Anya M. Wassenberg's Blog: Art & Culture Maven, page 82
March 5, 2017
From Nacional Records: Los Macuanos Release New Single "Soldado Sin Cara" Album Epílogo - Out March 31st 2017
From a media release:
From Nacional Records
Los Macuanos Release New Single "Soldado Sin Cara"
Album Epílogo - Out March 31st 2017
"An epic war cry against Mexico’s military state." - Remezcla
• Buy It On iTunes
The Tijuana buzz band is set to release their new album Epílogo, a dark and moody continuation of their signature electronic tribal sounds.
The band is known for pioneering "Ruidosón," a genre they helped create by mixing their penchant for electronic music and folk norteño nostalgia.
Armed initially with only a laptop, a sequencer and a shoddy wooden güiro, Los Macuanos have surfaced as one of the most promising acts in modern electronic music, in what Camilo Lara (Mexican Institute of Sound) has proclaimed “the great hope for Mexico in the coming years.”
Though emerging in the wake of the burgeoning global bass scene, and strongly situated in the continuum of Tijuana electronic music, Los Macuanos nonetheless go beyond this spectrum, in a sound that is wholly their own.
To describe their music is to inhabit a unique vision of Mexico’s sonic legacy, rooted in centuries of akin sounds and sensibilities which are digitally permutated almost beyond recognition. Through spectral evocations, and ominously low-frequencies, Los Macuanos invoke the spirits of their country’s past, resulting in a macabre rendition of traditional Mexican sounds. A hauntological feast, equally suited for the ears and the hips.
Employing the format of a live band, Los Macuanos navigate the mid-ground between the energy and dynamism of live performance and the textural intricacies that only a DJ set can afford, presenting a unique kind of hybrid for the modern dancefloor.
The band never ceases to be experimental, and Epílogo is a fitting follow-up and expansion on the vast themes of musical resistance. Pre-order of the album is available now - receive the single as an instant download.
Listen to "Soldado Sin Cara" on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, or wherever you stream music.
From Nacional Records
Los Macuanos Release New Single "Soldado Sin Cara"
Album Epílogo - Out March 31st 2017
"An epic war cry against Mexico’s military state." - Remezcla
• Buy It On iTunes
The Tijuana buzz band is set to release their new album Epílogo, a dark and moody continuation of their signature electronic tribal sounds.
The band is known for pioneering "Ruidosón," a genre they helped create by mixing their penchant for electronic music and folk norteño nostalgia.Armed initially with only a laptop, a sequencer and a shoddy wooden güiro, Los Macuanos have surfaced as one of the most promising acts in modern electronic music, in what Camilo Lara (Mexican Institute of Sound) has proclaimed “the great hope for Mexico in the coming years.”
Though emerging in the wake of the burgeoning global bass scene, and strongly situated in the continuum of Tijuana electronic music, Los Macuanos nonetheless go beyond this spectrum, in a sound that is wholly their own.
To describe their music is to inhabit a unique vision of Mexico’s sonic legacy, rooted in centuries of akin sounds and sensibilities which are digitally permutated almost beyond recognition. Through spectral evocations, and ominously low-frequencies, Los Macuanos invoke the spirits of their country’s past, resulting in a macabre rendition of traditional Mexican sounds. A hauntological feast, equally suited for the ears and the hips.
Employing the format of a live band, Los Macuanos navigate the mid-ground between the energy and dynamism of live performance and the textural intricacies that only a DJ set can afford, presenting a unique kind of hybrid for the modern dancefloor.
The band never ceases to be experimental, and Epílogo is a fitting follow-up and expansion on the vast themes of musical resistance. Pre-order of the album is available now - receive the single as an instant download.
Listen to "Soldado Sin Cara" on Spotify, iTunes, Amazon, or wherever you stream music.
Theatre for our world: lemonTree creations Spring 2017 News
From a media release:
Theatre for our world:
lemonTree creations
Spring 2017 News
• Find Out More
TORONTO - We are living in turbulent times. There is, from our perspective, anger and confusion alongside resilience and creativity in our neighbourhoods and around the world. Politically, there are things to watch out for along with a sense of unity as communities come together to make the world a better place.
These small acts of resistance are what drive lemonTree creations as we move into spring 2017. This year starts off quite busy and we couldn't be more excited. In each of our projects, there is an investigation of our humanity and desire to understand how we relate to each other.
APRIL and JUNE 2017
ON TOUR
MSM [men seeking men]
This tour marks the first time lemonTree will be performing outside of our home base and we couldn't be more thrilled to take our critically acclaimed show MSM [men seeking men] to three different cities. MSM was a top grossing show at the Fringe Festival (2013) where it was first presented and went on to premiere as part of the World Pride festivities in Toronto (2014).
Concept and Direction by INDRIT KASAPI
Dramaturgy by JONATHAN SEINEN
Production Design by JOE PAGNAN
►National Tour
In The Soil Arts Festival, St. Catherines, ON April 28 - 30
Intrepid Theatre's OUTstages, Victoria, BC June 23
Queer Arts Festival, Vancouver, BC June 20 & 21
If you're in Toronto and cannot make any of these shows don't fret. There will also be a ONE NIGHT ONLY presentation of the show in Toronto in June. Stay tuned for those details!
MAY 2017
WORLD PREMIERE
Rope Running Out
The ties of Nacio and Félix's love have begun to fray. Evolution is necessary for their non-sexual partnership - but something holds Nacio back. When a footloose drifter from his past appears, Nacio must make a decision: stay bound or let go completely.
In this sexy, intimate, and unflinching new work award-winning playwright Raf Antonio explores the power of the erotic and asks the question, 'if we are multidimensional, can any one person truly be enough?'
Written by RAF ANTONIO
Directed by INDRIT KASAPI
This production marks the first time lemonTree will produce a show inside our downtown {studio} at King and Bathurst.
►MORE INFO COMING SOON
Rope Running Out was initially developed at the Soulpepper Playwrights Circle 2015 and subsequently developed at Cahoots Theatre's Hot House Creators Unit 2015-2016. Raf Antonio acknowledges the support of the Toronto Arts Council through their Grants to Individual Playwrights 2016.
Theatre for our world:
lemonTree creations
Spring 2017 News
• Find Out More
TORONTO - We are living in turbulent times. There is, from our perspective, anger and confusion alongside resilience and creativity in our neighbourhoods and around the world. Politically, there are things to watch out for along with a sense of unity as communities come together to make the world a better place.
These small acts of resistance are what drive lemonTree creations as we move into spring 2017. This year starts off quite busy and we couldn't be more excited. In each of our projects, there is an investigation of our humanity and desire to understand how we relate to each other.
APRIL and JUNE 2017
ON TOUR
MSM [men seeking men]
This tour marks the first time lemonTree will be performing outside of our home base and we couldn't be more thrilled to take our critically acclaimed show MSM [men seeking men] to three different cities. MSM was a top grossing show at the Fringe Festival (2013) where it was first presented and went on to premiere as part of the World Pride festivities in Toronto (2014).
