Basil Twist’s genius was established in 1998, when he first interpreted an opium dream from the pen of Hector Berlioz in a 500-gallon aquarium. Some critics called Twist’s Symphonie Fantastique a nonrepresentational underwater puppet show. More accurately, Twist defined his instant hit as a “spectacle of abstract form.” For the landmark New York revival of 2018, Twist expanded his original quartet of operators to a team of 10 and doubled the capacity of the tank. At the same time, more controversially, he switched canned music for a live piano reduction. Brilliantly shot and edited, Symphonie Fantastique, The Movie is now available for streaming. —M.G.
The Arts Intel Report
Symphonie Fantastique, The Movie
Where
Streaming on BasilTwist.com
Etc
A live piano reduction accompanies “Symphonie Fantastique, The Movie.” Photo: Richard Termine.