Spell-binding, sublime performance by the the six-strong strings of the Scottish Ensemble, accompanied by the delicate puppetry skills of a quartet from Blind Summit, made this a night to savour at Traverse 1 tonight.
Classical Music can take us places in our mind, it is surely part of the joy of the experience to close our eyes and float…. Is it wise to curate, lead or interpret that trip? Blind Summit, attempted to do that tonight, but was it a help or a hinderance, an unnecessary distraction?
The jury will be pretty split on this one.
There was no questioning the quality of the music from Philip Glass (Symphony No. 3(1995)) and Arnold Schoenberg (Transfigured Night(1899)) superbly, and effortlessly, led by Johnathan Morton which has the audience transfixed from note one.
Ironically, Glass’s music, unlike more traditional symphonies, does not follow a programmic or narrative structure, it is more abstract, and focuses on texture, rhythm and emotional depth. His signature minimalism, with repetitive motifs evolve subtly over time, balancing tension and resolution and creating a hypnotic and contemplative atmosphere.
Symphony No. 3 feels like an exploration of motion, stasis and transformation. Blind Summit interpret this as a journey to the stars. A space rockets shoots by, the panels of a spaceship are aligned (Mondrian-like) in an array, before portholes are cut from them to allow the tiny faces within to peer out. It is playful, like the music, if a little rough around the edges, like the portholes!
The fun continues as the musicians are led around the stage by the puppeteers, the two cello players wheeled on gurneys together with their fellows volte-face, with their backs to the audience like naughty school children! After a suitable time they are thankfully returned to normal.
Schoenberg’s Transfigured Night makes up the second part of the evening. A piece, just as experimental in it’s day, intense, dissonant and complex which again is equally at home in the weirdness of Space. The highlight of the night is a full-sized space mannequin drifting in a weightless dance the remarkably life-like eyes seem to follow you questioning, pleading.
A risky exploration lands safely to the thunderous applause of a thoroughly entertained audience. It certainly was a trip to remember and gets well deserved top marks from me!
Reviewer: Greg Holstead
Reviewed: 13th February 2025
North West End UK Rating:
Rating: 5 out of 5.
Running time – 1hr 10mins