At the symphony with video

Music Lane

It's all about the music, dude! Sit down, relax and listen to some tunes.

This weekend our local orchestra, which is actually better than decent and performs in a magnificent setting (Overture Hall), featured for its first concert of the season a program of Enescu, Corigliano, and "The Planets." The music was spectacular, although there were a few very minor weak points in the premier Friday presentation I attended.

Featured along with the Holst was a high definition video, projected onto an enormous screen above and behind the orchestra. The video consisted of actual images and simulations of planetary features which coincided with which "planet" was being played. The video was produced for the Houston symphony, and I imagine most of it was supplied or supported by NASA. It was of excellent quality.

I found the video to be a distraction from the music, so I sat with my eyes closed for a large portion of the piece and concentrated on watching the orchestra for much of the rest of the time. Only a few times for brief intervals did I watch the video images, although I admit they were startlingly realistic and thoroughly arresting. As there was no explanation available of what one was seeing other than which planet, the video did not really inform the music, and the music was only somewhat evocative of the images, despite their being very well coordinated temporally. I think Saturn was the most visually impressive, and the gradual fadeout of Neptune with the eerie off-stage chorus was pretty cool.

What do you think of this marriage? Would you feel any more or less inclined to attend a concert that featured appropriate video accompaniment? That aspect was very heavily promoted, and the series was well attended (three shows nearly sold out, at 2.25K attendance per show), and the audience was a bit noisier than usual so I assume it was full of non-regulars.

I guess if this is what it takes to get screen-addicted Americans to listen to classical music, so be it. Personally, I would just as soon see Badger football highlights projected while the music played!

Peace,
Tom E
berate is 8 and benign is 9

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Topic - At the symphony with video - madisonears 19:11:35 09/26/16 (8)

RE: At the symphony with video - vinyl survivor 18:51:23 09/28/16 (0)

RE: "screen addicted Americans" - genungo 07:54:58 09/28/16 (0)

RE: At the symphony with video - PAR 02:47:26 09/27/16 (0)

Although I don't necessarily believe that non-musical media in classical concerts should be discouraged. . . - Chris from Lafayette 21:57:51 09/26/16 (4)

RE: Although I don't necessarily believe that non-musical media in classical concerts should be discouraged. . . - fstein 04:56:35 09/27/16 (1)

Yes! and ... - Amphissa 16:40:38 09/29/16 (0)

already carefully pointed out - madisonears 22:43:46 09/26/16 (1)

Two sides to that coin - rbolaw 06:11:12 09/28/16 (0)

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