Jakarta to present 1st-class fiesta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta art, music, theater and dance lovers
\nwill be delighted by first class international entertainment
\nduring September and October when an array of highly acclaimed
\nartists from over 10 countries swarm the city.<\/p>\n
Artists from Australia, China, the Netherlands and Austria,
\nwill demonstrate their talents and skills at the 1994 Jakarta
\nInternational Performing Arts Festival starting on Sept. 3 at
\nGedung Kesenian Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Billed as this year's premier performing arts event, the
\nfestival follows the success of previous festivals held since
\nl990. Gedung Kesenian, the organizer, is committed to presenting
\nJakarta audiences with first class international entertainment.<\/p>\n
\"In the past, many world class performers bypassed Indonesia.
\nNow, with the development of the Jakarta International Festival,
\nwhich is part of the international festival network, Indonesians
\nare given the opportunity to see high quality performances from
\noverseas,\" said Farida Feisol, the director of Gedung Kesenian.<\/p>\n
She added that she was optimistic that this year's festival
\nwill repeat the previous successes.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Symphonic Orchestra will open the festival
\nculminating with a variety of performances, including works by
\nnoted Indonesian dance troupe Gumarang Sakti.<\/p>\n
Led by prominent local choreographer Gusmiati Suid, the dance
\ngroup will present a creation called Kodrat, or destiny. Known as
\ninnovative, many of Suid's works are drawn from the tradition of
\nPencak Silat (traditional form of martial arts) making her works
\nquick and dynamic.<\/p>\n
In Kodrat, Suid portrays sexual discrimination against women
\nin eastern society. Kodrat is divided into three compositions.
\nThe first part is Kodrat which depicts career women who are
\nfrequently obsessed by their career without considering their
\nfate as women. The second part, called Bundo (mother),
\nchoreographed by Hartati, deals with the basic role of women as
\nmothers. The third part, Kaba si Sabai, is derived from a
\nMinangkabau (West Sumatra) legend Si Sabai Nan Aluih. The legend
\nunveils a story of a courageous woman who succeeds in regaining
\nthe dignity of her family and her country, while her brothers are
\nbusy entertaining themselves. The legend tries to answer why
\nwomen, in a matriarchal society like Minangkabau, are always
\nregarded second class citizens.<\/p>\n
Foreign participants<\/p>\n
Local dance buffs eager to watch high quality contemporary
\npieces will also revel in the performances by the Netherlands
\nbased De Rotterdamse Dansgroup which involves choreographers and
\ndancers from Europe and America.<\/p>\n
At the festival they will display their original dance
\ncompositions, such as The Idea of Order choreographed by Ton
\nSimon. The dance group is renowned for its dialectical approach
\nto choreography. Its impressive reputation lies in its innovative
\nand creative approach to music and dance.<\/p>\n
Classical music buffs will be treated to one of Germany's
\nleading orchestras, the Koelner Kammerorchester (Cologne Chamber
\nOrchestra). Conducted by Helmut-Mueller-Bruehl, the orchestra has
\ntoured half the world. Their Jakarta appearance is part of a
\nSoutheast Asia tour. Focusing on Baroque and early classical
\nmusic, the group will present concerts featuring Johann Christian
\nBach's (1735-1782) Overture in D Major La Clemenza di Scipione
\nAllegro assai, Savero Mercadante's (1795-1791) Flute concerto in
\nE minor and also Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's (1756-1791)'s Oboe
\nconcerto in C major K.314 and Symphony in A major K.201.<\/p>\n
Another stunning music event will be the performance of a
\nDutch a capella vocal group called Oom Maw Maw. Through their
\nremarkable music arrangements, this quartet of two women and two
\nmen, will demonstrate what can be done without the use of any
\ninstruments.<\/p>\n
Their repertoire is a mixture of jazz, funk, Latin and pop
\nmusic with songs from Herby Hancock and Patricio Wang to Elkie
\nBrooks and even Michael Jackson.<\/p>\n
Highlight<\/p>\n
However, Farida believes the highlight of the festival will be
\nthe Beijing Opera. Although it is sometimes eclipsed in
\npopularity by more modern and less exotic forms of entertainment,
\nits rare Jakarta performance will thrill theater lovers. The
\nBeijing Opera rarely appears in front of opera aficionados in
\nChina.<\/p>\n
\"In the 1950s and l960s there were Beijing opera performances
\nin three to six theaters every night. Today you have two or three
\noperas a week,\" one Beijing opera singer said as quoted by Time
\nmagazine recently.<\/p>\n
The opera usually deals with tales of lost empires, chivalry
\nand courtly romance, situations far removed from those of
\ncontemporary China. It also uses such an archaic form of the
\nlanguage that even many well educated Chinese are unfamiliar with
\nthe stories.<\/p>\n
\"If you don't understand Chinese history, Beijing opera may
\nbore you,\" claims a scholar of Chinese literature.<\/p>\n
Despite its name, Beijing opera traces its origins to music
\ndramas created in the Anhui and Hubei provinces. In l790 a troupe
\nfrom Anhui visited Beijing to commemorate the 80th birthday of
\nthe Qing dynasty Emperor Qianlong. By the middle of the 19th
\ncentury, the opera's elaborate silk costumes, colorfully painted
\nfaces, stunning acrobatics and fanciful plots drew large
\nappreciative audiences in Beijing.<\/p>\n
More information on the festival's events, such as a
\nperformance by Indonesian jazz group, Java Jazz, and a piano
\nrecital by Australian musician Jeffry Saba, can be attained,
\nalong with tickets, at Gedung Kesenian on Jl. Gedung Kesenian,
\nCentral Jakarta. (raw)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-to-present-1st-class-fiesta-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}