Concept and Direction by INDRIT KASAPI
Dramaturgy by JONATHAN SEINEN
Production Design by JOE PAGNAN
►National Tour
In The Soil Arts Festival, St. Catherines, ON April 28 - 30
Intrepid Theatre's OUTstages, Victoria, BC June 23
Queer Arts Festival, Vancouver, BC June 20 & 21
If you're in Toronto and cannot make any of these shows don't fret. There will also be a ONE NIGHT ONLY presentation of the show in Toronto in June. Stay tuned for those details!
MAY 2017
WORLD PREMIERE
Rope Running Out
The ties of Nacio and Félix's love have begun to fray. Evolution is necessary for their non-sexual partnership - but something holds Nacio back. When a footloose drifter from his past appears, Nacio must make a decision: stay bound or let go completely.
In this sexy, intimate, and unflinching new work award-winning playwright Raf Antonio explores the power of the erotic and asks the question, 'if we are multidimensional, can any one person truly be enough?'
Written by RAF ANTONIO
Directed by INDRIT KASAPI
This production marks the first time lemonTree will produce a show inside our downtown {studio} at King and Bathurst.
►MORE INFO COMING SOON
Rope Running Out was initially developed at the Soulpepper Playwrights Circle 2015 and subsequently developed at Cahoots Theatre's Hot House Creators Unit 2015-2016. Raf Antonio acknowledges the support of the Toronto Arts Council through their Grants to Individual Playwrights 2016.
February 28, 2017
Soundstreams Toronto presents: R. Murray Schafer's Odditorium March 2-5, 2017
From a media release:
Soundstreams presents:
R. Murray Schafer's Odditorium
March 2-5, 2017
TORONTO - Soundstreams is thrilled to present Odditorium from March 2nd-5th, a selection of music theatre works by acclaimed Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer,under the creative direction of award-winning film and theatre director Chris Abraham.
• Tickets range from $22-$67.50 and are available through the Crow’s Theatre Box Office at 647-341-7390 or online at Soundstreams.ca.
Performances: March 2nd-5th, 2017
Thursday March 2nd, 2017 at 8PM
Friday March 3rd, 2017 at 7PM and 10PM
Saturday March 4th, 2017 at 7PM and 10PM
Sunday March 5th, 2017 at 2PM
Venue: Newly opened Crow’s Theatre, 345 Carlaw Avenue
Repertoire: Amente-Nufe, Crown of Ariadne, Tantrika, La testa d’Adriana
Odditorium weaves together 4 works from opera, theatre, and dance, all selections from Schafer’s Patria-cycle: Amente-Nufe, Crown of Ariadne, Tantrika, and La testa d’Adriana. Conceived over a 40 year period, Patria is considered one of the most radical and inventive Canadian works created in the past half-century, and consists of a cycle of 12 music-theatre works featuring a labyrinth of sideshows, lovers, buskers, and Tantric experts. As the Toronto Star has proclaimed, “there is nothing like Patria in the history of Canadian musical theatre.”
The newly conceived realization of these 4 works from Schafer’s Patria cycle will debut at Streetcar Crowsnest, Crow’s Theatre’s new state-of-the art performing arts facility in Toronto’s east end. Odditorium will be brought to life with creative collaboration from multi-award-winning film and theatre directorChris Abraham (Crow’s Theatre, Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage Company).
Odditorium features two outstanding Schafer stalwarts, harpist Judy Lomanand accordionist Joseph Macerollo. They are joined by some of the country’s most prominent interpreters of contemporary music and dance: Carla Huhtanen, soprano, Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; percussionists Ryan Scott, Dan Morphy; and dancer/choreographers Andrea Nann and Brendan Wyatt.
“Schafer invites us to journey with him into an exceptional world of magic and mythology. He touches us constantly with the eerily familiar, yet leaving us with a profound yearning for a return to innocence. These four remarkable works have been sculpted together as a continuous whole, exploring the deepest recesses of Schafer’s creative mind” explains Lawrence Cherney, Soundstreams Artistic Director.
“Myths of creation and destruction, death and re-birth, and the mythic archetypes of Ariadne, Theseus, the minotaur, and the labyrinth are on Schafer’s mind. He speaks to our unconscious mind, in order to activate our mythic imagination. Our aim has been to follow his lead and create a space for connections and resonances between these four works” said creative consultant Chris Abraham.
Soundstreams has a storied history with R. Murray Schafer. Soundstreams has commissioned numerous works: the large-scale opera The Children’s Crusade co-produced with Luminato; The Fall Into Light for 7 choirs; Death of Shalana, Isfahan, The Soul of God, and Hear The Sounds Go Round. Schafer, one of Canada’s most prolific composers, librettists, and music educators, was the first recipient of the Jules Léger Prize (1978) and the Glen Gould Prize (1987). Among his numerous awards and accolades, Schafer has received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2013.
Cast:
Andrea Ludwig, Mezzo; Judy Loman, Harp; Carla Huhtanen, Soprano; Ryan Scott, Percussion; Dan Morphy, Percussion; Joseph Macerollo O.C, Accordion; Andrea Nann, Dancer; Brendan Wyatt, Dancer/Co-choreographer
Creative Team:
Chris Abraham, Creative Consultant; Zack Russell, Creative Assistant; Andrea Naan, Choreographer; Kim Purtell, Lightning Designer; Shannon Lea Doyle, Costume/ Set Designer; John Hess, Vocal Coach/ Music Director; Thomas Ryder Payne, Sound Designer
The Crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer:
Soundstreams presents:
R. Murray Schafer's Odditorium
March 2-5, 2017
TORONTO - Soundstreams is thrilled to present Odditorium from March 2nd-5th, a selection of music theatre works by acclaimed Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer,under the creative direction of award-winning film and theatre director Chris Abraham.
• Tickets range from $22-$67.50 and are available through the Crow’s Theatre Box Office at 647-341-7390 or online at Soundstreams.ca.
Performances: March 2nd-5th, 2017
Thursday March 2nd, 2017 at 8PM
Friday March 3rd, 2017 at 7PM and 10PM
Saturday March 4th, 2017 at 7PM and 10PM
Sunday March 5th, 2017 at 2PM
Venue: Newly opened Crow’s Theatre, 345 Carlaw Avenue
Repertoire: Amente-Nufe, Crown of Ariadne, Tantrika, La testa d’Adriana
Odditorium weaves together 4 works from opera, theatre, and dance, all selections from Schafer’s Patria-cycle: Amente-Nufe, Crown of Ariadne, Tantrika, and La testa d’Adriana. Conceived over a 40 year period, Patria is considered one of the most radical and inventive Canadian works created in the past half-century, and consists of a cycle of 12 music-theatre works featuring a labyrinth of sideshows, lovers, buskers, and Tantric experts. As the Toronto Star has proclaimed, “there is nothing like Patria in the history of Canadian musical theatre.”
