12/7, 12/8, 12/9, 12/11: The New York Stage Debut of Elliott Carter’s only opera, “What Next?” at Miller Theatre. Jeffrey Milarsky conducts AXIOM, Mr. Carter turns 99.
If I had fully grasped my future as a percussionist, I think I might have considered taking more “shop” class in high school. Last month I learned all about transformers and low-voltage wiring in order to build a
door buzzer for John Cage’s Imaginary Landscape #3. This month I was in and out of Home Depot and various sheet-metal stores with my tuning fork and a brass mallet, trying to find
steel pipes of specific pitches. For the record: galvanized iron piping has clear fundamental pitch and a ringy, bell-like quality! On the other hand, rectangular steel piping has tons of overtones and quicker decay, more like an anvil. Also, I think the retail sheet-metal business in NYC might be on the outs. Or maybe the stores are just moving to queens? Either way, on most of these scavenger hunts I couldn’t avoid asking for assistance from the store, and the inevitable question always follows…
“What are you building?” they ask.
“Well, I’m not building anything I actually need to use this thing as a musical instrument…”
Blink.
“So what kind do you need”
“Um, whichever is loudest when you scrape it with a brass mallet.”
And so, from my little corner of the pit at Miller Theatre, this weekend I happily play metal pipes, a gigantic wood board (with a hammer), cowbells, and the world’s loudest washboard, as well as the more traditional snare drum, tambourine, glock, and cymbals. Eric Huebner is dealing well with the pipes, which are right up in his business, but I imagine his mind is occupied with all the n
otes in the world. Elliott Carter! This is a comic opera set in the aftermath of a car crash. Some think that the libretto, by Paul Griffiths, is meant to be more vague than that, but for this production there is no ambiguity intended: two cars full of totally insane people crash, absurdity ensues. If Elliott Carter scares you, give this one a shot: the score is charming, exciting, and at times hauntingly beautiful. Also, the man himself is planning to be at all four performances, the last falling on his 99th birthday. You’ll see, there is nothing at all to be scared of!
12/8 Update: Opening night was a big success, and I think there are still tickets available for the 3 additional performances. Here is a picture I took from the pit of Carter being received by his adoring public!
From the Miller Theatre Website:
Miller Theatre is proud to present the New York stage premiere of Elliott Carter’s only opera to date, What Next?. Directed by the renowned Christopher Alden, What Next? tells the story of six people who search for meaning and identity in the aftermath of their two cars crashing into each other. The final of the four performances falls on Carter’s 99th birthday. Join the celebration of this great American master and this great American masterpiece.
More Info Here.