Luminato will light up Toronto again

Local and international talent part of festival’s second edition

The small, restless crowd cramming in the foyer of Mallet Theatre said all there was to say about the expectations for the second edition of the Luminato Festival that will light up the city from June 6 to 15, 2008.
“This June, Toronto will once again open up to the world, with a festival that brings together local and international artistic talents,” said co-founder Tony Gagliano.
David Pecaut, another of the Festival's co-founders added, “The second edition of the Luminato Festival will build upon the success of its opening season, to be recognized as a visionary, committed partner for local, national and international artists and organizations.”
MPP Laura Albanese spoke on behalf of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, explaining the value for all Ontarians of the extraordinary cultural richness brought about by this festival.
“The Province of Ontario is truly enthusiastic to be a part of this festival, because the cultural industry can do much for the economic growth of this city, of this Province and of the whole country,” she said.
Finally, Luminato CEO Janice Prince took to the stage. She described Toronto as a capital of contemporary art.
The moment to discover what Luminato 2008 had come at last, and the crowd was well compensated for the wait as they learned about the upcoming programme.
International artists presenting their works in Canada for the first time will appear alongside local artists, figurative arts alongside ballet, and classical music alongside graffiti art. With well-planned syncretism, the festival seems to lack nothing and fascinate all.
Five world premiers will include the "Mikel Rouse Trilogy" and the "Rocket and the "Queen of Dreams."
The latter is a show that combines shadow theatre, puppets, music and live performance in the recreation of an extraordinary journey through a child’s fantasy world.
The former is instead a triptych of works, presented for the first time together, by U.S. composer and performer Mikel Rouse, comprising a monologue inspired by Truman Capote’s book In Cold Blood (Failing Kansas), a video turning the stereotypes of trash TV into rock poetics ("Dennis Cleveland") and a show combining 3D projections and live performances ("The End of Cinematics").
The most interesting among the Canadian premieres include Tim Supple’s production of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream," the Scottish show "Black Watch," the "Mozart Dances" by choreographer Mark Morris, and "Slow Dancing," a project by David Michalek.
Supple revisited the Shakespeare play by introducing elements from South East Asian traditions, obtaining a production that won accolades throughout the world.
Twenty-three dancers, acrobats, martial arts experts, musicians, and actors, from Sri Lanka and India, will perform at the Varsity Arena in seven languages in addition to English.
"Black Watch" is a show inspired by interviews with Iraq War veterans conducted by playwright Gregory Burke. Through the eyes of the men in the field, "Black Watch" reveals what it means to be a soldier in the legendary Scottish regiment, and to be fighting in the War on Terror, and how it feels when one is going home.
Mark Morris’ choreographies on Mozart music are also not to be missed. Sixteen dancers belonging to Morris’ company will perform against the backdrop of works by contemporary artist Howard Hodgkins, creating what the New York Times simply called “a masterpiece.”
"Slow Dancing" is the title of a project of photographer David Michalek, which presents 43 portraits of dancers and choreographers. Each portrait is actually a five-second video clip slowed down to 10 minutes and blown up to gigantic proportions, thus revealing a host of normally imperceptible movements.
Othe programme highlights are StreetScape and Colour... For the End of Time (Messianen Project).
The latter is a tribute to Messianen on the 100th anniversary of his birth, with the Gryphon Trio performing his Quartet for the End of Time, bringing music, colour, sound and light together, true to the composer’s original intentions.
With StreetScape, Toronto will display some of the world’s best examples of graffiti, seen as an art form that reclaims abandoned urban spaces.
This is only a taste of what Toronto can expect for the upcoming summer. The second edition of Luminato promises to surpass the success of the first.

Publication Date: 2007-12-16
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=7935