Dave Groves
HAVE YOU ever had an experience so warm that it left you wondering why you hadn’t done it before?
Symphony under the Stars was one of those for me. (City Park, Feb 23, 2008)
Snuggled among a touted community of 5000, all lying low and cocooned to avoid the chilly howling wind that raced across Launceston’s jewel, City Park, we were treated to a free showing, an introduction for me, of Tasmania’s very own symphony orchestra.
My problem with this type of music is the perception that it is the domain of the high and mighty, a place where the general public would feel out of place.
The music all seems a tad tedious; in fact fours years of classical piano tuition as a child convinced me of this.
Perhaps with age I have mellowed a tad, perhaps it was the articulate MC Christopher Lawrence whose smooth voice and casual banter with the gracious orchestra conductor Sebastian Lang-Lessing, perhaps it was the incredible voice of soprano Sharon Prero, perhaps it was the good humoured flexibility and precision of the TSO, or even the multitude gathered to witness this awesome event, but the performance was a night that had me smiling and yes eventually laughing with my new found comrades.
A dozen plus tunes were carried on the wind that slowed as the sun dipped behind the trees and “Symphony under the Stars” became reality.
The event brought community together, the spectrum of babies, toddlers, teens to adults and our elderly made the floor as colourful as the stage.
At the conclusion and after endless “encores”, Sebastian invited some youth and toddlers to the stage to dance their merry way while the TSO responded to his lead.
We were as one, our community, with much laughter and happiness wafting through the crowd on a declining breeze that at times seemed strangely warm.
This was a quality event no doubt. The TSO are magnificent and a credit to the tireless hours they must play to keep their standard of excellence.
The venue is pure magic, an icon that will host many more of such evenings in years to come.
Sebastian made a definitive statement about the intrinsic beauty of nature and a plea for the conservation of our forests, a sure way to be booted from Tasmania I would have guessed, but the entire crowd erupted with cheers of delight; it sealed my evening and I am sure the night of all who attended this event under the stars.
Roll on next year!!!
