“Dancers in the balcony. Giant spheres dangling from the ceiling. A procession that begins in a Zen garden,” writes Andrew Alexander in Sunday’s (5/7) Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It all sounds about as far as you can get from a typical evening at Symphony Hall. But then, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s production of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s 1761 opera ‘Orfeo ed Euridice’ promises to be anything but typical.” Countertenor David Daniels and soprano Susanna Phillips perform the lead roles. “The ambitious production features significant contributions from many other acclaimed visiting artists, including Daniel Arsham, whose installation ‘Hourglass’ currently [is on display at] the High Museum. For ‘Orfeo,’ he has created two enormous orbs to hang over the stage…. There is the special alchemy that occurs when ASO Music Director Robert Spano and Glo founder/choreographer Lauri Stallings collaborate.” Their previous collaborations include Kaija Saariaho’s ballet Maa in 2011 and Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring in 2014. “Throughout their work together, Spano has often ventured into territory not typically associated with a conductor of classical music: He’s played piano barefoot, he’s assumed the lotus position, he’s donned a kilt, and he’s even danced.” James Alexander directs the May 11 and 13 performances.
Posted May 9, 2017
Pictured: Choreographer Lauri Stallings and performers in a rehearsal for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s debut production of “Orfeo ed Euridice.” Photo by John Sharaf / Atlanta Journal-Constitution
