Mozart’s still stirring things up

By Steve Gillespie / assistant editor

There will be a joint meeting of the local Matinee and Philharmonic music clubs this afternoon for a master class at 4 p.m. in the chorus room of Meridian Community College’s Ivy Hall.

The public is invited and will hear Evan Hurley, son of Ed and Vivian Hurley, perform a Mozart Concerto, which will be critiqued by Timothy Fain, the violinist who will open the Meridian Symphony Orchestra’s new season on Saturday.

Hurley is a student at the University of Southern Mississippi.

For more information, or to order tickets for Saturday’s performance, or this season of the Meridian Symphony Orchestra, call (601) 693-2224.

Four heads better than none

This is the 46th season of the Meridian Symphony Orchestra and the entire season salutes the genius of Mozart who would be 250 years old if her were still with us today. Actually, he is still with us through his music and he’s still making quite a bit of news.

On Monday a Berlin opera house canceled its production of Mozart’s “Idomeneo,” calling it a security risk.

The danger in the show is all because of a scene that shows the severed head of the Prophet Muhammad.

In fact, this production of the opera, by Hans Neuenfels, has been criticized since it premiered three years ago because it shows King Idomeneo with the severed heads not only of Muhammad, but of Poseidon, Jesus and Buddha.

Yikes!

Don’t blame Mozart, though. This stuff wasn’t in his original staging of the opera he wrote 225 years ago.

Apparently the opera folks in Berlin weren’t worried about Christians, Buddhists or those into Greek mythology being upset. They’re afraid Muslims will take it to heart — especially after the uproar earlier this year over cartoons published of Muhammad. And, since Pope Benedict XVI, who is German, recently upset Muslims by calling Muhammad’s teachings “evil and inhuman” it might not be a bad idea to sort of let it go, even though he did apologize.

Hans was asked to pull the scene, or the whole production. He chose the whole production. I’m always on the side of those who stick to their artistic principles.

No headliner, either

Speaking of artistic principles, Kudos to The Out-Siders, the Jackson-based band that was scheduled to headline last weekend’s Queen City Rockfest. The band didn’t play, however. In a telephone interview Wednesday with Chris Blevins, lead singer of the band, he said the group left because the band they brought with them, Charmed I’m Sure, wasn’t paid after they played.

Chad Vance, the event promoter didn’t respond to my e-mail asking him about the event earlier this week. I’m sure more will develop with this story. In the meantime, Blevins is working to schedule another show in Meridian before the end of the year. We’ll let you know what’s happening with that. You can also check the band Web site for upcoming dates at www.pillsofshame.com.

Off the cuff

Ravi Shankar isn’t going to perform at his next scheduled event either. He hasn’t lost his head, but the legendary Indian musician has canceled his tour with his daughter Anoushka, after tearing the rotator cuff of his shoulder.

They were scheduled to appear at the Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday, Oct. 7.

No information on how the injury happened was available at press time and rumors that he was jamming on his sitar while implementing Pete Townsend’s windmill-style of playing are unfounded.

If you had tickets to see Ravi and Anoushka you can exchange them for another available show at the Alys Stephens Center this season, get a refund, or receive a tax credit for the value of the tickets.

Call the Alys Stephens Center Box Office at (205) 975-2787 or visit the Alys Stephens Center online at www.AlysStephens.org.