Sunday, June 10, 2018

Tchaikovsky: None But the Lonely Heart

B


The Ensemble for the Romantic Century (ERC) produces “theatrical concerts,” works that combine theater, classical music, art, biography and history in a unique blend. The present piece, now at Signature Center, is based on the famed Russian composer and his strange 13-year relationship with Nadezhda von Meck, a wealthy widow who became his patron on the condition that they never meet. Two actors, along with three fine instrumentalists, a tenor and a ballet dancer, bring the story to life. I’m not sure whether to regard it is as an epistolary drama interpolated with music or as a chamber music concert (and occasional dance recital) punctuated by the two actors reading aloud excerpts from correspondence. Joey Slotnick (Junk, The Altruists) is plausible as the composer, but is unfortunately saddled with the task of sitting still and looking pensive through long musical passages. Shorey Walker (Seussical the Musical) is a fine Madame von Meck. For me the main draw was the music and the talented young musicians. Pianist Ji, violinist Stephanie Zyzak, cellist Ari Evan and tenor Adrian Kramer are all excellent. Dancer Daniel Mantei ably executes a few numbers he choreographed for the postage-stamp size stage, but I was too concerned about the possibility of injury dancing in such a tight space to fully enjoy his contribution. The book by ERC artistic director Eve Wolf (Van Gogh’s Ear, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein) relies mostly on the letters composer and patron exchanged, but also includes letters from Tchaikovsky to his brother Modeste which are quite open about the composer’s homosexuality. Straying from the letters, Wolf posits her theory for the reason Madame von Meck abruptly ended the relationship. The scenic design and costumes by Vanessa James (Van Gogh's Ear, The Dreyfus Affair) look lushly expensive and include a change of costume and furniture for the second act. The direction by Donald T. Sanders (Van Gogh’s Ear, Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein), ERC Director of Artistic Productions, is fluid. The anchor of the concert is the beautiful Piano Trio in A minor.  The very idea of playing it in sections and reading letters between variations in its second movement would normally enrage me, but somehow it works here. We are also treated to four songs, a nocturne for piano and cello, a scherzo for violin and piano and an excerpt from The Nutcracker. If you are a Tchaikovsky fan, you will find much to enjoy; if not, this is not for you. Running time: two hours five minutes including intermission.

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