tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post2834089565805621280..comments2023-09-29T06:23:36.529-04:00Comments on visionsong: You look like what I hearpathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14001926868098126125noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-62664610134622309582009-01-27T16:02:00.000-05:002009-01-27T16:02:00.000-05:00I can see that you first immediate reaction to Mat...I can see that you first immediate reaction to Matti Kovler's outfit prevented you from actually understanding the piece - and getting a real feel about what it is. This type of epidermic reaction can affect just anybody. I hope that since then, you have been to listen to the piece again and hear the words of Jerome Rothenberg's poem.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-82914530536268513692009-01-20T15:54:00.000-05:002009-01-20T15:54:00.000-05:00He surely had the guts to appear the way he did in...He surely had the guts to appear the way he did in JH. I saw MK performing a chamber version of this in Jordan Hall last year, that was quite an experience; also because of the lighting & staging. The whole thing btw is on youtube. check it out might change your attitude. p.s. I also heard him talk about the costume during reception and he mentioned he never met Rothenberg-the costume idea was just his take on the poem (which I am still digesting)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-6178424577163636572009-01-19T23:59:00.000-05:002009-01-19T23:59:00.000-05:00FYI, I too was at the reception and Matti was tell...FYI, I too was at the reception and Matti was telling people that he'd chosen his apparel based on what Rothenberg wears in real life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-2197394883064717052009-01-19T22:49:00.000-05:002009-01-19T22:49:00.000-05:00Kovler's symbolism jarred with the realism of the ...Kovler's symbolism jarred with the realism of the entire setting. The work is clearly influenced by Artaud's Theater of Cruelty (see Kovler's bio online). Thus the "half-realistic" costume of a "misplaced" "fish-out-of-water". Or a"jew-among-the-indians" if you wish. <BR/><BR/>I was genuinely moved.<BR/><BR/>By the way, he was wearing an elegant black suit during the pre-concert talk and reception.<BR/><BR/>JRAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-13734415470170274132009-01-19T17:20:00.000-05:002009-01-19T17:20:00.000-05:00Yeah, I completely know what you mean. Ironic that...Yeah, I completely know what you mean. Ironic that your post was triggered by this, but your point's well taken.<BR/>And forgive me, it looks like I mistyped "Rothenberg."Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03502800157643337788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-11545929370021191342009-01-19T16:57:00.000-05:002009-01-19T16:57:00.000-05:00rk,I appreciate your clarifying this- as I said, I...rk,<BR/><BR/>I appreciate your clarifying this- as I said, I know it's a little unfair to single out Mr. Kovler. I could've seen this at a jazz show a week from now and written a similar post. It crossed my mind afterwards, especially given the "fish out of water" tone that dominated the piece, that that might have been his aim. The problem was, I suppose, that I've seen it done seemingly without thought so often that in this case the impact he was going for was blunted. I think <BR/><BR/>I should've also mentioned that his narration was NOT casual at all, but urgent and tremendously vivid. Again, for me furthering the disconnect.<BR/><BR/>My hope here is to start a conversation about current "performance practice", and how to straddle the line between not alienating audiences by being too unapproachable, OR by almost being too casual or blase about performing. I could have been clearer as well. I know for me, in this case if it were more exaggerated, I may have gotten it. (Maybe I was just slow)pathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14001926868098126125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24357983.post-39117315664541573852009-01-19T14:21:00.000-05:002009-01-19T14:21:00.000-05:00Hi--This obviously wasn't clear to you, but the ho...Hi--<BR/>This obviously wasn't clear to you, but the hope (evident to me, but I knew the piece well) with Mr. Kovler's nebbish costume was to evoke the poet Rotherberg's wandering (among the American Indians) Jew, just as the yiddishisms and so forth in the poem place the narrator in a context. Too bad! Mr. Kovler doesn't dress like this every day. Perhaps it should have been even more exaggerated.<BR/><BR/>rkUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03502800157643337788noreply@blogger.com