This past weekend I spent a delightful evening at Ohio’s Columbus Symphony which worked in tandem with the BalletMet to celebrate spring. I can tell you first hand it was worth the four hour drive.
The first half of the concert was filled with Debussy and Ravel. The haunting and gentle flute solo of Debussy’s Syrink with its low soft notes was played beautifully by a musician standing in a theater box above the main floor. It was a perfect introduction to the night’s emotional music and a backdrop to the slow sensual dancing of two members of the ballet.
Debussy’s Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun followed immediately and continued the low but lush theme. As the music grew you could almost see the green shoots emerging from the damp earth, you could smell the hint of rain and see the buds on the trees swell. Soon I could imagine all sorts of birds, some walking along the shore, others soaring over head accompanied by the undertones of bull frogs among the reeds and, yes, the fawn frolicking in the afternoon sun.
The first half of the concert concluded with Ravel’s Rapsodie Espagnole. Influenced by Spain, the first three movements felt as soft and wonderous as the preceding pieces and I was still imaging that pond full of wildlife, though sometimes the frogs were sounding less Midwestern as the Spanish rhythms became more apparent. The fourth movement finally provided all the expected fire of a Spanish dance and was brought to full realization by members of the ballet.
At the conclusion of the first half, just before the applause began, you could hear a collective sigh from the audience. The symphony and the ballet had held us all spellbound.
Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring: Pictures of Pagan Russia in Two Parts filled the second half of the performance; Part I, The Adoration of the Earth and Part II, The Sacrifice revolve around villagers dancing in celebration of spring. The group dancing during these pieces was spectacular and engaging. And of course I especially enjoyed the clarinet work. Of all the pieces played that evening, this piece had the biggest sound, the most intense feeling, the fastest movement. It was as if we were all moving through spring, and bursting out into summer on the other side.
Of course there was a long standing ovation. As soloists, both dancers and musicians, were recognized the crowd continued to applaud. And we were all smiling. Because for a couple of hours we experienced the touch of spring. No matter that more snow was forecast, that the temperatures were frigid and the winds blowing. For those moments inside a packed concert hall we stretched toward the sun and felt the warm breeze on our faces. We witnessed joy.
And in the days ahead as we shovel the heavy spring snow and bundle up against cruel temperatures we can remember the soft beautiful music of green sprouts unfurling, of birds soaring overhead and fawns playing in the sun, of dancers celebrating. We were lucky to be touched by a bit of spring this past weekend, thanks to the artists in Columbus.
And that will help us make it through these last weeks of cold.
