GKJ festival a feast for culture vultures
GKJ festival a feast for culture vultures
Stevie Emilia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A ballet performance by Namarina dance company launched the 7th
Gedung Kesenian Jakarta International Festival 2004 on Friday,
kicking off what promises to be a two-week cultural feast for
arts lovers here.
Taking Arts for Harmonious Brotherhood and World Peace
as the theme of this year's festival, which is organized every
two years, the event will present a blend of quality performances
by local and international artists from four foreign countries --
China, France, Italy and the U.S. Mexico reportedly canceled the
scheduled performance of its ballet troupe due to technical
reasons.
Unlike previous festivals, where dance and theatrical
performances dominated the schedule, this year offers a treat for
jazz lovers, with three reputable groups -- Chicago Jazz Quartet,
Bujana-Balawan and Batuan Ethnic Fusion, and Krakatau band --
scheduled to entertain the audience.
Chicago Jazz Quartet, comprising Benjamin Lewis (piano), Matt
Lewis (vocal and trumpet), Lorin Coben (bass) and Michael Raynor
(drum), promises to entertain music lovers with the group's
unique musical character, with each member contributing to the
overall sound.
Named the U.S. Jazz Ambassador after winning competitive
auditions organized by the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in
Washington D.C., the group is coming to town as part of their
tour of six countries in Asia.
Noted guitarist Wayan Balawan and his Batuan Ethnic Fusion
group will explore in the great spectrum of traditional and
modern music by presenting their signature blend of Balinese
gamelan and jazz, as well as arranged traditional songs from
little-known composers and modern music. Guitarist Dewa Bujana is
also scheduled to make an appearance at their show.
A unique blend of karawitan (traditional music) and jazz will
be brought to the stage by Krakatau Band, which will come in its
new formation, comprising Dwiki Dharmawan, Pra B. Dharma, Ade
Rudiana, Yoyon Darsono, Zainal Arifin, Gery Herb and Nyak Ina-
Raseuki-Ubiet.
The group, which recently took part in the Vancouver Festival
in Canada during a tour of North America, will also venture into
new territory, presenting its latest compositions aside from
numbers from previous releases Mystical Mist and Magical Match.
For the festival, the group will not only deliver its signature
blend of Sundanese karawitan and jazz, but also traditional songs
like Bunga Tembaga (Bronze Flower) from Rote Island and Uhanjae
from Sumatra.
The good news is that musical treats are not limited to jazz.
Nuovo Trio Parsifal from Italy, comprising Barbara Castelli
(violin), Laura Pierazzuoli (cello) and Anna Paola Milea (piano),
will charm classical music lovers with noted compositions; while
Trio Innova of France, with Patrick Zygmanowski (piano), Jean-
Marc Fabiano (accordion) and David Zambon (tuba), will enlighten
the moment with tango music from Astor Piazzolla.
Innisisri's Kahanan music community will premiere its latest
work, Jaranan -- inspired by a traditional game of East Java but
set in modern times. Jaranan will also be staged at the Mundial
Festival on Tour 2004 in the Netherlands from Sept. 20 to Oct.
25.
Local guitarist Michael Gan will present a solo guitar
performance while Nusantara Art Ensemble provides songs and
dances.
Dance and theater lovers will not be left out in the cold at
the festival.
Guangzhou Arts Troupe promises to deliver no less than 21
numbers of Chinese classical songs and music, scenes from Chinese
opera, traditional and modern dances, choir as well as acrobatic
shows, specially packaged and supported by 20 artists.
Deddy Lutan Dance Company will stage Rijoq Pasir Sunyi (Rijoq
Quiet Sand), inspired by the cry of the Dayak people of
Kalimantan over the loss of their forest. The rijoq, or song of
life, which they usually sing in praise of the Creator, has now
turned into a cry for help as their forest turns to dust.
The ongoing presidential election and the craze for TV talent-
scouting shows have inspired Teater Sim and Teater Kanvas in
their plays for the festival.
Through Teater Sim's Penyanyi Sumbang yang Tersohor atau
Kontes 2004 (The Famous Discordant Singer or Contest 2004),
director Manahan Hutauruk criticizes such talent-scouting shows
as the shortcut to popularity and wealth, while Zak Sorga's
Teater Kanvas focuses on the dirty intrigues involved in winning
the election for village head in Pemilu di Desa Gandul (Election
at Gandul Village).
And the feast will continue after the Gedung Kesenian Jakarta
International Festival ends on Sept. 5. Starting on Sept. 11,
Jakarta will again host the month-long Art Summit Indonesia.
i-box:
Festival schedule
* Ballet Namarina
Saturday, Aug. 21, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 50,000 - Rp 75,000
* Teater Sim: Penyanyi Sumbang yang Tersohor atau Kontes 2004
Sunday, Aug. 22, 8 p.m.
Ticket: Rp 25,000 - Rp 30,000
* Guangzhou Arts Troupe
Monday, Aug. 23, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 50,000 - Rp 75,000
* Nuovo Trio Parsifar
Tuesday, Aug. 24, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 30,000 - Rp 40,000
* Chicago Jazz Quartet
Wednesday, Aug. 25, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 40,000 - Rp 50,000
* Komunitas Musik KAHANAN - Innisisri : Jaranan
Thursday, Aug. 26, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 25,000 - Rp 30,000
* World Music Jazz: Balawan & Batuan Ethnic Fusion--Bujana
Saturday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 25,000 - Rp 30,000
* Nusantara Art Ensamble
Sunday, Aug. 29, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 40,000 - Rp 50,000
* Teater Kanvas: Pemilu di Desa Gandul
Tuesday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 25,000 - Rp 30,000
* Krakatau Band
Wednesday, Sept. 1, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 40,000 - Rp 50,000
* Trio Innova
Thursday, Sept. 2, 2004, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 30,000 - Rp 40,000
* Michael Gan solo guitar
Friday, Sept. 3, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 40,000 - Rp 50,000
* Deddy Lutan Dance Company: Rijoq Pasir Sunyi
Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 4-5, 8 p.m.
Tickets: Rp 30,000 - Rp 40,000
Further information: Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Gedung Kesenian
No. 1, Jakarta 10710. Tel: (021) 3808283, 3441892;
E-mail: gkj@pacific.net.id; Website: www.gkj-online.com