Wikipedia

Peter Klein (impresario)

Peter Klein is an American impresario who brought several American theatrical productions to Europe and arranged the first US tour of La Scala Ballet in 1986. He is best known for touring George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess around the globe since 1993.

Peter Klein
Born (1945-07-22) July 22, 1945 (age 78)[citation needed]
Transylvania, Romania[1]
NationalityIsraeli
CitizenshipUnited States
Occupation(s)Impresario, president of Living Arts, Inc.[2]
Years active1970 - present
Notable workTouring of George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess worldwide (since January 1993)[3]
Websitewww.peterkleinyc.com

Early life edit

Peter Klein was born on July 22, 1945[citation needed] in Romania, his parents were Hungarian Jews, who survived the Holocaust.[1] Growing up in communist Romania he learned Hungarian, Romanian, Russian, German, French and English. In 1963 the family moved to Israel,[1] where Klein learned Hebrew. In 1967 Klein traveled to Europe and eventually to New York, where he met legendary impresario Sol Hurok and started working for him as North American tour manager in 1969.[4][5] He was the tour manager for Andrés Segovia and Arthur Rubinstein.[1] Klein established his own production company, Living Arts, Inc., in 1972.[6]

Career edit

1970s edit

In 1977 Klein brought American Ballet Theatre, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Martine van Hamel, Ivan Nagy and Natalia Makarova to open Nervi International Ballet Festival in Genoa with Twyla Tharp’s Push Comes to Shove and La Bayadère.[7][8][9] In 1977 he also produced the first U.S. and Canada tour of the Israel Ballet.[10][11] In March 1979 Klein curated Andrés Segovia's concert at the White House as part of the initiatives promoted by PBS.[citation needed] In the same year, Klein toured the Boston Ballet in Europe for the first time, opening Nervi Festival.[12]

1980s edit

Klein managed Boston Ballet European tours in 1981 and 1983.[13][14][15] There was also a controversy around 1981 South African tour that had to be cancelled because of apartheid rules that could hurt principal dancer Augustus Van Heerden and other team members.[13][14]

Throughout the 80s he brought several American musicals to Europe for the first time including Gladys Nederlander’s production of West Side Story with David Stahl as conductor (1981),[16][1][17] Hair (1984)[18] A Chorus Line (1986),[19][20][1] Liz Swados’ Esther, a Vaudeville Megillah (1988)[21][22] and Mama, I Want to Sing! (1989).[23] In 1989 he produced a stage show Good Luck! based on popular TV series Fame with Gene Anthony Ray for Italy.[24]

Klein produced two American tours, one for La Scala Ballet and one for Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. The 1986 La Scala tour was the first ever tour of a major Italian dance company to the US, with Franco Zeffirelli’s staging of Swan Lake[25] and the 1987 tour of Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. It was their first US tour since 1917.[26] The company presented Les Sylphides, Le Corsaire, La fille mal gardée, The Prodigal Son and Prince Igor.[26]

1990s edit

In 1990 Klein brought John Krizanc’s Tamara play to Italy.[27] This immersive, interactive play about Tamara de Lempicka and eccentric Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzio was first staged in Rome at Villa Brasini and then in Cernobbio (Como) at Villa Erba.[27][28] In 1992, he arranged the tour of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre to Taipei, Taiwan.[29]

During the 90s, Klein toured the world with his Opera Nazionale Italiana company[4][9] featuring stars of Italian opera. He arranged tours to Spain and Mexico in 1991[30] and to US and Canada several times between 1992 and 2000.

The American 1992 tour opened with Verdi’s Rigoletto[30] with the accompaniment of the Hungarian State Opera Orchestra.[31] Opera Nazionale Italiana toured the US again in 1998 with Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci[32][33] and Verdi’s Otello in 1999.[34] Klein took Opera Nazionale Italiana to Portugal with Rigoletto in 1999.[35]

In 1992 Klein brought Joffrey Ballet to Torino and Palermo and in 1993 to Germany.[citation needed] In 1995, he brought Harlem Gospel to the Belem Opera House in Lisbon.[citation needed]

