“No, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra will not be playing ‘It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp,’ ” writes Jon W. Sparks in Thursday’s (10/1) Commercial Appeal (Memphis). “However, the audience at Saturday’s First Tennessee Grand Series concert will find there is a creative connection between the Oscar-winning film ‘Amadeus’ and Craig Brewer’s ‘Hustle & Flow’ that gave the world the Oscar-winning rap song ‘It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp.’ The aim of the event, called ‘Music as Muse: An Artist’s Inspiration,’ is to offer a provocative concert featuring classical works that influenced film director Brewer’s life and movies. Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor is in the mix along with Bernstein’s Overture to ‘West Side Story,’ Barber’s ‘Adagio for Strings,’ Orff’s ‘Carmina Burana,’ the fourth movement of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, John Williams’ ‘Star Wars’ theme, Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 and Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1. ‘It’s a night of music and storytelling,’ Brewer says. ‘And it’s going to be a little bit interactive. We want everyone snapping during the “West Side Story” number so people are going to have to be prepared to perform from their seats. We’re going to divide the audience between the Jets and the Sharks.’ The symphony will be directed by guest conductor Carolyn Kuan who worked with Brewer on shaping the program.”
Posted October 5, 2009
