Dandy in New York SE

Dear friends, 

 

On Aril 4th we invite you to the first part of our Dandyism Project. We called it Dandy In New York. All dandies from the past (the composers) and the present (the performers ) will meet to discuss this enigmatic topic ... in addition  to Snobbism, Narcissism and Minimalism.  In order to do so, we will use a deeply moving novella about Ravel, written by a French novelist Jean Echenoz. This novella touched my heart so much that I remember I couldn’t talk for a few hours … and what a contrast it presents to the usual banal biographies of composers! 

At the first concert we will play pieces by Prokofiev, Ravel and Stravinsky. Each of them at some point paid tribute to dandyism - just as Oscar Wilde, Pushkin, and Tchaikovsky. But why?! Let’s try to figure out this phenomenon.

This time our guest star is a charming, handsome, and stylish , a “live dandy himself", multi Grammy Award nominee… Philippe Quint!  Also I am privileged to work with the innovative and surprising film performer Inessa Gordeiko and a Tony Award-winning (8 times!!!) costume designer Catherine Zuber, who will help us to recreate some of typical examples of Ravel’s Dandy wardrobe and describe the difference between the fashionable person and a dandy. 

So what is the definition (the essence) of a Dandy? One of many definitions belongs to a great Charles Baudelaire "The man, who has no profession other than elegance ... and who has to live and die before a mirror" .

In his novella, Echenoz's personal reminiscences and biographical accounts of Ravel consistently affirm his dandyism, as well as dandyism of his friend  Stravinsky, and that of Prokofiev.  At the same time, biographers usually discuss Ravel’s “sexual enigma," proposing that his sexual energy was sublimated into the creation of his artworks. In the second part of our Dandyism Project I suggest that we talk about sexuality of composers, and using Ravel as an example, try to figure out how if affects their creativity. 

Please save the dates for the concerts above, and wait for more fascinating details about these concerts. 

Musically yours, 

Leon