The newly conceived realization of these 4 works from Schafer’s Patria cycle will debut at Streetcar Crowsnest, Crow’s Theatre’s new state-of-the art performing arts facility in Toronto’s east end. Odditorium will be brought to life with creative collaboration from multi-award-winning film and theatre directorChris Abraham (Crow’s Theatre, Stratford Festival, Canadian Stage Company).Odditorium features two outstanding Schafer stalwarts, harpist Judy Lomanand accordionist Joseph Macerollo. They are joined by some of the country’s most prominent interpreters of contemporary music and dance: Carla Huhtanen, soprano, Andrea Ludwig, mezzo-soprano; percussionists Ryan Scott, Dan Morphy; and dancer/choreographers Andrea Nann and Brendan Wyatt.
“Schafer invites us to journey with him into an exceptional world of magic and mythology. He touches us constantly with the eerily familiar, yet leaving us with a profound yearning for a return to innocence. These four remarkable works have been sculpted together as a continuous whole, exploring the deepest recesses of Schafer’s creative mind” explains Lawrence Cherney, Soundstreams Artistic Director.
“Myths of creation and destruction, death and re-birth, and the mythic archetypes of Ariadne, Theseus, the minotaur, and the labyrinth are on Schafer’s mind. He speaks to our unconscious mind, in order to activate our mythic imagination. Our aim has been to follow his lead and create a space for connections and resonances between these four works” said creative consultant Chris Abraham.
Soundstreams has a storied history with R. Murray Schafer. Soundstreams has commissioned numerous works: the large-scale opera The Children’s Crusade co-produced with Luminato; The Fall Into Light for 7 choirs; Death of Shalana, Isfahan, The Soul of God, and Hear The Sounds Go Round. Schafer, one of Canada’s most prolific composers, librettists, and music educators, was the first recipient of the Jules Léger Prize (1978) and the Glen Gould Prize (1987). Among his numerous awards and accolades, Schafer has received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, and was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2013.Cast:
Andrea Ludwig, Mezzo; Judy Loman, Harp; Carla Huhtanen, Soprano; Ryan Scott, Percussion; Dan Morphy, Percussion; Joseph Macerollo O.C, Accordion; Andrea Nann, Dancer; Brendan Wyatt, Dancer/Co-choreographer
Creative Team:
Chris Abraham, Creative Consultant; Zack Russell, Creative Assistant; Andrea Naan, Choreographer; Kim Purtell, Lightning Designer; Shannon Lea Doyle, Costume/ Set Designer; John Hess, Vocal Coach/ Music Director; Thomas Ryder Payne, Sound Designer
The Crown of Ariadne by R. Murray Schafer:
Canada's 100 Best Restaurants 2017
From a media release:
Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants
2017 Rankings Announced
Third annual list sees a new No. 1 restaurant and more than 30 new additions, plus best new restaurant, most innovative chef, best pastry chef, best restaurant design, and lifetime achievement for Susur Lee
Toronto, ON – Chefs, restaurateurs, critics and industry experts gathered this evening, February 28, to toast the 2017 edition of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants at an awards ceremony at the Shangri-La Hotel. The evening recognized exceptional tastes and talents across the country, including Toronto’s highly-acclaimed Alo, topping this year’s rankings in first place. The 2017 rankings welcomed more than 30 new additions, including restaurants in Edmonton, Calgary, St. John’s, Halifax, Ottawa and Saskatoon.
“We’re thrilled to launch our 2017 issue,” said Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants Editor-in-Chief Jacob Richler. “With every issue we’re able to showcase more of the incredible cuisine Canada has to offer; from Tofino, British Columbia to Cambridge, Ontario, these are the best chefs and restaurants in the country.”
Alo Restaurant, TorontoIn addition to naming the Top 100, the Canada’s 100 Best also recognizes excellence in the industry:
Best New Restaurant: Kissa Tanto (Chef: Joël Watanabe)Most Innovative Chef: Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson, Montréal PlazaBest Pastry Chef: Claude Guérin, Maison Boulud Ritz Carlton MontrealBest Restaurant Design: Leña (The Design Agency)Lifetime Achievement: Susur LeeCanada’s 100 Best named the following Top 10 restaurants for 2017:
Alo – TorontoToqué! – MontrealJoe Beef – MontrealLe Vin Papillon – MontrealEdulis – TorontoHawksworth Restaurant at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia – VancouverBuca Osteria & Bar (Yorkville) – TorontoCanoe – TorontoDandylion – TorontoPigeonhole – Calgary
Toqué! – MontrealMore than just a restaurant guide, the third annual Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine is the definitive voice driving the conversation about excellence within the industry. From discriminating restaurant patrons looking to make better choices, to culinary insiders, the annual list has been positively received for being unbiased and comprehensive. The standings reflect a consensus of diverse, sophisticated and educated opinions from over 82 judges that include Canada’s top chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and food industry insiders. The rankings are tabulated by KPMG.
Hawksworth, VancouverAvailable on newsstands across Canada on March 1, the magazine celebrates excellence in the restaurant industry in all its forms. For more information visit: canadas100best.com.
Twitter: @CanadasBest100
Instagram: @CanadasBest100
Facebook: CanadasBest100
Hashtag: #C100B
About Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants Rankings Issue
More than just a restaurant guide, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine is a curated list of Canada’s top restaurants, judged by Canada’s top chefs, restaurateurs, culinary experts and journalists. Under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Jacob Richler, restaurant rankings were determined from the ballots of an 82-member panel of judges from across Canada; results are adjudicated by KPMG. Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine is published by GDC Media. See the full rankings list at www.canadas100best.com
About Alo, this year's No. 1:
Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants
2017 Rankings Announced
Third annual list sees a new No. 1 restaurant and more than 30 new additions, plus best new restaurant, most innovative chef, best pastry chef, best restaurant design, and lifetime achievement for Susur Lee
Toronto, ON – Chefs, restaurateurs, critics and industry experts gathered this evening, February 28, to toast the 2017 edition of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants at an awards ceremony at the Shangri-La Hotel. The evening recognized exceptional tastes and talents across the country, including Toronto’s highly-acclaimed Alo, topping this year’s rankings in first place. The 2017 rankings welcomed more than 30 new additions, including restaurants in Edmonton, Calgary, St. John’s, Halifax, Ottawa and Saskatoon.
“We’re thrilled to launch our 2017 issue,” said Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants Editor-in-Chief Jacob Richler. “With every issue we’re able to showcase more of the incredible cuisine Canada has to offer; from Tofino, British Columbia to Cambridge, Ontario, these are the best chefs and restaurants in the country.”
