WRITING
When time has permitted, Elena Park has enjoyed writing about arts and culture ~ and many times, interviews have given her access to incredible individuals she would not otherwise meet, or the opportunity to know artists she admires a little better. Most of her writing has been for the San Francisco Chronicle and outlets such as Playbill and Metropolitan Opera publications. A selection:
For the San Francisco Chronicle
Ushio Amagatsu inteview: Sankai Juku brings personal vision of butoh (Nov 7, 2010)
William Forsythe interview: End of one ballet company simply means a stretch into something new for director William Forsythe (June 1, 2004)
Philip Glass interview: 3 Nights of Film and Philip Glass (Feb 16, 2006)
Kitty Carlisle Hart interview: Here's to Life (Jan 11, 2006)
Bill T. Jones interview: Fela explores the man behind the myth (Nov 13, 2011)
Robert Lepage inteview: Robert Lepage steps into Eonnagata dance role (Feb 6, 2011)
Bebe Neuwirth interview: Seeking life's simple truths, Neuwirth returns to the stage (Apr 28, 2005)
Yoko Ono interview: Ono's Memories Pivotal in Shaping Lennon (Apr 10, 2005) [her related WNYC news story about the Broadway musical is here]
Clive Owen inteview: A Funny Shoot for Owen (Aug 30, 2007)
Fiona Shaw/Deborah Warner interview: Abbey rethinks Medea / Irish troupe brings new interpretation to classic (Nov 10, 2002)
For the Met OPERA, PLAYBILL & MORE
John Adams interview: John Adams's Rules of Engagement (Apr 2007)
John Adams and Peter Sellars Q&A: The Myth of History / Almost 25 years after its world premiere, John Adams and Peter Sellars discuss the creation of Nixon in China (Feb 2011)
Thomas Adès Q&A: Creating a Storm / Thomas Adès's contemporary masterpiece comes to the Met, with the composer conducting Robert Lepage's magical production (Sept 2012)
Philip Glass feature and Q&A : The Force of Truth: Satyagraha at the Met // The Message in the Music: Philip Glass talks about Gandhi as an opera subject and why his message still resonates today (Sept 2008)
Robert Lepage Q&A: The Siren Call of the Tempest / Director Robert Lepage talks about his personal history with Shakespeare's play and the challenges of bringing Thomas Adès's opera to the stage (Sept 2013)
Nico Muhly interview and Q&A: The Masked Ball/Nico Muhly's Two Boys conjures the early days of the Internet to explore identity, disguise and and personal connection (Sept 2013) // The Musical World of Nico Muhly (Sept 2013)
Sean Gandini interview: Music in the Air/The virtuoso juggler of Gandini Juggling creates mesmerizing choreography and juggling for the Met production of Philip Glass’s Akhnaten (Sept 2019)
James Levine: 40 Years at the Metropolitan Opera (Amadeus Press): Editorial Director of a book featuring vivid, historic photographs, insightful commentary, and anecdotes from Met artists.