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
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where:
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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
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