Bach & Bleach
Music performance by Esther Apituley
New York version Directed by Erwin Maas
An empty stage, a cleaning lady from Bosnia, a vibrant band leader from Holland – two ladies locked in battle for their right to occupy the space – add seven talented band members, a wandering choir, and the power of music to overcome and release the imagination trapped inside – and voila! Bach and Bleach is a play about two opposites merging into an unexpected and wonderful understanding of life and themselves. It’s funny, it’s profound, it’s not to be missed.
The performers led by renowned Dutch musician Esther Apituley include eight talented musicians around the world, among them the acclaimed jazz harmonica player Grégoire Maret, as well as two New York choirs, and Broadway actress, Jenny Sterlin as the cleaning lady directed by Erwin Maas.
Artistic Director: Esther Apituley
Directed by: Erwin Maas
Text by: Ko van den Bosch
Creative Producer: Tamara Keasberry
Featuring
Esther Apituley (violist)
Jenny Sterlin (cleaning lady)
Emily Uematsu and Carolin Pook (violins)
Chanel Karimkhani (cello)
James Robbins (double bass)
Carlos Horns (piano)
Grégoire Maret (mouth-harmonica)
Ethan Cohen (percussion)
New York Choirs:
June 5th Opening Night with Cantori New York
Artistic Director: Mark Shapiro
June 6th-9th with NY Choral Society
Conductor: Michael Ciavaglia
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Esther Apituley has an unparalleled ability to convey the immediacy and vitality of the classical and contemporary repertoire. Her theatrical concert make the works of the great composers accessible to a broad public. More information at www.estherapituley.com
This program is supported as part of the Dutch Culture USA program by the Consulate General of the Netherlands in New York.
“an innovative hybrid concert-comedic-drama that is a one-of-a-kind experience and entertainment, breathtaking, gorgeous, thought-provoking, elegiac” – Carole Di Tosti, TheaterPizzazz
“An extraordinarily beautiful production billed as a “Theatre Concert” took place at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club last week (June 5-9), and it turned out to be much more than the promised “play with music”; It was more accurately a play about music and its restorative and unifying power – and in a broader sense a play about life in general.” Rorianne Schrade, New York Concert Review
“What a fantastic show, with charming, talented young musicians. The choir of garbage collectors at the end was a stroke of genius, and the Chaconne was played superbly.”
– Paul Witteman, NOVA (Netherlands)
“Time flew by during this enjoyable, accessible performance – mopping the floor was never so much fun.”
-8 Weekly (Netherlands)
“How can I put this? I was moved – it touched my heart. I laughed and cried, and I was astonished and surprised. It was a fantastic performance. Everything was just right – the crazy musicians, the Chaconne, during which Esther snorted like a horse, and the passionate performance.”
– Hein Hansen, De Vooravond (Netherlands)