Perfect venues make the sound even sweeter
In a big weekend for Central Florida music lovers, two memorable performances were defined in part by their sense of place.
Last Friday and Saturday, Opera Orlando performed its annual “Opera on the Town” site-specific production at Portofino Bay at Universal Orlando. And on Saturday night, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra made its debut at Steinmetz Hall.
The location of the two events added to their significance — and artistry.
Opera Orlando chose a ballroom at Portofino Bay specifically to fulfill the vision of Opera on the Town, said general director Gabriel Preisser.
“What we do with these site-specific productions is the venue becomes part of the story, and we felt this would do it justice,” he said. When Preisser visited Portofino Bay at the suggestion of a new board member it became apparent “it was the perfect place, with those beautiful rooms where they actually do weddings — and this is a wedding day gone wrong.”
The opera was staging Verdi’s “King for a Day,” a comic tale of love and assumed identities that ends with double nuptials. Arriving at Portofino Bay, it felt as if one was attending a fancy wedding — from being seated at a round table with friends, acquaintances and strangers to being greeted by waiters (who cleverly were actually the chorus singers).
Real waiters also circulated with hors d’oeuvres, while bartenders offered libations. The layout of the room allowed the performers to circulate freely — addressing guests directly, taking swigs of water and in one instance, leaning right back on top of the table for comic effect.
The performance was full of good cheer and high spirits — just pure fun, as one of my table mates expressed it. And it sounded fantastic — the singers in balance with pianist Keith Chambers no matter where they were in the room.
Sight and sound also combined to thrilling effect for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra’s official Steinmetz Hall debut. (Some musicians and music director Eric Jacobsen had participated in
the new Dr. Phillips Center hall’s opening events in January.)
“This is so special being here with all of you,” said Jacobsen, while executive director Paul Helfrich called the occasion “a huge milestone in the history of the orchestra.”
The musicians romped through Leonard Bernstein’s overture to “Candide” with infectious joy. And what bliss that individual instruments could be discerned while all came together in a glorious, full blend.
Violinist Gil Shaham joined the Philharmonic for the auspicious occasion and brought power and beautiful dynamic contrast to Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D Major. The first movement, in particular, had a lovely sweetness in the highest notes.
Shaham and concertmaster Rimma Bergeron-Langlois teamed on Pablo de
Sarasate’s “Navarra” and were in harmonic lock-step with one another.
Angelica Negron’s “What Keeps Me Awake” had a ticktock-like motion and chiming that suggested the passing of time — perhaps due to insomnia as the title suggests, but fitting for the debut in a hall that has been long-awaited.
What could be better for a celebration than Respighi’s “Roman Festivals,” with its brash and jolly imagery — downright raucous when a phalanx of percussionists joined in the merrymaking.
An encore looked to the future as Orange County Public Schools student musicians joined Shaham and the Phil’s players on a warm and smile-inducing Elgar’s “Nimrod” Enigma variation.
Yes, the Philharmonic has given memorable concerts in many locations but the setting of Steinmetz Hall added grandeur to the evening. It felt like an arrival after a very long journey — and the promise of greater things ahead.
Of course, Central Florida has multiple special spaces to enjoy live music. The gem of a concert hall at Timucua Arts Foundation provides superior sound quality in an intimate environment. Likewise, when the Bach Festival Society performs in Knowles Memorial Chapel at Rollins College, there’s a unique aural and aesthetic quality to be had.
And in the end, the location will only get you so far without the talent to back it up.
As Helfrich aptly put it in his remarks at Steinmetz Hall on Saturday: “This magnificent hall is a special place. [But] it is the performing artists that bring a space like this to life.”
Find me on Twitter @ matt_on_arts, facebook.com/ matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Want more theater and arts news and reviews? Go to orlandosentinel.com/arts. For more fun things, follow @fun. things.orlando on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.