"Un Encuentro" - Statement

With „Un Encuentro“, Mark David Gottlieb has created a very personal work consisting of music and words, songs and narration, which to me mean a universe of experience and feelings. It really represents an encounter with life, and, using simple words, seems to tell the audience everything about human existence, childhood, love, and death. Though it sadly speaks also about rage because of lack of power to change things in a world difficult to be understood it still reveals how courage to survive is created. It contains the composer’s view into outer space which seems to represent his idea of God. It describes a thorough perception of the human existence, the result of which made him create a microcosm of touching words and deeply felt music. It bolsters the audience and generates hope. Though Mark’s work is originally created for chamber orchestra and voices, it tends to inspire producers to generate ideas for new forms of theatrical staging, which then may add additional dimensions and ways to express the composer’s thoughts. One option is to let Mark’s music and words encounter with dance. A new production brought to stage by the Macomb Ballet Company in January 2004 was a felicitous experiment. It showed that „Un Encuentro“ deserves worldwide attention and further performances.
Arthur H. Maute - April 2004