As the Academy Awards take center stage, an alternative and captivating performance awaits at the Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center in La Jolla. The La Jolla Music Society presents Meow Meow, an Australian-born British chanteuse, in two intimate concerts highlighting the revolutionary Weimar Republic era. These performances will not only celebrate the music from 1918 to 1933 but also pay homage to the influential women artists of the time, such as Lotte Lenya, Marlene Dietrich, and Josephine Baker.
A Diverse Artistic Journey
Meow Meow’s career has been as eclectic as her performances, encompassing opera, ballet, comedy, jazz, and more. Her artistic exploration has led her from Shakespeare’s Globe in London to the Hollywood Bowl, always blurring the lines between genres and forms. In her conversation, Meow Meow emphasizes her unwillingness to be confined to one medium, celebrating the theater’s magical world where emotions and storytelling reign supreme.
Passion for Historical Repertoire
Meow Meow’s fascination with the German and French song repertoire was ignited by the emotional depth of artists like Edith Piaf and the operatic drama of “Carmen.” Her exploration into these musical languages has been a journey of discovery, leading her to the works of Kurt Weill and the passionate tangos of the Weimar era. Through her performances, she aims to give voice to the freedom and versatility of these songs, embodying the beauty and complexity of their time.
Reflecting on History and Politics
The era of the Weimar Republic was a time of great creativity and political unrest, which Meow Meow captures through the songs of its bold women artists. As right-wing extremism rises today, she finds the music’s political resonance clear without needing explicit emphasis. A self-described history buff, Meow Meow delves into historical research to bring rare and little-known music to her shows, connecting past and present in a deeply meaningful way.
Looking ahead, Meow Meow’s relentless globetrotting continues with exciting projects, including her debut at Carnegie Hall and collaborations in London. Through her performances, Meow Meow invites audiences into a world where history, politics, and art intertwine, offering a reflective and poignant experience that echoes beyond the stage.
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