METLiveArts The Colorado-Historic Film Performed with Live Music

The Colorado film both shows the grandeur and majesty of our national landscape surrounding the Colorado River and its delta.  It also presents the man made devastation & havoc wrecked upon our most precious natural resources.  The multimedia production is accompanied by a chorale, a cellist & percussionist.  The beauty of the natural landscape & the river are enhanced by an original score that aligns with nature.  John Adams, one of the composers received the Pulitzer ('14) for raising concerns for environmental issues & conservation.  Adams is recognized for "melding the physical & musical worlds into a unique artistic vision that transcends stylistic boundaries.  Glenn Kotch on percussion & Jeffrey Zeigler on cello added a creative underlying pulse to the film.  Together the two musicians were able to capture the feelings of fluidity and expansiveness. The Chorale group were at times interesting and at times instrusive. Text was sparse and vocalists covered their mouths while singing in parts.  This was a collaborative project with numerous artists:  British actor Mark Rylance narrated the film. Writer conservationist William deBuys & Greek photographer/ writer Murat Eyuboglu wrote the screenplay.  The film traced the Colorado River from prehistoric times, European exploration into the industrial era including the construction of the Hoover Damn & its impact on agriculture & the environment.  This stirring and unforgettable production has a heavy warning of climate change & disappearing resources.  One of the last lingering images is of an elderly Native Amer woman walking among the parched, cracked landscape.  It is reminiscient of an old ad campaign with a Native Amer in headress looking out over a polluted urban sprawl while a tear rolled down his cheek.