Harbison's 'Ulysses' gets first performance
It's been 20 years since John Harbison finished his ballet score, "Ulysses," based on Homer's "The Odyssey." But until now, no ballet company or orchestra was willing to produce the evening-length piece. On Friday, Oct. 3, the work--revised earlier this year--will finally receive a complete performance by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) at 8 p.m. in New England Conservatory of Music's Jordan Hall at 30 Gainsborough St., Boston.
Prior to the performance, music and theater arts lecturer Elena Ruehr, BMOP composer in residence, will host a "Program Notes" talk with Harbison at 7 p.m. Ticket prices range from $19-$38. Students with a valid ID can purchase tickets for $10. For more information, call (617) 363-0396. The MIT Council for the Arts is offering 50 free tickets to current MIT students--one per student ID, available in Room E15-205.
Students collect 'scholar's rocks'
MIT students and alumni have collected more Chinese "scholar's rocks"--naturally formed or sculptured stones in surprising shapes and textures--than any other school. The MIT Club of Boston is hosting a slide show and gallery talk by Kemin Hu titled "Scholar's Rocks For Scholars" on Sunday, Oct. 5 from 2-5 p.m. at 215 Baldpate Hill Road in Newton.
Hu, the author of two books on scholar's rocks, has a collection that has been displayed in many exhibitions, including in the 100-piece exhibit in New York's Chinese Scholar's Garden in 2002. Admission is $10. Soft drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be served. RSVP by e-mail to LHInc12@aol.com or call (617) 244-7149 by Thursday, Oct. 2.
Alum's film to be shown at Boston film fest
Since moving to New York City, Patrick Wang (S.B. 1998) has done stage work with Theater for the New City and Abingdon Theater, has had principal roles on "Saturday Night Live" and "One Life to Live," and has produced and acted in films. His movie, "Surveillances" (2003), will be shown as part of the Boston Underground Film Festival on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m. at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center at 41 Second St. and on Monday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. at the Milky Way (403-405 Centre St. in Jamaica Plain).
Winner of Best Short Film at both the Avignon Film Festival and the Wine Country Film Festival, the 23-minute short film depicts U.S. intelligence-gathering efforts to recruit Mr. Li, a Japanese ex-patriot (played by Wang) who's hiding out in Brooklyn. Wang, who was also the film's executive producer, will attend the Oct. 2 screening.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on October 1, 2003.
