The Ballet Mecanique Page

Your host is Paul D. Lehrman
Last update:
August 24, 2010
OUR 12th YEAR
ON THE WEB!

Coming up:
"Ballet Mécanique: A Spread-Spectrum Ecstacy": performance of the
multimedia poem/play "Automystifstical Plaice" by John Matthias
Wednesday, September 8, 2010, 5:00 pm
Hesburgh Center Auditorium

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of the premiere performance
of the original Ballet mécanique…

NOVEMBER 13, 2009 • JORDAN HALL, Boston

Gil Rose, conductor
"It was something to behold…a glorious din"—
"A fully satisfying hoot of a piece"—Boston Musical Intelligencer
"A dazzling success!"—ArtsFuse

And in England…

Antheil's rarely-heard 1925 Ballet mécanique—the single-pianola version—was performed by Anglia Sinfonia at Anglia Ruskin University's West Road Concert Hall, in Cambridge, on November 22 at 8 pm. Pianola soloist was the estimable Rex Lawson, and the conductor was Paul Jackson.

And in Buenos Aires…
The South American premiere of Ballet mécanique (the 1953 version) took place
at the Sala Casacuberta del Teatro San Martin on November 18.

Telly Bronze award

Film Fest New Haven

First prize

Int'l Festival
of Films on Science,
Budapest

the award-winning documentary film by Paul Lehrman & Ron Frank
Featured on …and now available on DVD!
EXTRA: 3-1/2-star review from the Boston

"A TERRIFIC FILM, perhaps the most original and interesting
independent documentary I have screened this year."—WETA-TV

"A compelling look at a fascinating man—ESSENTIAL VIEWING for lovers of 20th-century music and a great introduction for those of us whose tastes are less noisily inclined." —NEFilm.com

"OUTSTANDING. Absolutely fascinating."—The Boston Phoenix

"Stimulating, informative, TOTALLY ENTERTAINING. A well-made documentary which everyone interested in music must see."—The Audio Engineering Society

"DON'T MISS IT!—The Independent Film Monthly

VIEW THE TRAILER AND SLIDE SHOW

Recently in the world of Ballet mécanique:

Dada Machinations featuring The Chicago Premiere of Ballet mécanique
March 3, 2009, at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance
"Termites running the asylum!…a spectacle hard to forget…giving the performance a primal intensity…
Clutched the audience and didn't let go!"—Chicago Sun-Times

Frequency Hopping—a new play by Elyse Singer about Hedy Lamarr and George Antheil
featuring The Ballet mécanique Automated Orchestra, created by the League of Electronic Musical Urban Robots
and programmed by Paul Lehrman, playing an original score by Joshua Fried along with selections from the Ballet mécanique

was premiered May 29-June 29, 2008
at 3-Legged Dog Art & Technology Center in New York City.

"Vivid…Inventive…Keenly intelligent!"
Ballet mécanique was "a musical and visual treat. The combined craziness elicited an ecstatic ovation
from the audience who packed the place, eager for this rare opportunity!"

"Stunning…gorgeous…one of the most technologically sophisticated
theatre experiences one could imagine…snappy, spirited performances!"

MORE from …

Mécanique in MIAMI!

The robotic Ballet mécanique orchestra was in residence December 1-11, 2007
at the Museum of Florida International University
and was the smash hit of the world-famous ArtBasel Festival!

said: "This outrageous work is best experienced in unsafe mode,
where its mechanistic ferocity and riotous noise can make full, deafening impact…"

Read the great press coverage • Watch videos from Miami's PBS Channel 2

"A HAPPY RIOT" in WASHINGTON, DC!
In conjunction with a huge exhibit on Dadaist art, the National Gallery of Art hosted the all-mechanical Ballet mécanique orchestra, performing what the critics called "The best 10 minutes of free fun in Washington!"
WATCH THE VIDEO!
plus PICTURES from the National Gallery

UNSEEN CINEMA, featuring the Ballet mécanique, on DVD
"One of the major monuments of the DVD medium!"-
"The must-have release of the year!"- FILM COMMENT
Winner, LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS Special Citation