CLASSICAL MUSIC
One week less for Aspen fest
For at least 20 years, leaders of the Aspen Music Festival and School have discussed the possibility of shortening its intensive nine-week schedule, which can be grueling for faculty and students.
The recession has turned such talk into action. The internationally renowned classical festival announced last week that beginning in 2010 it will cut its offerings to eight weeks. The series will delay its usual start in late June because opening-week concerts typically have the lowest single- ticket sales of the summer.
Aspen president Alan Fletcher said the change will save money without harming the festival’s artistic integrity. “With eight weeks, seven days a week, we’re still just jam-packed with stuff,” he said. Kyle MacMillan
VISUAL ART
A little of this, a little of that
One of the quirkiest and most popular programs at the just-closed Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar — Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures — re- emerges next month at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. (The institutions recently merged.)
The next round of events, which combine half-hour talks on two completely disparate topics, will begin June 5 with “Show Tunes & Aquatic Plants,” and run through Aug. 28.
Also available will be dinner and cocktails — Mixed Grill and After Taste — and concurrent activities for children: Mixed Kids.
“I think it will be as fun and as intellectually stimulating, but we’ll have more capacity here to make it a much broader experience,” said MCA director Adam Lerner.
Season passes are available now, and single tickets ($10 MCA members, $15 non-members) go on sale Thursday. Advance purchase is recommended because the lectures tend to sell out. 303-298-7554 or .
Kyle MacMillan
EVENTS
Nerds: Out and proud
Geeks Who Drink has one of those names that says it all, but the Denver trivia powerhouse is laying it on the line for Thursday’s “The Dork Night Returns.” The bespectacled pub event will exclusively take on comic-book and graphic-novel trivia — a subject sure to draw die-hards from their “World of Warcraft” terminals.
“It’s going to be the nerdiest night in Denver,” said quizmaster Emilio Scattaglia, who presides over the free 8 p.m. event at Brandon’s Pub (955 Lincoln St.) “I’m casting as wide a net as I can question-wise, so it’s not just going to be superheroes but movies, music, TV and more.”
Free pints and cash go to winners, and teams dressed as their favorite comic-book character will receive one bonus point per costumed player.
Each week, Geeks Who Drink hosts live pub quizzes at more than 60 bars and restaurants throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Washington. John Wenzel
FILM
Quickie musical the top winner
“More Where That Came From” is the teasing name of the Denver-based moviemaking team that won the 48-Hour Film Project contest with their 7-minute musical “Quillions,” shot in one impressive Steadicam shot.
The final showdown pitted them against four competing groups. The nationwide contest had 1,700 teams from 50 cities. Writer- director Stephen Anson, cinematographer Alan Dague-Green and composer Andrew Gaskins were at the National Association of Broadcasters confab in Las Vegas to pick up the award, a Panasonic HPX170 camera.
See “Quillions” at the website . Click on Panasonic HD Showdown. Lisa Kennedy
