This classical music concert by the American Symphony Orchestra investigates the tradition and influence of French Orientalism on composers such as Saint Saens ("Orient et Occident") , Franck ("Les Djinns"), Ravel ("Sheherazade Overture") and others. In the video clip (below), the director, Leon Botstein discusses the "West's" fascination with the conceit of "the other": "We are aroused and bedazzled in a condescending way by that which is different." The visual montage that accompanies his thoughtful if not exactly surprising riff begins with paintings by famous French painters and ends, abruptly, with seemingly white women in belly dance costumes imitating the "other." American Symphony Orchestra, February 10 at Carnegie Hall. The program sounds beautiful....
