True to their values, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra delivered an enriching evening of ‘Vision, Dedication and Inspiration’ at the Adelaide Festival Theatre on Saturday. The audience was treated to a frolicking rendition of Gershwin’s ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, and transported to another time and place, with all the ambience, animation and anecdote of American Soul.
American-born, New Zealand resident Marc Taddei, is no stranger to the stage. He has conducted every orchestra in New Zealand and has travelled the world over working along side artists from Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to Diana Krall.
Guest pianist Kevin Cole is known as the best ‘Gershwin pianist in America today’, having shared the stage with many ‘all time greats’ including Liza Minelli, Barbara Streisand and Aretha Franklin. Kevin boasts an award-winning career as a musical director, arranger, composer, vocalist and archivist.
The Cuban Overture began with all the pomp and ceremony of the Big Band era, filling the theatre with excitement and the changing moods of a life in a day, from sunrise to sunset. Concerto for Piano in F Major followed, accompanied by centre stage placement of the ‘Steinways & Sons’ Piano, with their name proudly embossed in gold letters along the side of this work of art, providing Kevin Cole with just what he needed to joyfully strut his stuff!
The orchestra has an innate understanding of synergy, where the sum of the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Each musician embodies the instrument that produces the sound that contributes to the harmonic convergence of mastery.
Orchestral music is such a feast for the soul and this musical smorgasbord continued to satisfy our appetite after interval with An American in Paris, and then the signature dish, Rhapsody in Blue.
The theatre was filled with precision, applause and vitality, and whether the encore, I’ve got Rhythm was improvised or part of the planned menu, it was well received, just like a sweet dessert. An outstanding night at the theatre, and a feast fit for a King!
George Gershwin (1898-1937)
“Life is a lot like jazz… it’s best when you improvise.”
© Patricia Herreen 2013