A & E

Bach Choir and 'Joan of Arc'

Nothing makes an otherwise inert piece of film come to life like the right piece of music.

But when you start with one of the most overwhelming experiences in cinema history, like Carl Dreyer's silent epic "The Passion of Joan of Arc" (1928), and add a live score by the misleadingly named but transcendently wonderful Bach Choir of Pittsburgh, you get the feeling that something truly amazing is happening.

Sunday afternoon at the Regent Square Theater, "Joan of Arc" arose again.

"Joan" recounts the trial and execution of the medieval mystic/witch/saint, with much of its dialogue taken directly from the event's official records. Maria Falconetti's Joan is one of the most mesmerizing performances in cinema history, somehow making her both a vulnerable, frightened teenager and an otherworldly messenger, rapt in spiritual ecstasy.

The Bach Choir's interpretation of Richard Einhorn's "Voices of Light" -- created specifically for the film -- fits the doom-laden, claustrophobic inevitability of Joan's trial perfectly. A massed choir singing in dead languages roars with the collected holy terror of church and state. Lonely female voices respond, leaving scattered crumbs of isolated, innocent beauty behind.

Dreyer used startling closeups and unexpected, almost avant-garde camera angles to capture this forgotten world, halfway between myth and solemn truth. The Bach Choir's music brings it to life in a simply unforgettable way.

Luckily, it's not a one-time event. There's another performance at 8 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Regent Square Theater to help close out the Three Rivers Film Festival.

-- Michael Machosky

'Chicks... Bad Girls on Bikes Doing Bad Things'

It's broad, brash and not a little raunchy.

And its 10 p.m. curtain time might cause you to stay up past your bedtime.

But for broad-minded people who love laugh-out-loud satire, "Chicks... Bad Girls on Bikes Doing Bad Things" provides a satisfying mix of fast-paced, well-acted theater and an outrageous look at sexual politics. It's part of Bricolage Production Company's newest initiative, Midnight Radio.

After killing her boyfriend, prom queen and Three-Mile Island resident Vespa de Amour turns into the sort of biker chick who might figure prominently in any red-state male's nightmare.

Director Tami Dixon and a cast of nine women and two men employ a stylized performance plus a little mud wrestling in this lively look at women assuming, questioning and rejecting established male roles and stereotypes in their quest for liberation.

The Bricolage production of "Chicks... Bad Girls on Bikes Doing Bad Things" continues through Nov. 28 with performances at 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 937 Liberty Ave., Downtown . Pre-show happy hour with live music begins at 9:30 p.m.

Admission: $10

Details: 412-381-6999.

-- Alice T. Carter

Toshiko Akiyoshi

Members of the Three Rivers Jazz Orchestra rose successfully to meet the challenge of some daunting arrangements by Toshiko Akiyoshi on Sunday.

It was telling of the task, however, to see the faces of 15 of the region's best jazz musicians concentrating mightily. It was not much of a surprise, though. Akiyoshi, who lead the musicians from the piano, writes complicated charts that tested the mettle of players such as band leaders Mike Tomaro and Steve Hawk, along with James Guerra, Paul Thompson and Ralph Guzzi.

Besides providing a test, the concert at the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in the North Side also offered fascinating voicings. The band was of the traditional alignment, but sometimes, the reed players switched to alternate instruments to create distinct sounds.

One chart had two flutes, two clarinets and a baritone sax, while on another, the baritone player moved to bass clarinet.

Tunes such as "Strive for Jive" and "Hiroko's Delight" were bebop-oriented burners, while the encore, "Epilogue: Hope," was a mellow bit of thoughtfulness,

Besides the work of Akiyoshi, who is an energetic 79-year-old, the concert also bespoke the dedication of its audience, which was willing to give up the start of the Steelers game for an afternoon with this jazz standout.

-- Bob Karlovits

• Most Read
• Most E-mailed
• Latest News