Time for an eclectic mix of art

Jennifer K Mahal

COSTA MESA -- If the third annual Eclectic Orange Festival had a

theme, it would be “mix and match.” A mix of modernized Baroque opera,

art that plays music and cutting-edge theater. A match of classical

symphonies, avant-garde film and innovative dance.

“I think in every performance, you can see the mingling of very

disparate ideas,” said Craddock Stropes, spokeswoman for the Philharmonic

Society of Orange County, which puts together the six-week event.

Opening the festival on Friday will be Jean-Philippe Rameau’s

“Platee,” a comic opera performed by the Mark Morris Dance Group in

conjunction with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and the John

Alexander Singers.

“Platee,” first performed 250 years ago, tells the story of an ugly

marsh nymph who is wooed by Jupiter, king of the gods. Choreographer Mark

Morris’ production, with costumes by Isaac Mizrahi, first premiered at

the 1997 Edinburgh Festival.

“I think that’s going to be absolutely wonderful and fun,” said Sandy

Robertson, associate director of the Philharmonic Society. “The notion of

taking a classical work and rebuilding it for an audience that’s never

seen it as a classical work is exciting.”

Other artists involved in the 46-performance, four-venue festival

include Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun, the Berlin Philharmonic,

filmmaker and playwright Hal Hartley, David Sedaris, Ballet Pacifica, the

Kronos Quartet, Miriam Makeba, the Muddy Waters Tribute Band, Pacific

Chorale and Opera Pacific.

An exhibit at the Orange County Museum of Art, titled “You Are Hear,”

will open Oct. 6 without the video installation “Helicopter String

Quartet,” which had technical difficulties.

Though there were early concerns about the safety of some New York and

international artists because of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade

Center and the Pentagon, Stropes said everyone was fine and no performers

have canceled.

Robertson said that while no out-of-town ticket-holders have called to

say they cannot come, the effects of the tragedy on the festival remain

to be seen.

“I think we will all experience these events differently because of

this, in the same way we experience going to the grocery different than

we did two weeks ago,” Robertson said. “We’ll be doing these things, but

I think they’ll have a different meaning.”

* Jennifer Mahal is features editor of the Daily Pilot. She may be

reached at (9490 574-4282 or by e-mail at o7 jennifer.mahal@latimes.com.

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FYI

The Eclectic Orange Festival will open Friday and continue through

Nov. 11 at five venues throughout Orange County. Ticket prices vary. For

prices, times and directions, call (949) 553-2422.

Friday and Saturday: Jean-Philippe Rameau’s “Platee,” Orange County

Performing Arts Center

Tuesday: “All Over Blues” by the Muddy Waters Tribute Band, Irvine

Barclay Theatre

Oct. 4: American Russian Youth Orchestra, Orange County High School of

the Arts

Oct. 5-6: Ballet Pacifica, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 6-28: “You Are Hear,” Orange County Museum of Art

Oct. 8: Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 9-10: Kronos Quartet, Orange County Performing Arts Center

Oct. 11-12: Joe Goode Performance Group, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 13: “Ancestral Voices” by A.R. Gurney, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 14: Violinist Leonidas Kavakos, Orange County Performing Arts

Center

Oct. 15-16: Berlin Philharmonic, Orange County Performing Arts Center

Oct. 18-21: National Ballet of Cuba, Orange County Performing Arts

Center

Oct. 19-21: “‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ Concerto for Erhu and

Chamber Orchestra,” Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 23: Philharmonia Baroque/Blumenstock, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 24: Benny Goodman, classical; Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 25: Miriam Makeba, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 26: Benny Goodman and the Big Band Era, Orange County Performing

Arts Center

Oct. 27: David Sedaris, Irvine Barclay Theatre

Oct. 27: Yamato/Drummers of Japan, Orange County Performing Arts

Center

Oct. 28: Verdi’s “Requiem”/Pacific Chorale, Orange County Performing

Arts Center

Nov. 1-7: “Soon,” Orange County Performing Arts Center

Nov. 6-11: “Rigoletto,” Orange County Performing Arts Center

Nov. 9, 11: “Powder Her Face,” Carpenter Performing Arts Center