Alo Restaurant, TorontoIn addition to naming the Top 100, the Canada’s 100 Best also recognizes excellence in the industry:Best New Restaurant: Kissa Tanto (Chef: Joël Watanabe)Most Innovative Chef: Charles-Antoine Crête and Cheryl Johnson, Montréal PlazaBest Pastry Chef: Claude Guérin, Maison Boulud Ritz Carlton MontrealBest Restaurant Design: Leña (The Design Agency)Lifetime Achievement: Susur LeeCanada’s 100 Best named the following Top 10 restaurants for 2017:
Alo – TorontoToqué! – MontrealJoe Beef – MontrealLe Vin Papillon – MontrealEdulis – TorontoHawksworth Restaurant at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia – VancouverBuca Osteria & Bar (Yorkville) – TorontoCanoe – TorontoDandylion – TorontoPigeonhole – Calgary
Toqué! – MontrealMore than just a restaurant guide, the third annual Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine is the definitive voice driving the conversation about excellence within the industry. From discriminating restaurant patrons looking to make better choices, to culinary insiders, the annual list has been positively received for being unbiased and comprehensive. The standings reflect a consensus of diverse, sophisticated and educated opinions from over 82 judges that include Canada’s top chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and food industry insiders. The rankings are tabulated by KPMG.
Hawksworth, VancouverAvailable on newsstands across Canada on March 1, the magazine celebrates excellence in the restaurant industry in all its forms. For more information visit: canadas100best.com.
Twitter: @CanadasBest100Instagram: @CanadasBest100
Facebook: CanadasBest100
Hashtag: #C100B
About Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants Rankings Issue
More than just a restaurant guide, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine is a curated list of Canada’s top restaurants, judged by Canada’s top chefs, restaurateurs, culinary experts and journalists. Under the guidance of Editor-in-Chief Jacob Richler, restaurant rankings were determined from the ballots of an 82-member panel of judges from across Canada; results are adjudicated by KPMG. Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants magazine is published by GDC Media. See the full rankings list at www.canadas100best.com
About Alo, this year's No. 1:
Michael Tilson Thomas And The San Francisco Symphony Present Symphony Pride April 4 2017
From a media release:
Michael Tilson Thomas And The San Francisco Symphony
Present Symphony Pride, April 4, 2017 At Davies Symphony Hall
Benefit Concert In Support Of The Bay Area LGBTQ Community Features Broadway Star Audra McDonald
Ticket proceeds benefit non-profits that provide services to Bay Area LGBTQ community
• Buy Tickets Now
SAN FRANCISCO, February 27, 2017 – On April 4, 2017, Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, along with Broadway star Audra McDonald, celebrate the Bay Area’s spirit of inclusion and diversity with a special concert in Davies Symphony Hall recognizing and supporting the Bay Area LGBTQ community.
Symphony Pride is scheduled on the eve of the Orchestra’s East Coast tour, which was to have included two concerts in North Carolina but cancelled in response to discriminatory legislation adopted by the state. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony believe strongly in representing the values of the community they serve, offering Symphony Pride as an event which not only celebrates and affirms the Orchestra’s commitment to inclusion but also supports service organizations working towards equality for all.
“This special evening honors the essential contributions that LGBTQ composers have made in shaping the American musical sound,” stated Michael Tilson Thomas. “One of music’s greatest roles is to bring people together. I am proud to join with the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony and my dear friend Audra McDonald in presenting an evening that celebrates and honors the spirit of our community. This concert also offers me the opportunity to express my appreciation for the generous welcome extended to me and my husband, Joshua Robison, since our arrival here over 20 years ago.”
“We commend Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony for taking a stand in support of the LQBTQ community,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “This great event reaffirms San Francisco’s commitment to equality for all, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Now, more than ever, San Francisco must exemplify what it means to be an inclusive city, devoted to protecting and advancing the rights of all who live here.”
The wide-ranging concert program features the voices of many LGBTQ musical mavericks that MTT has championed throughout his career, including Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell, Meredith Monk, and John Cage. Further illustrating the remarkable impact LGBTQ composers have made on the Broadway stage, Audra McDonald performs a selection of songs by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Kander and Ebb. McDonald also narrates Aaron Copland’s iconic Lincoln Portrait, a hopeful work he wrote to capture “the magnificent spirit of our country.”
Concluding the concert is the extraordinary final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, a work the Orchestra will be performing at Carnegie Hall later in the week. Event Chairs of Symphony Pride are longtime California State Senator and civil rights advocate Mark Leno and Joshua Robison.
Broadway and television star Audra McDonald joins MTT in Symphony Pride as co-host, vocalist, and narrator of Copland’s A Lincoln Portrait. Known for her powerful performances in musicals and dramas such as Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and Porgy and Bess; for her solo tours and appearances with symphony orchestras nationwide; for her role on the ABC medical drama Private Practice; and for her many successful recordings, McDonald holds a record six acting Tony awards, two Grammy awards and an Emmy award.
McDonald and Tilson Thomas have been friends and frequent collaborators for over two decades. This performance marks her 11th with the SFS and MTT since her debut with the Orchestra in their 1998 Gershwin Centennial Celebration broadcast nationally from Carnegie Hall. Throughout her career, Audra McDonald has been a passionate advocate and outspoken activist for equal rights and LGBTQ causes.
The majority of ticket proceeds from Symphony Pride will support organizations that provide services to the LGBTQ community in the Bay Area, including Larkin Street Youth Services, Transgender Law Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and The Trevor Project.
Larkin Street Youth Services has been at the forefront of meeting the unique needs of LGBTQ youth for decades. Throughout their continuum of services, from drop-in centers and shelters to education and employment programs, Larkin Street ensures that all programs are safe and welcoming places where LGBTQ youth are celebrated for who they are. Specialized initiatives for LGBTQ youth include HIV prevention, testing, and housing as well as their Castro Youth Housing Initiative, which provides supportive housing to homeless youth who identify as LGBTQ for up to 24 months.
Headquartered in Oakland, Transgender Law Center is the largest organization in the country dedicated to changing law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. The center envisions a future where gender self-determination and authentic expression are seen as basic rights and matters of common human dignity.
Located in San Francisco since 1977, the National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.
The Trevor Project is the leading and only accredited national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under the age of 25. The Trevor Project offers a suite of crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as a peer-to-peer social network support for LGBTQ young people under the age of 25, TrevorSpace. Trevor also offers an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, a legislative advocacy department, and conducts research to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide.
Symphony Pride is made possible through the generous support of Mr. Alvin Baum & Mr. Robert Holgate, Nancy & Joachim Bechtle, Mr. & Mrs. Owsley Brown, Susie Tompkins Buell & Mark Buell, Jack Calhoun & Trent Norris, Mr. Duncan L J Clark, Matt & Pia Cohler, Jeffrey Fraenkel & Alan Mark, Laurel & Vinod Gupta, James C. Hormel & Michael P. Nguyen, Mr. Thomas Horn, Mark Leno, Nellie & Max Levchin, Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman, Microsoft, Mark & Alison Pincus, Michael Tilson Thomas & Joshua Robison, The Bob A. Ross Foundation, Dr. & Mrs. Orville H. Schell, Diane B. Wilsey, and Jed & Danielle York. Wine for Symphony Pride is generously provided by Pine Ridge Vineyards and Seghesio Family Vineyards.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY, MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS CONDUCTING
Tuesday, April 4 at 8 pm
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Audra McDonald, vocalist and narrator
San Francisco Symphony
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus
PROGRAM TO INCLUDE:
Works by Lou HARRISON, Henry COWELL, Meredith MONK, and John CAGE
Broadway selections by Stephen SONDHEIM, Leonard BERNSTEIN and others
Audra McDonald, vocalist
COPLAND Lincoln Portrait Audra McDonald, narrator
MAHLER Finale from Symphony No. 1 in D major
Broadcast: A broadcast of Symphony Pride will air Tuesday, April 11 at 8 pm on Classical KDFC 90.3 San Francisco, 104.9 San Jose, 89.9 Napa, and kdfc.com where it will be available for on-demand streaming.