2000s edit

To commemorate the Verdi centennial in 2001, Klein produced and toured Viva Verdi! show with partner Particia Murray-Bett in the United Kingdom and Ireland featuring excerpts from Nabucco, Rigoletto, Il Trovatore and other Verdi operas.[36][37][38]

In 2002, Klein brought West Side Story to Italy again in 2002 performing in Ravenna, Palermo and Pistoia.[39][40][41] In 2002 he arranged the Arad Philharmonic of Romania to a US and Canada tour, Maestro Dorin Frandes conducting.[citation needed]

In 2003, Klein arranged the US tour for the Polish Philharmonic of Resovia with pianist Leopold Godowsky III, nephew of George Gershwin and grandson of the legendary pianist-composer Leopold Godowsky as the guest star at the Polish Cultural Institute in New York.[42] The following year he brought Broadway Tonite show to Warsaw, Poland.[43] In 2007, he presented Liza Minnelli at the Roman amphitheater in Taormina, Italy.[citation needed]

2010s edit

In June 2010, Klein staged an opera flash mob at the S. Ambrogio Market in Florence with professional opera singers performing arias from Verdi’s La traviata and Bizet’s Carmen.[44][45][46]

In 2011 he produced Ain't Misbehavin' musical directed by Richard Maltby and within 2 years toured Turkey,[47] France,[48] Germany,[49] Italy,[50] Greece,[51] Spain,[52] Israel,[53] and Hungary.[54]

In 2013, Klein started to work with the Spanish contemporary flamenco dance company Los Vivancos taking its Aeternum show with the Hungarian all-female band Maszka Band to London[55] and Budapest.[56] He also arranged Los Vivancos performance at the Beijing 2014 BTV Global Spring Festival TV show.[57] Also in August 2014 together with Patricia Murray-Bett he produced Los Vivancos concert at the Jersey Opera House.[58]

In 2017 Klein brought the winners of Hungarian Virtuosi show to New York's Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.[citation needed]

Porgy and Bess edit

Peter Klein started to consider staging his own production of Porgy and Bess in 1991 when his Argentinian colleague asked him to bring the opera to Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.[59] In 1992 he brought the existing production of the Virginia Opera company[4][60] to an 18-performance tour of Latin America in April and May, with 9 performances at Teatro Colon.[61] Klein’s own production started touring US and Canada in January 1993.[3] In the 90s it was also known as the Charleston production as it debuted in Charleston and performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (David Stahl, conductor).[60][62]

The concept of the touring production was approved by George Gershwin’s heirs.[60] Leopold Godowsky III, the nephew of George Gershwin, helped Klein to develop the concept of the touring version[4] with shorter performance time[63][64] and reduced number of musicians.[60][63] The original cast had three pairs of lead actors: Brian Gibson and Elizabeth Graham, Andre Solomon-Glover and Vanessa Stewart, William Marshall and Claudette McCargo.[65]

