TLDR:
– Philadelphia Orchestra plans outdoor performance of “Vespers of the Blessed Earth” by John Luther Adams, combining music and ecology.
– Concert features endangered species list and Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring,” aiming to provoke reaction with an environmental twist.
The Philadelphia Orchestra, in a desperate bid to be hip and woke, is planning to serenade Mother Earth with a show that promises to be as earth-shattering as climate change itself. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and die-hard tree hugger, John Luther Adams, has penned a piece called “Vespers of the Blessed Earth.” It’s an auditory ode to the environment, as music meets ecology in the same way oil meets water.
The “Vespers” is evocative of humanity’s impact on nature, so much so that one might expect the violins to weep tears of melted ice caps. Elizabeth Sobol, the top dog at Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), where the show is set to run, is confident that the performance will move us to tears, if not action. “It’s going to be a very moving and very profound work — kind of a lamentation of the Earth,” she said, likely while recycling a soda can.
The real kicker is that this green symphony will be performed outdoors for the first time. Previously it’s been confined to the concrete jungles of Carnegie Hall and Kimmel Center. Now, at SPAC, the musicians will be scattered around the amphitheater like vegan sprinkles on a gluten-free cake, giving audience members a full surround-sound experience. Sobol describes it as “almost like [Adams is] filtering the natural world through his own compositional vocabulary,” which is a fancy way of saying he’s playing the sounds of nature.
But that’s not all. The concert will also feature a sung list of several hundred endangered and vanished species because nothing says entertainment like a grim reminder of mass extinction. Additionally, it will include a performance of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” – a piece known for inciting a riot at its premiere. Presumably, that’s the reaction the orchestra is aiming for, but this time with a green twist.
Now, the overarching theme for this summer at SPAC is honoring the Earth, which, let’s face it, is a bit like throwing a party for the guest of honor after you’ve trashed their house. Sobol assures us that the environmental themes will resonate with hikers, campers, and fish enthusiasts, who, let’s be honest, don’t typically form the core demographic of symphony-goers.
Admittedly, the timing of this eco-concert is spot on, with wildfires and floods serving as the opening act for this summer. And while the performance may not be spreading a political message, it’s definitely a reminder that we’re all in this hot, sinking ship together. So, if you fancy a night of sobering musical reflections on the apocalypse, grab your tickets starting at just $29. Who knows, maybe the trees will clap along.