Tickets: $25/$50
Tickets are available at sfsymphony.org, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.
Michael Tilson Thomas And The San Francisco Symphony
Present Symphony Pride, April 4, 2017 At Davies Symphony Hall
Benefit Concert In Support Of The Bay Area LGBTQ Community Features Broadway Star Audra McDonald
Ticket proceeds benefit non-profits that provide services to Bay Area LGBTQ community
• Buy Tickets Now
SAN FRANCISCO, February 27, 2017 – On April 4, 2017, Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, along with Broadway star Audra McDonald, celebrate the Bay Area’s spirit of inclusion and diversity with a special concert in Davies Symphony Hall recognizing and supporting the Bay Area LGBTQ community.
Symphony Pride is scheduled on the eve of the Orchestra’s East Coast tour, which was to have included two concerts in North Carolina but cancelled in response to discriminatory legislation adopted by the state. Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony believe strongly in representing the values of the community they serve, offering Symphony Pride as an event which not only celebrates and affirms the Orchestra’s commitment to inclusion but also supports service organizations working towards equality for all.
“This special evening honors the essential contributions that LGBTQ composers have made in shaping the American musical sound,” stated Michael Tilson Thomas. “One of music’s greatest roles is to bring people together. I am proud to join with the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony and my dear friend Audra McDonald in presenting an evening that celebrates and honors the spirit of our community. This concert also offers me the opportunity to express my appreciation for the generous welcome extended to me and my husband, Joshua Robison, since our arrival here over 20 years ago.”
“We commend Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony for taking a stand in support of the LQBTQ community,” said Mayor Edwin M. Lee. “This great event reaffirms San Francisco’s commitment to equality for all, regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Now, more than ever, San Francisco must exemplify what it means to be an inclusive city, devoted to protecting and advancing the rights of all who live here.”The wide-ranging concert program features the voices of many LGBTQ musical mavericks that MTT has championed throughout his career, including Lou Harrison, Henry Cowell, Meredith Monk, and John Cage. Further illustrating the remarkable impact LGBTQ composers have made on the Broadway stage, Audra McDonald performs a selection of songs by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Kander and Ebb. McDonald also narrates Aaron Copland’s iconic Lincoln Portrait, a hopeful work he wrote to capture “the magnificent spirit of our country.”
Concluding the concert is the extraordinary final movement of Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, a work the Orchestra will be performing at Carnegie Hall later in the week. Event Chairs of Symphony Pride are longtime California State Senator and civil rights advocate Mark Leno and Joshua Robison.
Broadway and television star Audra McDonald joins MTT in Symphony Pride as co-host, vocalist, and narrator of Copland’s A Lincoln Portrait. Known for her powerful performances in musicals and dramas such as Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, and Porgy and Bess; for her solo tours and appearances with symphony orchestras nationwide; for her role on the ABC medical drama Private Practice; and for her many successful recordings, McDonald holds a record six acting Tony awards, two Grammy awards and an Emmy award.
McDonald and Tilson Thomas have been friends and frequent collaborators for over two decades. This performance marks her 11th with the SFS and MTT since her debut with the Orchestra in their 1998 Gershwin Centennial Celebration broadcast nationally from Carnegie Hall. Throughout her career, Audra McDonald has been a passionate advocate and outspoken activist for equal rights and LGBTQ causes.The majority of ticket proceeds from Symphony Pride will support organizations that provide services to the LGBTQ community in the Bay Area, including Larkin Street Youth Services, Transgender Law Center, National Center for Lesbian Rights, and The Trevor Project.
Larkin Street Youth Services has been at the forefront of meeting the unique needs of LGBTQ youth for decades. Throughout their continuum of services, from drop-in centers and shelters to education and employment programs, Larkin Street ensures that all programs are safe and welcoming places where LGBTQ youth are celebrated for who they are. Specialized initiatives for LGBTQ youth include HIV prevention, testing, and housing as well as their Castro Youth Housing Initiative, which provides supportive housing to homeless youth who identify as LGBTQ for up to 24 months.
Headquartered in Oakland, Transgender Law Center is the largest organization in the country dedicated to changing law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. The center envisions a future where gender self-determination and authentic expression are seen as basic rights and matters of common human dignity.
Located in San Francisco since 1977, the National Center for Lesbian Rights is a national legal organization committed to advancing the civil and human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their families through litigation, legislation, policy, and public education.
The Trevor Project is the leading and only accredited national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under the age of 25. The Trevor Project offers a suite of crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as a peer-to-peer social network support for LGBTQ young people under the age of 25, TrevorSpace. Trevor also offers an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, a legislative advocacy department, and conducts research to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide.
Symphony Pride is made possible through the generous support of Mr. Alvin Baum & Mr. Robert Holgate, Nancy & Joachim Bechtle, Mr. & Mrs. Owsley Brown, Susie Tompkins Buell & Mark Buell, Jack Calhoun & Trent Norris, Mr. Duncan L J Clark, Matt & Pia Cohler, Jeffrey Fraenkel & Alan Mark, Laurel & Vinod Gupta, James C. Hormel & Michael P. Nguyen, Mr. Thomas Horn, Mark Leno, Nellie & Max Levchin, Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman, Microsoft, Mark & Alison Pincus, Michael Tilson Thomas & Joshua Robison, The Bob A. Ross Foundation, Dr. & Mrs. Orville H. Schell, Diane B. Wilsey, and Jed & Danielle York. Wine for Symphony Pride is generously provided by Pine Ridge Vineyards and Seghesio Family Vineyards.
SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY, MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS CONDUCTING
Tuesday, April 4 at 8 pm
Davies Symphony Hall
201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA
Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Audra McDonald, vocalist and narrator
San Francisco Symphony
Members of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus
PROGRAM TO INCLUDE:
Works by Lou HARRISON, Henry COWELL, Meredith MONK, and John CAGE
Broadway selections by Stephen SONDHEIM, Leonard BERNSTEIN and others
Audra McDonald, vocalist
COPLAND Lincoln Portrait Audra McDonald, narrator
MAHLER Finale from Symphony No. 1 in D major
Broadcast: A broadcast of Symphony Pride will air Tuesday, April 11 at 8 pm on Classical KDFC 90.3 San Francisco, 104.9 San Jose, 89.9 Napa, and kdfc.com where it will be available for on-demand streaming.