Peter Klein’s Living Arts production of Porgy and Bess[66][67] was presented in 23 countries[68] including the UK (1997, 1999),[69][70] Australia and New Zealand (1997, 2006),[71][66][72] Egypt (2000),[66] China (2001),[66] Portugal (2003)[73] and Estonia (2008).[68] It has toured the US multiple times.[74][75]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Posner, Michael (March 12, 2005). "The essential Porgy and Bess". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  2. ^ Taylor, Markland (April 18, 1994). "Porgy and Bess". Variety (magazine). Retrieved April 6, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Matheson, Cameron (May 2004). "Porgy and Bess in Dartford". Musical Opinion. 127 (1440): 46. Archived from the original on 2019-12-14. Retrieved 2018-04-17.
  4. ^ a b c d Webster, Daniel (November 1, 1994). "A producer sings the praises of 'Porgy and Bess,' in 2d year of tour". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. E6. Retrieved April 7, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Gill, Raymond (May 3, 1997). "Still loves you, Porgy". The Age. p. 11. Retrieved March 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Freedman, Geraldine (February 14, 2002). "The Egg staging classic American opera, 'Porgy'". The Post-Star. p. 4. Retrieved March 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "L'American Ballet Theatre apre la stagione di Nervi" (PDF). Avanti!. July 7, 1977. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  8. ^ Testa, Alberto (August 11, 1990). "Amore di Bajadera". la Repubblica. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Karen, Mitsuko (February 11, 1995). "Setting the stage for a big performance". Asahi Evening News.
  10. ^ Barnes, Clive (October 19, 1977). "Gala Introduces Israel Ballet to New York". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 29, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  11. ^ "Israel Ballet". Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle. September 15, 1977. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Temin, Christine (May 22, 1979). "European debut for Boston Ballet". The Boston Globe. p. 32.
  13. ^ a b "Boston Ballet Company stumbles over issue of race". The Christian Science Monitor. March 26, 1981. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  14. ^ a b Karagianis, Maria (March 7, 1981). "Ballet Says S. Africa Trip is Out". The Boston Globe.
  15. ^ Temin, Christine (July 12, 1983). "Ballet's Trip: Mixed Reviews". The Boston Globe.
  16. ^ Grimley, Terry (September 16, 1999). "Success of Porgy Ain't Necessarily over Yet; There Is a Rare Chance for West Midlands Audiences to See Gershwin's Masterpiece Porgy and Bess in Wolverhampton Next Week. Terry Grimley Looks at the Opera's Chequered History". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018 – via thefreelibrary.com.
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  18. ^ "Con i giovani, ecco "Hair"!" (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. January 3, 1984. p. 24. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  19. ^ Porro, Maurizio (April 2, 1986). "Arriva da Broadway il musical dei record" (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. p. 23. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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  21. ^ Raboni, Giovanni (April 18, 1988). "Il Bene e il Male in lotta a ritmo di musical" (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. p. 18. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  22. ^ Volli, Ugo (April 19, 1988). "Esther, Cosi' Bella Che Salvo' gli Ebrei" (in Italian). la Repubblica. Archived from the original on February 18, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  23. ^ Trimarchi, Michele (November 23, 1989). "Soporifera storia newyorkese per un musical da non ricordare" (in Italian). Gazzetta del Sud. p. 13. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  24. ^ Cannavo, Alessandro (May 12, 1989). "Il ginocchio da Leroy" (in Italian). Corriere della Sera. p. 25. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
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  26. ^ a b Aitchison, Diana (November 13, 1987). "Monte Carlo Ballet Returns With New Tour". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  27. ^ a b Lastella, Aldo (March 15, 1990). "Cena al Vittoriale fra donne e intrighi". la Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  28. ^ Pietro Favari (April 1, 1990). "Di scena un D'Annunzio all'americana che offer al public perfino il pranzo" [On stage, an American D'Annunzio who offers the public even lunch]. Corriere della Sera (in Italian). p. 17. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  29. ^ Donald Rosenberg (January 1, 1992). "Foreign Exposure: Taiwan tour first trip abroad for Pittsburgh Ballet". Pittsburgh Press. p. F3. Retrieved March 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b Albert H. Cohen (September 21, 1992). "Expect greatness from 'Rigoletto'". Asbury Park Press. p. A13. Retrieved March 20, 2018 – via newspapers.com.
  31. ^ Stephen Wigler (November 9, 1992). "Mystery is high note in flat performance". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  32. ^ John Ferri (January 8, 1998). "Night & Day". Brownward-Palm Beach New Times. Archived from the original on February 24, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  33. ^ "Stili e interpreti: stagione sinfonica 2005-2006" [Styles and interpreters: symphonic season 2005-2006] (PDF) (in Italian). La Fenice. 2006. p. 132. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  34. ^ Musical America International Directory of the Performing Arts 1999. ABC Leisure Magazines. 1999. p. 191. ISBN 9781891131011.
