Patricia Garry

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Our Wonderful Symphony & My Changing Feelings

January 19, 2009 By pgarry

Friends and I went to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s concert just before Christmas – a wonderful evening. Everything suited to the winter and the holiday season. It is a fabulous orchestra, great sound, in a wonderful hall. Prokofiev’s Classical Symphony, Beethoven’s Romance Number 2, Vivaldi’s Winter from The Four Seasons, Rossini’s The Fantastic Toyshop.

The musicians are incredible, Paavo Jarvi is a musical star, such good energy. The orchestra is now truly world class.

But the symphony is very seldom now a place I want to go. And I’m clearly not the only one. The acoustically near perfect hall was only about 1/3 full.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s, I couldn’t wait to go. Wanted to be there all the time. And I still am passionate and need to be there during our short opera season. Had been there just a week or two before for Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion.

And yet, much as I love the symphony, the musicians, the Hall, Paavo – something in me does not want to be there for them. I do not understand why, but I can feel my own resistance. And it’s not just Music Hall – it seems to be pretty much all classical music, and sometimes even extends to other genres. Jazz is another form that doesn’t interest me any more.

I was musing the other day on whether surcaps – the dialogue in English above the stage at the opera – would be of assistance. Perhaps a description of where we’re supposed to be (if, for instance, it’s about nature), what the composer’s intent was, the feelings this section is musically describing. Though even pieces I know fairly well are not really keeping my attention. Perhaps a short synopsis by Paavo before each piece. Maybe introductions of the key players and performers.

Perhaps it’s that distant perfection, no real intimacy or reaching across. Perhaps we / I now want a physical as well as cerebral experience. Could it be that I / we now want to be able to at least sway to the music, and no longer are content to sit quietly and be recipients? Something about that feels right to me.

Filed Under: Cultural Commentary, Reviews: Books, Plays, Events, Etc.

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