Tickets: $25/$50
Tickets are available at sfsymphony.org, by phone at 415-864-6000, and at the Davies Symphony Hall Box Office, on Grove Street between Van Ness Avenue and Franklin Street in San Francisco.
February 21, 2017
Art + Sound: Soundwall Debuts Nova - art you can touch to stream music...
With material from a media release:
Art + Sound
Soundwall Debuts Nova
art you can touch to stream music...
I don't usually get into techie subjects, but this one was too supercool to pass up. Soundwall is an innovative company that manufactures flat-panel speakers made of aluminum artwork.
The Technology
The entire surface of a Soundwall is a speaker. The Nova uses Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) technology to produce brilliant sound. Exciters mounted on the back of the aluminum art vibrate the surface to produce incredible, full-range sound throughout your room.
You Choose The Look
There are over 150 existing works of art to choose from in a variety of sizes. You can also upload your own pieces, including artwork or photographs, for a one of a kind design. The image is printed on the aluminum using a dye sublimation process that creates crisp, vivid images.
Artist Sam Day in his studioAdd Lighting
You can add dynamic ambient backlighting, with a number of presets to choose from. You control the lighting from a mobile app.
Interactive Magic Touch
You touch the screen to play, pause and skip songs.
The Details:
It's compatible with both iOS and Android devices, with a simple WiFi connection and a built-in computer for app functionality.
• Price: Starting at $900USD.
• Find out more at the link
Art + Sound
Soundwall Debuts Nova
art you can touch to stream music...
I don't usually get into techie subjects, but this one was too supercool to pass up. Soundwall is an innovative company that manufactures flat-panel speakers made of aluminum artwork.
The Technology
The entire surface of a Soundwall is a speaker. The Nova uses Distributed Mode Loudspeaker (DML) technology to produce brilliant sound. Exciters mounted on the back of the aluminum art vibrate the surface to produce incredible, full-range sound throughout your room.
You Choose The Look
There are over 150 existing works of art to choose from in a variety of sizes. You can also upload your own pieces, including artwork or photographs, for a one of a kind design. The image is printed on the aluminum using a dye sublimation process that creates crisp, vivid images.
Artist Sam Day in his studioAdd LightingYou can add dynamic ambient backlighting, with a number of presets to choose from. You control the lighting from a mobile app.
Interactive Magic Touch
You touch the screen to play, pause and skip songs.
The Details:
It's compatible with both iOS and Android devices, with a simple WiFi connection and a built-in computer for app functionality.
• Price: Starting at $900USD.
• Find out more at the link
February 19, 2017
Recently released: no:carrier - Broken Rainbow; Songs for an Apocalyptic World (Independent - November 11 2016)
Recently released:
no:carrier - Broken Rainbow; Songs for an Apocalyptic World
(Independent - November 11, 2016)
• Buy it on iTunes
Just what is Electro-Noire, you ask? Judging by this latest release from San Francisco's no:carrier, it's stylish, sophisticated, and atmospheric. no:carrier's sound is elevated by pure, melodic vocals over eletronic noise that buzzes, shudders, and pulses underneath its hypnotic sway.
“We can’t be compared easily. We have our very own sound that includes elements from several styles – from Dark Wave to Synthpop, from Acoustic to Electro,” says Chris Wirsig, main songwriter and producer.
Founded in 1995 in Germany as a duo between lead singer Cynthia Wechselberger and songwriter/producer Chris Wirsigj, the band has added four more singers in a line up that's been fairly stable since 2001, including Lauralee Brown and Liza Marie Sparks of San Francisco and Scilla Siekmann and Bobby Halvorson of Los Angeles.
Broken Rainbow is no:carrier's fourth full-length album, and it covers the murky territory you'd expect. Violins and growly guitar lines weave in and out of the melody on Your Heroin.
Your heroin don't work no more
The needle's are all broken
Too much is left unspoken
Drowned forever more.
It's typical of the sense of invention that characterizes the collection of tracks. Little Death is another of the more melodic songs. The title track - Broken Rainbow - is instrumental, with a haunting melody that has echoes of Asian tonalities.
Sometimes you wonder if the effect is slightly tongue in cheek - as in the "creep mix" of Here's To You, with desolate, dismal vocals and arrangement over lyrics like
Here's to you
Here's to happiness
Here's to good times and bad
To being happy and sometimes sad
To every drop of rain
Falling down your pretty face...
When you think of it, Bad Moon Rising was a dichotomy in the original version - solemn, down lyrics over that catchy country rock. The no;carrier version simply adds the creepy piano arrangement the words deserve. Other tracks include The Man Who Drew Cats, a song about Louis Wain, a man famous for his illustrations of anthropomorphic cats.
Electronica at its finest loses the labels and becomes simply compelling music, and that's the effect of this intriguing release.
Websites: www.nocarriermusic.com, www.facebook.com/nocarriermusic,
www.twitter.com/nocarriermusic, www.soundcloud.com/nocarriermusic
no:carrier - Broken Rainbow; Songs for an Apocalyptic World
(Independent - November 11, 2016)
• Buy it on iTunes
Just what is Electro-Noire, you ask? Judging by this latest release from San Francisco's no:carrier, it's stylish, sophisticated, and atmospheric. no:carrier's sound is elevated by pure, melodic vocals over eletronic noise that buzzes, shudders, and pulses underneath its hypnotic sway.
“We can’t be compared easily. We have our very own sound that includes elements from several styles – from Dark Wave to Synthpop, from Acoustic to Electro,” says Chris Wirsig, main songwriter and producer.Founded in 1995 in Germany as a duo between lead singer Cynthia Wechselberger and songwriter/producer Chris Wirsigj, the band has added four more singers in a line up that's been fairly stable since 2001, including Lauralee Brown and Liza Marie Sparks of San Francisco and Scilla Siekmann and Bobby Halvorson of Los Angeles.
Broken Rainbow is no:carrier's fourth full-length album, and it covers the murky territory you'd expect. Violins and growly guitar lines weave in and out of the melody on Your Heroin.
Your heroin don't work no more
The needle's are all broken
Too much is left unspoken
Drowned forever more.
It's typical of the sense of invention that characterizes the collection of tracks. Little Death is another of the more melodic songs. The title track - Broken Rainbow - is instrumental, with a haunting melody that has echoes of Asian tonalities.
Sometimes you wonder if the effect is slightly tongue in cheek - as in the "creep mix" of Here's To You, with desolate, dismal vocals and arrangement over lyrics like
Here's to you
Here's to happiness
Here's to good times and bad
To being happy and sometimes sad
To every drop of rain
Falling down your pretty face...
When you think of it, Bad Moon Rising was a dichotomy in the original version - solemn, down lyrics over that catchy country rock. The no;carrier version simply adds the creepy piano arrangement the words deserve. Other tracks include The Man Who Drew Cats, a song about Louis Wain, a man famous for his illustrations of anthropomorphic cats.
Electronica at its finest loses the labels and becomes simply compelling music, and that's the effect of this intriguing release.