  35. ^ Alexandre Delgado (January 29, 1999). "Um honesto "Rigoletto"" [An honest "Rigoletto"]. Público (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on February 25, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  36. ^ Conrad Wilson (January 17, 2001). "Man of the moment". The Herald. Archived from the original on May 5, 2018. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
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  39. ^ Alessandro Rigolli (July 1, 2002). "La Broadway di Bernstein a Ravenna" [Bernstein's Broadway in Ravenna] (in Italian). Il Giornale della Musica. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  40. ^ Laura Nobile (July 4, 2002). "West Side Story". la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  41. ^ "Arriva il musical targato Broadway" [The Broadway musical arrives]. la Repubblica (in Italian). July 9, 2002. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  42. ^ "East Coast Tour". Polish Cultural Institute. October 24, 2003. Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  43. ^ Jacek Marczyński (July 6, 2004). "Kołysanka dla przeszłości" [Lullaby for the past]. Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Archived from the original on February 27, 2018. Retrieved March 20, 2018 – via encyklopediateatru.pl.
  44. ^ Mario Neri (June 5, 2010). "Tenori e soprani tra i banchi del mercato. La Traviata affetta il prosciutto e canta" [Tenors and sopranos among the market stalls. La Traviata slices the ham and sings]. la Repubblica Firenze (in Italian). Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  45. ^ Gaia Rau (June 6, 2010). "Cantanti vestiti da operai. Arie d'opera al mercato" [Singers dressed for opera. Arias at the market]. la Repubblica (in Italian). Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  46. ^ Vittorio Emiliani (June 6, 2010). "La Carmen al mercato che lezione di musica!" [La Carmen at the market what a music lesson!]. L'Unità (in Italian). Archived from the original (PDF) on February 28, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  47. ^ Son Güncelleme (October 8, 2011). "Efsane müzikal İstanbul'da" [Mythical musical in Istanbul]. Hürriyet (in Turkish). Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
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  49. ^ ""Ain't Misbehavin" startet am Mittwoch auf St. Pauli" ["Ain't Misbehavin’" starts on St. Pauli on Wednesday]. Hamburger Abendblatt (in German). November 1, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
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  52. ^ Jorge Pisa (May 15, 2012). "Crítica: Harlem Swing. Ain't misbehavin', en el Teatre Victòria" [Review: Harlem Swing. Is not misbehavin ', at the Victoria Theater]. indienauta.com (in Catalan). Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
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  55. ^ Howard Loxton (July 9, 2013). "Los Vivancos - Flamenco Fusion". The British Theatre Guide. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  56. ^ "Magyar zenészekkel lép színpadra a világhírű csapat" [Hungarian musicians enter the world famous band]. kulturpart.hu (in Hungarian). August 8, 2013. Archived from the original on March 6, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  57. ^ "BTV环球春晚第5季 第0期 2014BTV环球春晚" [BTV Global Spring Festival Season 5 Season 0 2014 BTV Global Spring Festival Gala] (in Chinese). BTV. Archived from the original on May 19, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  58. ^ "Jersey Opera House August 2014-January 2015 Events Guide". Jersey Opera House. July 31, 2014. Retrieved May 19, 2018 – via issuu.com.
  59. ^ Vranish, Jane (April 12, 2001). "Stage Preview: Operatic appeal of 'Porgy' endures". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
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  62. ^ Stowe, Dorothy (November 7, 1993). "On Tour: Porgy and Bess". Deseret News. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  63. ^ a b Brown, Steven (January 2, 1994). "'Porgy' Blurs The Line Between Opera, Musical". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  64. ^ Walton, Kenneth (March 15, 2004). "Plenty o' something". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
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  66. ^ a b c d Pollack, Howard (2006). "Porgy and Bess in Revival". George Gershwin: His Life and Work. University of California Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-520-24864-9. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  67. ^ Larkin, Colin (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 600. ISBN 978-0195313734.
  68. ^ a b Mihkelson, Immo (February 21, 2008). "Saaremaa ooperipäevadele tulevad Porgy ja Bess". Postimees (in Estonian). Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  69. ^ Milnes, Rodney (October 28, 1997). "Tourists with attitude; Arts". The Times. p. 36.
  70. ^ Milnes, Rodney (September 16, 1999). "Porgy and Bess; Arts". The Times. p. 43.
  71. ^ McMarthy, Phillip (August 6, 2006). "Bess in show". The Age. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  72. ^ Dart, William (August 23, 2006). "Summertime, and touring ain't easy". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  73. ^ "Ópera "Porgy and Bess" estreia no CCB". Público (in Portuguese). December 10, 2003. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
  74. ^ Delatiner, Barbara (October 24, 1999). "Porgy and Bess". The New York Times. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  75. ^ Kazimir, Gina (January 17, 2002). "Tour de force: 'Porgy and Bess'". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
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