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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2004)
Entertainment The Battalion Page 3 • Tuesday, April 20, 2004 Green eggs and band Ireak out the forks: Upcoming performance to fuse classical music and Dr. Seuss )S\I where: IS : By Will Knous THE BATTALION Most people remember bedtime stories and reading their favorite oks incessantly. Over the past 100 years, there is a good chance that some of those favorites were from Dr. Seuss — favorites such as “Green gs and Ham.” Allison Nelson, a junior international studies and Spanish major a remember those times and Suess’ uncanny series of books. “We had this big stack of books in our play- m when we were little and we read those oks all the time,” Nelson said. “Many times, r babysitter would read (a Dr. Seuss) book to tis to calm us down.” Nelson said Dr. Seuss’ works can be appreci- led by younger and older audiences. ‘“Green Eggs and Ham’ is one of those things ^thought was fun when we were little, and we pd it today and think, 'Man that was such a od book. It is literary genius,”’ Nelson said, bw can you resist its rhyme and rhythm — and |alistically, who isn't attracted to green eggs? It s cool because it was totally off the wall. It lasn’t like most books you forced your parents to read over and over again.” Now, the rhyme and rhythm of an old classic getting a new facelift from what might seem an ilikely source — The Houston Symphony Orchestra. The classical perfonnance will be listed by the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion oiWednesday, April 28. I Guest composer Mark Mandarano said the Hphestra undertook this eccentric endeavor cause it is interested in reaching out to the |ss classically pursued family group through Its music. “I am interested in reaching whatever audience I can with orches- 1 music, so I do concerts with non-traditional music,” Mandarano id. “I also do lots of concerts for families with children. Besides, I read ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ when I was a kid, and since 1 just had a l^byboy seven months ago, I see it in my future.” I Because the average Dr. Seuss fan is a small child, and the average [assical music devotee is generally somewhat senior, not everyone n readily embrace this unlikely fusion of styles. Mandarano said even he thought the idea was a little incredulous at first. I ‘Musicafs what: The Houston Symphony Orchestra The Woodlands Pavillion ow much: $20 & $15 for covered seats, $10 for uncovered, free (with ticket) on lawn L doors open: April 28 at 6:30 p.m. “When I first heard about it I was skeptical,” Mandarano said. “There is not much to the story besides the rejection of the food over and over, but the composer has done something brilliant - each new time the (character) cajoles him, the music changes styles.” Since the performance is through the Houston Symphony Orchestra, Mandarano said audiences should expect music to be their main guide through the show. “There is blues, a march, jazzier tunes and some lyrical songs,” Mandarano said. “The composer, Robert Kapilow, turned (the book) into a sort of mini-opera, and there is more to it than a musical inter pretation of the book — they act out the story. Kapilow had some insight into the structure behind Seuss and he is trying something new. I want to try something new also.” Cynthia Dubois, public relations manager for the Pavillion said this unconventional classic is aiming to reach a familial audience. “There is more of an emphasis this year on family programming and we are really excited about it. It makes building the audience a lot more interesting and fun to do,” Dubois said. “It is a program that we did in downtown at Jones Hall — it is a great fit for the Pavilion. This year is the 100-year Seuss anniversary, and there is a lot of buzz about Dr. Seuss. The Symphony thought it would be a great time to feature the program.” Dubois said she agrees with the conduc tor’s statements about the originality and value of the performance. “The composer pieced together the music, and it is all abstract and very visual,” Dubois said. “The symphony will play the sounds that are written — for example there is a part of the book mentioning a train and (the musicians) will mimic the sound of a train. You hear both music and a little bit of theater. The two soloists sing verbatim and act out the book. It is music and visual and the ater all in one.” Aggies such as junior journalism major Mari Saugier, who grew up reading Suess classics, are intrigued by this performance. Saugier, who is a season ticket holder to the Houston Symphony, said she has plans to attend the performance. “This performance sounds appealing because it is an interesting mix between past and present — like when you were younger you did not listen to the symphony, and now that you are in college you do not Pr. Seuss Photo Courtesy of • CYNTHIA DUBOIS read much Dr. Seuss,” Saugier said. “But now we can enjoy those old works in new ways.” This mixing of old and new is a concoction of fonn and style, which Mandarano said is the perfect opportunity to disprove most people’s assumptions about what they will be getting when they go to the symphony. “I think (the audience) will be surprised at how much fun it is,” Mandarano said. “People imagine something more formal or high culture, and there is certainly that, but there is a certain amount of fun in it — and this is a good intro into more classical music through that fun part of it.” isarming Iraq Dr. Hans Blix fi' Chairman, Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction April 23, 2004 8:00 p.m. Rudder Auditorium $5 Students Tickets Available at the MSC Box Office WILEY LECTURE SERIES M emorial Student Center ringing the World to Texas A&M since 1983 jW°r further program information, call (979)845-1514 or visit http://wiley.tamu.edu "Hundreds of people are walking around with a better quality of life because of his generosity..." My son was one of 12 Aggies to die in the Bonfire collapse. We were devastated when it happened. We knew nothing could bring him back. But his bones and other tissue live on in 50 or more people who would have been crippled by bone cancer or other diseases. Because of Christopher, people can walk, run, and hold their kids. Donation really was a way to honor his generous spirit. -Marian Breen SHARE YOUR LIFE. SHARE YOUR DECISION. Come sign an organ donor card Thursday, April 29th on the Academic Plaza or in Wehner. rg5S5f\ Organ Donor Card ,„ ke „,on>V>^ oMU '°' 9 www.donorworld.com 1.800.355.7427 www.organ.org 1.800.788.8058