BWW Reviews: Baltimore Symphony Has Last OFF THE CUFF Concert Featuring a Short Play about Tchaikovsky: 'Mad But for Music, a Symphonic Play.'

It was quite a Saturday night in Baltimore. Bob Dylan was playing before a sell-out crowd at the Lyric. WICKED likewise was SRO at the Hippodrome. The Orioles had a huge crowd against Toronto. The Amy Herzog Festival was at Center Stage and GHOSTS was at the Everyman.

At the Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Maestra Marin Alsop enthralled a packed house with a lively rendition of Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony for the final "Off the Cuff" casual concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra . In the spring of 2013, Alsop announced the appointment of Didi Balle as the BSO's first-ever playwright-in-residence. Her "Tchaikovsky: Mad But for Music" marks Balle's fifth successful "Symphonic Play" collaboration and world premiere with Alsop and the BSO. And the audience at Meyerhoff Symphony Hall enjoyed every minute of it.

Alsop starts these concerts at 7 p.m., an early start time which allows one to either get an early dinner or wait until after the 90 minute presentation. It's a clever idea.

Belle brought in a talented group of actors: Peter Bradbury (with an impressive Broadway background) played the leading role, Steve Tague (also with impressive theater credits) playing the brother of the composer, Modest, Katie DeBuys (a Helen Hayes nominee for SEMINAR) playing the composer's wife Antonina) and Lauren Smith (who appeared in the BSO's CSI: BEETHOVEN and other local productions) as Mrs. Nadezhda von Meck, the composer's benefactress.

A small amount of furniture included two chairs, a love seat and a table with a lamp, was placed in front of the orchestra. There were effective spots and lights to add to the enjoyment.

The whole premise of these concerts combining a little bit of theater with classical music I predict will have a great future and I applaud Alsop for attempting this unusual venture. In a way it's like taking a music appreciation course. The part that I really enjoy is the always affable Alsop having a Question and Answer session following the concert.

Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony in E Minor is a momentous work. It features an incredible melodic third movement, a waltz. We learned that while the composer was in Florence, he was inspired by a young male street urchin singing a lovely tune while on the famous Ponte Vecchio. That melody has made its way into the Third Movement.

Fate was an important factor in both Tchaikovsky's Fourth Symphony and his Fifth (written 10 years after the Fourth). During that time, the composer spent time with French composer Camille Saint-Saenes in Paris where they joked and played and even did some cross-dressing together wearing swan and ostrich costumes to his "Carnival of Animals".

During the short play, after various scenes, the BSO would play short pieces by the composer. My only suggestion would be to announce the pieces before they are played. (Alsop admitted this mistake.)

It was fascinating learning about this iconic composer's personal life. Though he was gay (and so was his brother), he agreed to marry Antonina who insisted they marry even after she was told the marriage would be "like a brother/sister relationship" and she agreed to these terms. It was strange to hear right after the marriage, Tchaikovsky fled to Moscow , did not even attend his wedding reception, and never consummated the marriage. His brother even told him, "You can't marry a woman, it's against our way." He did, however, pay her what one would call "alimony".

All of the actors were wonderful but Bradbury was especially outstanding as Tchaikovsky. At the Q and A after the performance, he revealed he had never done anything like this and commented they had very little time to rehearse. You wouldn't know from their performances.

After the short play, the BSO then played the entire 5th Symphony. It was mesmerizing. Alsop commented at the end how proud she was there was no applause between movements. I was so moved I was ready to sign up for one of those Viking Long Ship Cruises from Moscow to St. Petersburg.

The evening also showcased a new addition for hearing impaired individuals. The BSO offered a temporary hearing loop system through the generosity of Bud Meyerhoff who according to Alsop donated $50,000 for this. One patron expressed their gratitude.

Make note that Leonard Bernstein's opus CANDIDE is coming to the BSO June 12 to June 14. Directed by Garnett Bruce, it will star Tony-winner Judy Kaye as "The Old Lady". Get your tickets now.

For BSO tickets, call 410-783-8000 and to view a nice video of their upcoming season, log on to www.bsomusic.org.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

Photo of Cast and Maestra Alsop by Charles Shubow

Addendum

Kudos to Marin Alsop and the Baltimore Symphony for their free outdoor noon-time concert April 29 to help quell the unrest in Baltimore. It was a wonderful gesture.

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