Websites: www.nocarriermusic.com, www.facebook.com/nocarriermusic,
www.twitter.com/nocarriermusic, www.soundcloud.com/nocarriermusic
Recently released: Danophone - Rerun (Independent - 2 December 2016)
Recently released:
Danophone - Rerun
(Independent - 2 December 2016)
Danophone is the musical side project of Danish science journalist Carsten Nielsen. Rerun is his debut release.
The whole album has a slightly melancholic bent that is somewhat ironic, given that a Danophone (“Danish speaking by birth or adoption”) means you’re living in the “world’s happiest country” according to the United Nations. The city of Aalborg in northern Denmark, where he lives was recently named the Happiest City in Europe.
Frightened For is an an acoustic pop sound with a swingy groove and energy, wrapping a cautionary tale in a catchy tune with a nice hook in the refrain - It's you I'm frightened for.
A lush, layered instrumentation with strings/keyboards and a busy finger picking acoustic style bolsters vocals that are somewhat limited in range and expression on Meet In The Middle. It's a formula that works well.
On Copenhagen Club, the mood turns to straight up rock'n roll in a stripped down, melodic vein. It's an energy he harnesses equally well on City Of The Kings, a rollicking country rock tune.
Some of the songs sound like something you might've heard on Top 40 AM radio in the 1970s, like Arrested or Written In The Sand, with ear grabbing hooks and an organic groove. Tracks like Turn Blue and The Whole Truth venture into pure roots country territory. Nation Of Two is a plaintive country-rock ballad with lyrics that reminisce about love.
Danophone aka Carsten NielsenRerun, the title track, is a stand out, with soaring harmonies over a jumpy and insistent rhythm and a contrapuntal guitar line. The nicely layered effect works well.
I'm not sure what's going on with Danish journalism, but one of the back up musicians is fellow journalist Tino Pedersen. Their friendship goes back to their teenage years in high school and the two of them have performed side by side in other bands and duos as “Capones” and “Syndikatet”. Other contributions include drumming from award-winning jazz and rock talent Bertil Bille and mixing & mastering assistance from DJ Elias Bille.
In any genre, it's high calibre musicianship and a nice sense of the songwriting hook that propels this collection of modern pop.
Danophone - Rerun
(Independent - 2 December 2016)
Danophone is the musical side project of Danish science journalist Carsten Nielsen. Rerun is his debut release.The whole album has a slightly melancholic bent that is somewhat ironic, given that a Danophone (“Danish speaking by birth or adoption”) means you’re living in the “world’s happiest country” according to the United Nations. The city of Aalborg in northern Denmark, where he lives was recently named the Happiest City in Europe.
Frightened For is an an acoustic pop sound with a swingy groove and energy, wrapping a cautionary tale in a catchy tune with a nice hook in the refrain - It's you I'm frightened for.
A lush, layered instrumentation with strings/keyboards and a busy finger picking acoustic style bolsters vocals that are somewhat limited in range and expression on Meet In The Middle. It's a formula that works well.
On Copenhagen Club, the mood turns to straight up rock'n roll in a stripped down, melodic vein. It's an energy he harnesses equally well on City Of The Kings, a rollicking country rock tune.
Some of the songs sound like something you might've heard on Top 40 AM radio in the 1970s, like Arrested or Written In The Sand, with ear grabbing hooks and an organic groove. Tracks like Turn Blue and The Whole Truth venture into pure roots country territory. Nation Of Two is a plaintive country-rock ballad with lyrics that reminisce about love.
Danophone aka Carsten NielsenRerun, the title track, is a stand out, with soaring harmonies over a jumpy and insistent rhythm and a contrapuntal guitar line. The nicely layered effect works well.I'm not sure what's going on with Danish journalism, but one of the back up musicians is fellow journalist Tino Pedersen. Their friendship goes back to their teenage years in high school and the two of them have performed side by side in other bands and duos as “Capones” and “Syndikatet”. Other contributions include drumming from award-winning jazz and rock talent Bertil Bille and mixing & mastering assistance from DJ Elias Bille.
In any genre, it's high calibre musicianship and a nice sense of the songwriting hook that propels this collection of modern pop.
Food, Travel & Connections: A Sourdough Story
Food, Travel & Connections:
A Sourdough Story
Sourdough as a universal connection? For Arianna Sikorski, the idea came about as a natural development.
She's taking part in a unique 12-month Master of Management in International Arts Management degree, a program offered through HEC Montréal Business School , Southern Methodist University’s Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship division (USA), in collaboration with SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy). The program includes one four-month session at each of the three partner institutions in Dallas, Montreal and Milan plus a 10-day campus at the Universidad de los Andes School of Management in Bogotá, Colombia.
For Arianna Sikorski, currently in the research phase of working through the program, the focus has been on thinking about the links between food, culture, heritage, and how the latter are exchanged with others in modern society.
Arianna was raised in Alaska, and has traveled extensively over the last couple of years. "It's coming from my travels," she says.
She recalls ending up in New Zealand some time ago on a working holiday. "I brought with me a sourdough starter," she explains. But, it wasn't just any sourdough starter. It was a culture that had been passed down in her family for more than a century. "Sourdough is part of my childhood."
Sourdough, if you're not in the know, is actually dough that has been fermented by using lactobacilli and yeast. You might have had sourdough bread in an upscale restaurant, and some places -- like San Francisco -- are famous for their sourdough starters. It is a process that has been used for millennia to make bread, and is often used to bake rye bread. The oldest sourdough bread ever found dates back to 3700 BCE and experts believe the process actually began thousands of years before that.
What Arianna discovered was that the sourdough -- something she could share and pass on, and which, not incidentally, was allowed into the country legally by customs -- became a natural way to connect with the New Zealand family she was staying with. Blueberry pancakes became her favorite way of sharing the bounty, although the process did lead to a lot of experimentation with the sourdough too.
"The sourdough really started taking on a life of its own."
When she made it to Iceland, she tried geothermal baking, which uses hot spots in Iceland's surface crust to harness the heat bubbling underneath. Hot springs can reach 100°C or 212°F, and volcanic areas can generate temperatures close to 200°C or 400°F.
Other culinary adventures have involved turning the sourdough into classic French patisserie, and adding local flavour in Chile. "I made empanadas down there. We made a whole fusion of sourdough and empanadas."
The exchanges began to intrigue her all on their own as a form of cultural fusion -- each side bringing something, literally, to the table. "That sense of connection became a growing interest."
Food is a form of culture that speaks to everyone. "It's quite a powerful medium for understanding -- and a fun one," she says. "It's an immediate connection."
Once she heard about the program, it was a natural fit and a productive environment for artistic exploration of the idea. The end result remains to be seen -- although it is sure to be tasty.
A Sourdough Story
Sourdough as a universal connection? For Arianna Sikorski, the idea came about as a natural development.She's taking part in a unique 12-month Master of Management in International Arts Management degree, a program offered through HEC Montréal Business School , Southern Methodist University’s Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship division (USA), in collaboration with SDA Bocconi School of Management (Italy). The program includes one four-month session at each of the three partner institutions in Dallas, Montreal and Milan plus a 10-day campus at the Universidad de los Andes School of Management in Bogotá, Colombia.
