The big news this week, of course, is Edo de Waart’s debut as….Well, wait a second, it’s actually the Milwaukee Film Fest…..Um….but there’s this big, nationally anticipated Andy Warhol show at the Milwaukee Art Museum. OK, major cultural players…you’ll just have to share the wealth this week.
Of cour
se, De Waart, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s new music director, has been on the minds of music fans here for months. And his concerts this week are big on both substance and ceremony. Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 is the big event for the weekend performances, and for the Wednesday gala with superstar cellist Yo-Yo Ma. And a big event it is. One of the best known of Mahler’s works, it’s Adagietto (the fourth movement) is certainly a Mahler trademark (Leonard Bernstein conducted it for Robert Kennedy’s funeral mass). On Saturday and Sunday, the concert opens with Leonard Bernstein’s “Jeremiah” symphony, featuring mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke. And on Wednesday, the MSO comes back to give the Mahler a third go. And will accompany Yo-Yo Ma in Robert Schumann’s Cello Concerto.
For those waiting breathlessly for the return of a film festival to Milwaukee, it’s time to exhale. With over 100 movies, the Milwaukee Film Festival offers a way to cram a year’s worth of celluloid into a mere 10 days. Or a chance to catch up with what several Milwaukee filmmakers have been up to over the past few years. Or a chance to quench your thirst for Iranian documentaries, or offbe
at shorts. (For example, The Sleuth Incident, part of the midnight shorts collection on Friday Oct., 2, is described as “Teddy bears: kicking ass and taking names”—curious?) For recommendations and information, see the Milwaukee Film website. Or don’t worry about this or that critic or award, and just show up for a film you’ve never heard of. Surprise yourself.
And while you’re at it, there are plenty of surprises at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Andy Warhol: The Last Decade. Think you know all about Andy Warhol? The soup cans and Brillo boxes? Marilyn and those day-glo poppies? The shallow cool? The mechanical-industrial style. The Factory parties? Well, what about the Warhol who grappled with his mortality? And expressed his devout Catholicism
? And what about the Andy Warhol who painted? You know, with a brush? And collaborated with folks such as Jean-Michel Basquiat? You’ll find all these Andys and more at this season’s Big Event exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. And keep your eye out for events around the city, including film screenings. And if you haven’t driven by the Calatrava at night lately, I suggest you take an after-dark drive in the next week or so.
And that’s only for starters. If you’re interested in celestial stars (as opposed to the Hollywood variety), keep an eye out for events featuring Dava Sobel and the early music ensemble, Galileo’s Daughters. There’ll be a concert, readings, planetarium presentations and more.
UWM’s
Union Theatre keeps its own semester-long film festival going this weekend with none other than Rosemary’s Baby, Roman Polanski’s legendary prequel to The Omen (not!). And two Milwaukee premieres about children: So Yong Kim’s Treeless Mountain, called "one of the best films about childhood ever made." And Lion’s Den, a Cannes Palme d’Or nominee from Argentina featuring Martina Guzman.
