Présences Festival Honors Steve Reich with Comprehensive Retrospective
The Présences festival at Maison de la radio in Paris presents a portrait of composer Steve Reich through February 11, 2024. Reich, now 87, was once booed for repetitive music at the same festival. The program includes early works like It's Gonna Rain (1965) and Come Out (1966), which used phasing and tape loops. Reich's later turn to Judaism influenced pieces like Tehillim (1981) and Different Trains (1988). The festival also features Reich/Richter (2019), a collaboration with Gerhard Richter, and Jacob's Ladder (2023). Two younger composers, Gabriella Smith and Othman Louati, respond to Reich's work. The festival omits Reich's multimedia operas with Beryl Korot, The Cave and Three Tales. A concert of The Desert Music is also scheduled. The article notes the passing of minimalist pioneer Carl Andre.
Key facts
- Présences festival runs until February 11, 2024 at Maison de la radio, Paris.
- Steve Reich, age 87, is the subject of the festival's portrait.
- Reich's early works It's Gonna Rain and Come Out are performed on February 9.
- Reich studied percussion in Ghana and jazz with John Coltrane.
- Tehillim (1981) abandons repetitive structure for Hebrew text.
- Different Trains (1988) contrasts Reich's train travels with Holocaust deportation trains.
- Reich/Richter (2019) is performed without the accompanying film by Corinna Belz and Richter.
- Jacob's Ladder (2023) is Reich's latest creation, referencing Arnold Schönberg.
- Gabriella Smith and Othman Louati are featured as young composers responding to Reich.
- Carl Andre, minimalist artist, recently died.
Entities
Artists
- Steve Reich
- Philip Glass
- Carl Andre
- Arnold Schönberg
- Igor Stravinsky
- John Coltrane
- Daniel Hamm
- Gabriella Smith
- Othman Louati
- Beryl Korot
- Gerhard Richter
- Corinna Belz
- George Jackson
- Emmanuel Daydé
- Raphaël Pichon
- Silvia Costa
- Chadi Lazreq
- Emmanuel Demarcy-Mota
- Lavelli
Institutions
- Maison de la radio
- Radio France
- Ensemble intercontemporain
- Philharmonie de Paris
- Opéra comique
- Opéra de Dijon
- France Musique
- Théâtre de la Ville – Sarah Bernhardt
- artpress
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Ghana
- Union Square
- San Francisco
- United States
- Europe
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Dijon
Sources
- artpress —