The Philip Glass Festival: La Belle et La Bête (Beauty and the Beast) October 1, 2012

“For me, La Belle et La Bête has always been the most compelling of Cocteau’s films. This work, more than any other, expresses the profundity of his thought and the eloquence of his artistic vision” – Philip Glass

Central to the “modern” art movement of the 20th century, Jean Cocteau’s work used questions of art, immortality, and the creative process as the subjects of his work. Presented as a simple fairy tale, La Belle et La Bête is an extremely thoughtful and subtle reflection on the very nature of an artist’s creative process.

One of the most celebrated and unique works in Philip Glass’ career is his live interpretation of La Belle et La Bête. Originally conceived as part of a trilogy of stage productions celebrating the work of Jean Cocteau, La Belle et La Bête is Glass’ most challenging experiment in synchronized music with film. For this production, Glass removed the film’s original dialogue track and Georges Auric score, replacing it with his own score played live by the Philip Glass Ensemble, with the dialogue sung by live singers and synchronized with the actors in the film.

Join the Modlin Center for ModlinArts After Words, a post-show question-and-answer session hosted by Françoise Ravaux- Kirkpatrick, Professor of French and Film Studies.

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Composer Philip Glass changed American music forever. As a forefather of minimalism, Glass invented a new way to create music, and with it, brought new audiences to concert halls. Through his operas, his symphonies, his compositions for his own ensemble, and his wide-ranging collaborations with artists ranging from Twyla Tharp to Allen Ginsberg, Woody Allen to David Bowie, Philip Glass has had an extraordinary and unprecedented impact upon the musical and intellectual landscapes of his time.

For Philip Glass’ 75th birthday celebration year, the Modlin Center for the Arts’ Philip Glass Festival will explore the profound legacy of this prolific artist. Through lectures, demonstrations, films, performances, and the ModlinArts Artist Voices Series, this festival will examine the many facets and the enduring genius of Glass’ work.

Official Website: http://modlin.richmond.edu/events/modlinarts-presents/philip-glass-festival.html