomer Tony Simione. Richard Montgomery is the music director.

Norma Fire is Mrs. L, the quirky owner of the B&B and her guests Chance (Erica Steinhagen), Jake (Dan Kiely), Marla (Jessica Flood), Will (Brett Bossard), Henry (Tony Simione) and Greta (Jessica Carr) struggle through their three-day confinement with no conveniences and lots of parlor games.The Kitchen Theatre is transformed into a rustic B&B by scenic designer Steve TenEyck. Hannah Kochman designed the costumes. Stage management is by resident stage manager Stephen Wagner.

Click here to listen to an interview with The Kitchen Theatre's Rachel Lampert.

BED NO BREAKFAST will run through February 16th at the Kitchen Theatre, 116 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca. For tickets or more information, call 607-272-0403.