Rasul Klychev’s inspiration for the new program came from Walt Disney’s animated feature-length film “Fantasia” that was a bold and dazzling experiment of the day. It features seven animated segments set to classical music masterpieces. Each of them opens with an orchestral prologue. The film begins as a theatrical performance: the curtain rises in semi-darkness; the musicians’ silhouettes appear against a blue backdrop as they tune their instruments…
… Centaurs, unicorns, cupids, winged horses (Pegasus) come up on the screen… The fairytale depicting characters from Greek and Roman mythology can be watched over and over again if it is set to Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No.6. Maestro Klychev opened his musical narration with the poetic “Pastoral” episode.
The audience came to realize that music is one of the best and most powerful ways to tell a story in the segment based on Johann Goethe’s poem “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’. Not only did the musicians manage to expressively convey the characters’ dialogues and movements with accurately captured nuances, but also a gamut of emotions powerfully evoked by Paul Dukas’s music.
A ballet performed by ostriches, crocodiles, elephants and hippos… The Walt Disney Studio visualized the phantasmagoric story set to Amilcare Ponchielli’s “Dance of the Hours” from his opera “La Gioconda”. The exquisitely beautiful music played by the Orchestra helped the audience to believe that hippos could be wonderful dancers, too.
“The Waltz of Flowers” from “The Nutcracker’ by Pyotr Tchaikovsky was gracefully “performed”… by flowers, elves, mushrooms, autumn leaves and even snowflakes. Positive emotions evoked both in children and adults alike “waltzed” in unison with the visuals on the video screen and music.
The Steadfast Tin Soldier bravely fought to save his sweetheart to Dmitri Shostakovich’s music (the first movement of the Piano Concerto No. 2 for piano and orchestra). Although he continually faced danger, he valiantly endured the trials… The tin soldier won the hearts of young boys, who watched their favorite character and his adventures spellbound.
George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” brilliantly performed by the Orchestra under the baton of maestro Klychev, and the “American story” captivated adult members of the audience…
A young woman, her son and her daughter were sitting next to me. Although the sense of joy and admiration were seen on their faces, I could not help asking them a few questions.
-Is this the first time you have attended the concert that features Walt Disney’s cartoons?
- Yes. I came here on the advice of my friend who had lavishly praised the first part of the program “Fantasia”.
- Children, did you enjoy the concert?
-Very much.
- Would you like to see its continuation?
- Certainly!
This short dialogue expressed a shared opinion of all members of the audience who always expect something marvelous from new programs presented by the talented Orchestra. And a miracle happened: it could not have been otherwise when high art and perfectionism of the musicians, who strive as professionals to treat their listeners to the richly diverse music by the world’s greatest composers, are at the heart of the creative conception.
Sincere thanks to Rasul Klychev and his like-minded fellow members of the Symphony Orchestra for the aesthetic pleasure. Special thanks go to Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Vladimir Mkrtumov for his sparkling solo piano performance.
