In Sunday’s (1/10) Arizona Republic (Phoenix), Richard Nilsen writes, “The wide world is filled with many kinds of music, and the Phoenix Symphony is hoping some of it will fill its concert hall. This week, it opens its second annual World Music Festival with a concert of Spanish and Latin American music, and a puppet show with New York artist Basil Twist. Other programs this year feature Hawaiian ukulele phenomenon Jake Shimabukuro, the African Children’s Choir and the Band of the Irish Guards. Over six programs, the symphony will present music from five continents. … The opening concert features Twist performing ‘Master Peter’s Puppet Show,’ to music by Spanish composer Manuel de Falla. Twist was an audience favorite last season when his troupe presented a puppet version of Igor Stravinsky’s ‘Petrushka.’ The de Falla work is a version of the Don Quixote story. The evening is filled out with music by Mexican composer Silvestre Revueltas, Argentine Alberto Ginastera and a piece by Gabriela Lena Frank. … ‘We tried to make it feel organic and to make sure the culture was represented well, and the orchestra was fitted in sensibly,’ Christie says. ‘We didn’t want it to turn into an orchestra playing whole notes as a backup band.’ ”
Posted January 15, 2010
