Lights, cameras, action, and a full symphony orchestra. In recent years, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra has performed multimedia performances to accompany movies, videos, and other projections.
In the latest concert of the Masterworks series, the orchestra takes its film accompaniment talent to a new level with an extraordinary accomplishment. The theme of the concert was dance. When the orchestra played Strauss's “Blue Danube'' waltz, two professional dancers waltzed back and forth so close to the violin section that someone almost tripped them. The orchestra also performed Leonard Bernstein's “Fancy Free,” which was written as a ballet and later served as the inspiration for the theme for the musical “On the Town.”
Bernstein's piece was the only part of the concert without added visual effects, but there was no need for them. “Fancy Free” featured prominently in the recent Bernstein biopic “Maestro,” and it was easy to close your eyes and imagine the sailors trotting across the stage.
But the key part of this Masterworks program was a fresh approach to Aaron Copland's classic “Appalachian Spring.” The song is one of Copland's most popular songs and is infused with the immortal Shaker melody “Simple Gift.” What the Hartford Symphony Orchestra did was take the music back to its roots and add a fresh visual dimension. The orchestra made a strong choice to perform this piece, as it was originally arranged for a 13-piece chamber orchestra rather than the usual full orchestra treatment. An even bigger choice was to perform “Appalachian Spring” alongside his 1958 film version of the ballet, which was originally composed for accompaniment. The video was made for public television and starred legendary dancer Martha Graham, who commissioned and choreographed “Appalachian Spring.”
Presented by Hartford Symphony Orchestra
A presentation of “Final Fantasy” by the Houston Symphony Orchestra, similar to one in Hartford this month. (Courtesy of Hartford Symphony Orchestra)
I didn't know where to look. The screen was showing rare films of the great Graham and other of his mid-20th century modern dance stars. A small, well-honed ensemble performed an uplifting rendition of “Appalachian Spring” that is rarely heard live.
During the pre-concert talk she gives before each Masterworks performance, Carolyn Quan, music director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, who conducted this concert, said that she was able to synchronize the live orchestral score to the filmed ballet. He talked about how difficult it was. First, she explained how important a role Graham played in the creation of this work. Copland's score had the working title “Ballet for Martha.'' She would not show her own choreography to her composer at rehearsals and even named it “Appalachian Spring.”
Mr. Quan talked about co-starring in the black-and-white television version of a finely tuned modern dance piece created 65 years ago and filmed from multiple angles. “This has never been done before. I don't know what will happen today!”
Presented by Hartford Symphony Orchestra
Hartford Symphony Orchestra Music Director Carolyn Quan brings an innovative blend of classical works and video to the Masterworks Series. (Courtesy of Hartford Symphony Orchestra)
This performance posed a special challenge, but also unique fun. Ballet is especially difficult to perform live because the dancers sometimes move against the rhythm of the score rather than in accordance with it. There are very specific movements, such as jumping, whisking, and arm-throwing gestures, that are impossible for musicians to catch accurately. The ensemble was slightly out of sync with the film a few times, but it hardly mattered. This was an interesting exercise on many levels. Usually, when you see a dance production with live music, the dancers are the ones who get the most attention. Here, a group of live musicians in a special small formation on stage performed with such energy and emotion that the film behind them seemed secondary. It was more of a refreshing way to hear and experience Copland's score than a dance soundtrack.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra is no stranger to such new expressions. Last season, Ian Bell's “Stonewall '69'' was performed. This is the premiere of a new orchestral suite based on Bell's opera of the same name, for which a special video has been created by artist Yuki Izuhara. The previous season of Masterworks featured the video-enhanced premiere of Clarice Assad's “É Gol!” This premiere also included elements of audience participation, such as clapping and shouting, giving it a grander live multimedia feel.
While this kind of presentation may sound novel, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra is now well versed in doing it, and it doesn't seem forced or phony. They have become very good at introducing other elements into the concert without distracting from the central force of a large, pleasant-sounding symphony orchestra.
This, as we'll see in the coming weeks, when the symphony accompanies one of the most popular fantasy film series of all time, or performs a musical piece associated with the fast-paced graphics of a video game. Also applies.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will perform “Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy” on March 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Bushnell's Mortensen Hall. This concert will be conducted by Ernie Ross as part of the Orchestra's Pops. The series also features live vocals from the University of Hartford Hart Choir.
The music score for the video game series Final Fantasy is internationally acclaimed, and its live performances have been seen on concert stages for years, apart from the intense and isolated gameplay that comes with it. Many composers contributed to this series, but the most revered melodies are the work of Nobuo Uematsu, who was responsible for the most popular song, “One-Winged Angel.”
In Connecticut, video game music concerts are typically held on small stages such as Infinity Hall in Hartford or Space Ballroom in Hamden. This fills Bushnell's main Mortensen Hall. A special high-definition video presentation from Square Enix, the creators of Final Fantasy games, will be part of the concert, depicting the entire 35-year history of Final Fantasy.
Less than a month after the “Distant Worlds” concert, the orchestra will be performing again. On April 20th at 1 and 7 p.m., the Hartford Symphony Orchestra will perform the latest live accompaniment to the Harry Potter films. They have held concerts over the years in the order the films were made. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth film in the series, with only two remaining.
The popularity of Harry Potter concerts is undeniable. The orchestra's regular Masterworks concerts are held three times each at the 900-seat Belding Theater in Bushnell, but the Harry Potter concert in April will be held on the same day at the same venue's 2,800-seat Main Mortensen Hall. Two performances will be held. The number of vacant seats is doubled.
Just a few years ago, symphonic orchestra accompaniment to films and videos was still a novelty. Nowadays, it has become commonplace. The comedy “Elf” also received the symphonic treatment during the holidays. It's no longer about what's special and different, it's about how well a particular orchestra can handle it. With its Masterworks experiment, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra has shown that it can not only add vitality and vitality to film scores, but that it is also at the forefront of fusing classical music and video imagery.
The Hartford Symphony Orchestra will perform “Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy” on March 23 at 7 p.m. at Mortensen Hall at the Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford. From $45 to $88. The orchestra will perform in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” on April 20 at 1 and 7 p.m., and prices range from $39 to $120. hartfordsymphony.org.
