Hip, Hapa and Happening for April 6/7
– check out Uzume Taiko and First Nations Magic Flute: Quest for the Box of Shadows
If I was in Vancouver this weekend. I would have been at the Paco Pena flamenco concert last night. I seen Paco twice in concert when he presented Misa Flamenco – a musical mass written for flamenco. Last night was the North American premiere of Requiem Flamenco: In Praise of the Earth. See In praise of Paco Pena – Globe and Mail – 6 Apr 2007
For this weekend – two key intercultual performances to see – Uzume Taiko and Vancouver Opera's Touring ensemble Magic Flute.
Uzume Taiko is a Vancouver based musical group that performs Japanese Taiko drums but also makes contemporary Canadian music, sometimes with bagpipes! Always a staple at the Powell Street Festival, Uzume Taiko never fails to delight. They perform this weekend on April 6 and 7 at the Norman Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver. Uzume Taiko is preparing for an upcoming tour to Germany. check out this article about Uzume Taiko in Pacific Rim Magazine Online.
Earlier this year, Vancouver Opera opened their most expensive endeavor, a First Nations themed The Magic Flute performance of Mozart's masterpiece. But last fall, the Vancouver Opera Touring Emsemble had already been taking a 45 minute adaptation to schools throughout BC. Both productions successfully interwove First Nations stories and mythology into the story that was already heavily themed with magic and spiritual discovery, based on Free Mason philosophy which Mozart had learned. Read my review GungHaggisFatChoy :: Vancouver Opera's Magic Flute: A journey …
world and discover the value of family and community. Tamino, wanting
to prove his worthiness to his father, goes on a quest to recover a box
of shadows from the Wild Woman of the Woods. He meets the beautiful
Pamina who is on her own quest to find her family. Along the way,
they're helped by Gak the Raven, Gibuu the Wolf, and of course, one
magical flute.”
Magic Flute: Quest for the Box of Shadows performs at Firehall Arts Centre, 2pm, Saturday April 7 & Sunday April 8.
It is FREE – but you must reserve tickets by phoning Firehall Arts Centre 604-689-0926
280 East Cordova St.