Quantum's magical 'Maria de Buenos Aires' delights
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Raquel Winnica Young and Carlos Feliciano tangle with each other in Quantum Theatre's "Maria de Buenos Aries."
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What will they do next? More to the point, what won't they?
That's Quantum, the theater company that sets itself ever new challenges -- always of unconventional places, but often also of subject, text, collaboration and artistic mode.
This time it's tackled something I didn't even know existed, a tango opera. "Maria de Buenos Aires" (1968), was composed by Astor Piazzolla (1921-92), the Argentine master who re-imagined tango with fresh infusions of contemporary classical music and jazz.
Where: East Liberty YMCA, 120 S. Whitfield St.
When: Today through April 17. 8:30 p.m. Monday-Tuesday (no show April 11); 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday; 7 p.m. Sunday; 7:30 and 10 p.m. April 16. Check quantum.showclix.com for updates.
Tickets: $30-$35, quantum.showclix.com or 1-888-718-4253. To reschedule due to canceled shows, call 412-697-2929.
Piazzolla called it an "operita" (a word he may have invented), which is to say a little opera, less grand than grand opera but more serious than operetta. Small "Maria" may be, but it takes its mysterious, poetic, idiosyncratic tale quite seriously.
It all starts with Piazzolla's smoky, insinuating, through-composed score. But what most defines this experience at Quantum is the collaboration, bringing together, in an intimate cabaret setting, two singers, two actors, two dancers and a chamber orchestra of seven. Offstage, the team is led by director (and Quantum founder and artistic director) Karla Boos and musical director/conductor Andres Cladera, with choreography by Attack Theatre. And the designers are such sterling names as set designer Tony Ferrieri, costume designer Richard Parsakian (with Jen Sturm), video designer Joseph Seamans and videographer Mark Knobil.
I put the collaborating artists before the art because that's how this short, pungent evening (90 minutes plus intermission) makes its mark, astonishing you with the multiple arts it interweaves so tightly.
First Published April 1, 2011 12:00 am
