Here is a notice about the upcoming Tenth Anniversary performance of
George Antheil's "Ballet mécanique," from Paul Lehrman, head of The
Ballet Mécanique Project:

November 18, 1999, was the world premiere of George Antheil's
spectacular 1924 work "Ballet mécanique," in the original form that the
composer intended.  In the last ten years, the piece has been performed
over thirty times around the world, has been featured in hundreds of
articles, books, and YouTube videos, and has won numerous accolades.

For me, it's a project that has taken on a life far longer and more
exciting than I or anyone I've worked with could have imagined.

Now, just in time for the tenth anniversary of the premiere, the
"Ballet mécanique" is returning to Boston.  The Boston Modern Orchestra
Project, under the direction of Gil Rose, is performing the mammoth
work in the finale of their "Big Bang" concert on Friday, November 13,
at Jordan Hall in the New England Conservatory.  Ten Yamaha Disklavier
player pianos will be on the stage, along with xylophones, bass drums,
gong, bells, a real (and loud!) siren, and the sound of three genuine
airplane propellers.

When Rose and the BMOP performed the piece in 2001 at Symphony Hall,
the Boston Phoenix called it "A thrilling event!...like hearing the
20th-century modern being born!"  Other performances of the piece have
been described as "A huge, glorious din," "A happy riot," "Heroic,
virtuosic," "Not since the meteor shower that wiped out the dinosaurs
have you heard such a racket!" "Crash-landed on the stage with a
deafening roar that rings in the ear still," and "If Holst's Mars was
the bringer of war, then 'Ballet mécanique' sounds like war itself."

Get the picture?

Paul Lehrman,
The Ballet Mécanique Project

Cheers,
Roger Wiegand