Premium Blends

by Peter Burwasser

The concept of combining different art forms or performing groups for a singular event is fine in theory. But only if done with equal strength among all of the components, plenty of hard work (i.e. ample rehearsal time) and some kind of synergy. This is, after all, the essence of great opera, and why it is so hard to come by (and so expensive). Over the years, there have been a number of clumsy attempts to join the arts on Philadelphia stages. Without naming names, I can recall dance numbers with tenuous relationship to the music being played, and amateurish projections of visual images that managed to distract from the aural material rather then enhance it. These efforts came off as gimmicky and wasteful.

And so I am happy to report on three events since the beginning of the year that point the way to a real maturation of this trend. In January, there was the joint appearance of the baroque ensemble Tempesta di Mare and the Philadelphia Singers, in a beautifully cohesive program of music by Blow, Vivaldi and Bach. Most recently, there was the latest joint venture of the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Curtis Opera, with a superbly creepy concert presentation of the Berg masterpiece Wozzeck. The success of the production derived from a careful blending of OCP pros and the wonderful young musicians of Curtis. The title character was sung with startling intensity by Broadway star Shuler Hensley (Curtis '93), and OCP music director Corrado Rovaris wrought great beauty out of a score that tends to intimidate the daylights out of most audiences.

And then there was the Network for New Music/Group Motion Dance presentation of Andrea Clearfield's "Lung-Ta." This is one of this increasingly well-regarded local composer's best works yet, featuring a lucid, naturally expressive blend of her usual lyric voice, spiced with Asian-flavored percussive dissonance and haunting taped field recordings of Tibetan prayer. The dancing, music and simple but evocative murals were completely of a piece.

There is more good news, perhaps the best news of all. All three performances were extremely well attended. The first performance of Lung-Ta was standing room only, and there was a 20-minute wait to get into the Tempesta/Singers event. Wozzeck packed the Perelman with raucously enthusiastic crowds. A lesson; you do not have to play it safe to sell tickets. Be bold, but do it right, and they shall come.

(p_burwasser@citypaper.net)