Stuttgart offers something for all

Bolcom’s new „Medus“ proves clear highlight of varied program … It was a brave opening to begin the program by putting the Stuttgart players into the background – literally into the shade, with the lights dimming and spots focused on mimes Alexander Neander and Wolfram von Bodecker – for Glass’ „In the Upper Room“. But re-conceived as a mime-drama and rescored by Davies for string orchestra, „In the Upper Room“ was also whimsical, engaging start to the evening. If the shifting mosaic of Glass’ minimalist score seemed to lack some of the pulsing energy I remember from its Tharpian incarnation, it still felt mesmerizing and fresh.
The real surprise, to one whose patience for mime is extraordinarily limited, was how much beauty and charm there was in the mimes` simply staged, magical drama of shipwreck and romance. Despite a few cliched Marceau moments in Neander and von Bodecker’s movement, it was great to hear the Glass score through their compact, imaginative response to it …

BY SUSAN ISAACS NISBETT

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