For Arianna Sikorski, currently in the research phase of working through the program, the focus has been on thinking about the links between food, culture, heritage, and how the latter are exchanged with others in modern society.
Arianna was raised in Alaska, and has traveled extensively over the last couple of years. "It's coming from my travels," she says.
She recalls ending up in New Zealand some time ago on a working holiday. "I brought with me a sourdough starter," she explains. But, it wasn't just any sourdough starter. It was a culture that had been passed down in her family for more than a century. "Sourdough is part of my childhood."
Sourdough, if you're not in the know, is actually dough that has been fermented by using lactobacilli and yeast. You might have had sourdough bread in an upscale restaurant, and some places -- like San Francisco -- are famous for their sourdough starters. It is a process that has been used for millennia to make bread, and is often used to bake rye bread. The oldest sourdough bread ever found dates back to 3700 BCE and experts believe the process actually began thousands of years before that.
What Arianna discovered was that the sourdough -- something she could share and pass on, and which, not incidentally, was allowed into the country legally by customs -- became a natural way to connect with the New Zealand family she was staying with. Blueberry pancakes became her favorite way of sharing the bounty, although the process did lead to a lot of experimentation with the sourdough too.
"The sourdough really started taking on a life of its own."
When she made it to Iceland, she tried geothermal baking, which uses hot spots in Iceland's surface crust to harness the heat bubbling underneath. Hot springs can reach 100°C or 212°F, and volcanic areas can generate temperatures close to 200°C or 400°F.
Other culinary adventures have involved turning the sourdough into classic French patisserie, and adding local flavour in Chile. "I made empanadas down there. We made a whole fusion of sourdough and empanadas."
The exchanges began to intrigue her all on their own as a form of cultural fusion -- each side bringing something, literally, to the table. "That sense of connection became a growing interest."
Food is a form of culture that speaks to everyone. "It's quite a powerful medium for understanding -- and a fun one," she says. "It's an immediate connection."
Once she heard about the program, it was a natural fit and a productive environment for artistic exploration of the idea. The end result remains to be seen -- although it is sure to be tasty.
February 4, 2017
The Downtown Mexico: Stay In A Palace In Historic Mexico City
From a media release:
The Downtown Mexico
Stay in a former palace in the historic centre of Mexico City
Colonial 17th-century former palace sits on a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Stylish rooftop terrace with pool and Jacuzzi
Bohemian-chic stone-forge stairways and red volcanic walls
• Make a Reservation
MEXICO CITY - Built in the 17th century, Downtown Hotel is an historic, former palace providing 17 beautiful suites - some with attractive wrought-iron balconies overlooking the street, others facing the courtyard. Other charming features include a bar and swimming pool on the rooftop with city views and all within just two blocks of Mexico City’s central square, El Zocalo.
The red volcanic rock of the walls, the wooden beams, vaulted ceilings and handmade clay floor tiles lend a dramatic sense of history to this delightful residence. High above the city bustle, relax by the pool on Downtown Hotel’s rooftop and savour a drink from the bar.
For each of their properties, Grupo Habita use a local team and integrate the local culture into the design concepts. Such was the case when lovingly renovating the Downtown, one of the oldest residences in the area that still maintains this particular Mexican vice regal style. The property blends elements of colonial style with local, indigenous culture. Characteristics such as ornate detailing around the windows of the facade and a stone-forge staircase with intricate handrails sit alongside red volcanic rock walls and handmade cement tiles. The 17 rooms and suites possess a stripped-back, bohemian-chic elegance.
Located in the central balcony of the palace of the Countess of Miravalle, is the breakfast patio and lobby of downtown, a unique space that lets you enjoy the 17th century colonial architecture and the fresco 'The Holocaust', by muralist Manuel Rodriguez Lozano. In this area guests can enjoy breakfast and access to their rooms.
The large terrace has spectacular views of the skyline of the historic center, with its churches, Torre Latinoamericana and the Casino Español, among others. It is the perfect place to hold events and to relax with a drink.
The pool terrace has a pool, a jacuzzi and a bar that let you enjoy the best views and the best weather.
A short walk from Downtown Hotel and you are in El Zocalo Square bordered by the cathedral, Palacio Nacional, and the ruins of the Aztec Tenochtitlan, including the Templo Mayor. Well worth a visit is The Mercado de Xochimilco, as is the Museo Castillo de Chapultepec overlooking the city.
Address: Isabel La Católica 30, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06002 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5282 2199
The Downtown Mexico
Stay in a former palace in the historic centre of Mexico City
Colonial 17th-century former palace sits on a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Stylish rooftop terrace with pool and Jacuzzi
Bohemian-chic stone-forge stairways and red volcanic walls
• Make a Reservation
MEXICO CITY - Built in the 17th century, Downtown Hotel is an historic, former palace providing 17 beautiful suites - some with attractive wrought-iron balconies overlooking the street, others facing the courtyard. Other charming features include a bar and swimming pool on the rooftop with city views and all within just two blocks of Mexico City’s central square, El Zocalo.The red volcanic rock of the walls, the wooden beams, vaulted ceilings and handmade clay floor tiles lend a dramatic sense of history to this delightful residence. High above the city bustle, relax by the pool on Downtown Hotel’s rooftop and savour a drink from the bar.
For each of their properties, Grupo Habita use a local team and integrate the local culture into the design concepts. Such was the case when lovingly renovating the Downtown, one of the oldest residences in the area that still maintains this particular Mexican vice regal style. The property blends elements of colonial style with local, indigenous culture. Characteristics such as ornate detailing around the windows of the facade and a stone-forge staircase with intricate handrails sit alongside red volcanic rock walls and handmade cement tiles. The 17 rooms and suites possess a stripped-back, bohemian-chic elegance.
Located in the central balcony of the palace of the Countess of Miravalle, is the breakfast patio and lobby of downtown, a unique space that lets you enjoy the 17th century colonial architecture and the fresco 'The Holocaust', by muralist Manuel Rodriguez Lozano. In this area guests can enjoy breakfast and access to their rooms.
The large terrace has spectacular views of the skyline of the historic center, with its churches, Torre Latinoamericana and the Casino Español, among others. It is the perfect place to hold events and to relax with a drink.
The pool terrace has a pool, a jacuzzi and a bar that let you enjoy the best views and the best weather.
A short walk from Downtown Hotel and you are in El Zocalo Square bordered by the cathedral, Palacio Nacional, and the ruins of the Aztec Tenochtitlan, including the Templo Mayor. Well worth a visit is The Mercado de Xochimilco, as is the Museo Castillo de Chapultepec overlooking the city.
Address: Isabel La Católica 30, Cuauhtémoc, Centro, 06002 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico
Phone: +52 55 5282 2199
Art & Culture Maven
Where I blog about art and culture, not surprisingly.
- Anya M. Wassenberg's profile
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