“A House in Bali” - Balinese opera premier this weekend in Berkeley!!!
This will be a really beautiful and unique show. If you’re in the Bay Area, come on out! Performances are Saturday, September 26 at 8pm and Sunday, September 27 at 7pm at Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley.
—
Hi there, I wanted to let you know about an opera being premiered in Berkeley this weekend, entitled “A House in Bali.” It’s the story of Colin McPhee, a gay Canadian composer who traveled to Bali in the 1930s, where in addition to studying the culture, he developed a deep relationship with a young man dancer, I Sampih, who he adopted into his household and mentored. It also concerns German artist Walter Spies, who lived in Bali during the same period, and who was himself arrested for ‘immoral behavior’ by the Dutch authorities in 1938.
The subject is treated directly and respectfully, and in addition the music and dance are quite wonderful! The performance features 3 renowned opera singers, 4 traditional Balinese performers, and a 16-piece gamelan from Bali, all young men from the village of Pengosekan.
Performances are this Saturday and Sunday only, at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley. More information and tickets can be found at:
http://www.calperfs.berkeley.edu/presents/season/2009/20th_century_and_beyond/ahib.php
or at:
