Sounds of the Pacific Rim with the Michigan Philharmonic!
When was the last time you were able to sit back completely and let a performance wash over you? A time when you could almost close your eyes and just feel the music in every cell of your body. Riding the waves as the violins swell and the tempo changes, evoking a new set of emotions to roll over you. Traditional theatrical experiences, which are what we’ve mostly done here at BSB Insider up until this point, require active engagement. Eyes on the stage, and your brain is actively absorbing everything that is happening right in front of you. However, at the recent Michigan Philharmonic performance, something else took hold of us.
While it was amazing to see the musicians on stage, what happened in the theater was less about what the audience could see and more about what they could feel. Having only attended an orchestra performance once before, the On Broadway performance, also by the Michigan Philharmonic at The Ford House this past summer, I’m still learning how best to enjoy this. At least I was, until attending the Sounds of the Pacific Rim performance in April. From the moment the musicians began tuning their instruments, it was apparent this wasn’t our typical theatrical experience. Instead, we’re about to be taken on an emotional journey that’s meant to be felt; in your heart, your body, and your soul.
The Michigan Philharmonic truly transports audiences to a world that is as vibrant and bursting with every emotion imaginable. From moments that make your heart race to pieces that cause your soul to ache, there’s something for everyone in the Sounds of the Pacific Rim.
[Warning: spoilers from the Sounds of the Pacific Rim performance of the Michigan Philharmonic are below!]
A story told in movements
With music director and conductor Nan Washburn poised before the musicians, baton and bows raised in anticipation, an electric energy rippled through the audience. And as soon as the first note struck the ears of everyone gathered there in the music hall, it was off to the races. The Michigan Philharmonic began its almost two-hour performance with “Ballata Sinfonica (1943)”, composed by Akira Ifukube, which was truly the perfect way to start. Instantaneously, we were transported to a fast-paced world, almost like a horse galloping through the countryside. However, as the piece progressed, there became a warring element to the composition, as it felt like two different worlds were pulling you back and forth.
“Ballata Sinfonica” got your heart racing, the blood pumping through your veins, before the Michigan Philharmonic took you through the gamut of emotions. Featuring pieces that felt mournful and sad, to compositions that reflected a world of peace and tranquility, Sounds of the Pacific Rim moved the audience through a world that felt long forgotten. Movement seemed to be the watchword of the performance, both with how it was structured and how it transported those of us present somewhere else, where magic felt alive.
Pieces such as “Folkloric Dance Suite (1987)” by Kaoru Wada are structured into movements, broken into five distinct acts. Each movement represents something. Personally, it felt like each one was attempting to evoke a specific emotion, and it succeeded. However, Sounds of the Pacific Rim also takes audiences on a journey, with each piece feeling as if it leads into the next. The performance often battled between distinction and cohesion, though not in a way that made it feel like it didn’t work. Instead, to an untrained ear, you could both tell when a piece changed from one composer to another, while also getting lost in the tale that the Michigan Philharmonic was telling.
In simpler terms, it was easy to get lost in the Sounds of the Pacific Rim, as the performance was carefully crafted to take audiences on a specific emotional journey. A journey enhanced by the featured musician, Xiao Dong Wei, whose music added another layer to the Michigan Philharmonic production. While she is trained in many Asian instruments, she brought some of her own compositions, including the world premiere of Hometown Reflections, which featured the erhu, a two-stringed bowed instrument as versatile as her works.
There are moments in Wei’s music that you’d be transported to a small, quaint town, where the erhu captures the birds flying high in the sky and the wind blowing through the rustling leaves. And then with a quick turn, she’d bring in an eerie energy, like a storm settling in quickly and unexpectedly. Having played instruments myself back in high school, I understand how quickly a piece can change, but with Xiao Dong Wei and her erhu, there was an ease and beauty to just now much it all could change. It was like watching a master at work, easily one of the best moments of the performance.
But truly, it wasn’t just Xiao Dong Wei, as each and every musician on the stage was giving a masterclass in their art. There was something special about seeing the bows of the violins move in synchrony, capturing the show’s flow and mood. That example is just one of many, as each section moved with the same precision that was just as pleasing to the eyes as it was to the ears. Sounds of the Pacific Rim was a feast for every sense, inviting audiences to be completely taken over and moved deeply.
Final thoughts on this Michigan Philharmonic show
As someone who hasn’t attended many orchestra performances up until this point in my life, I’ve caught the bug. The depth of emotion felt through music alone is unlike anything else, with the Michigan Philharmonic executing this journey perfectly. The astounding work these musicians and Nan Wasburn are doing is reason alone to attend a show, because you won’t walk away disappointed. In fact, you might just leave feeling inspired.
Check out Michigan Philharmonic’s website to learn more about their summer programming, as well as more information about their upcoming 81st season! Have you attended a Michigan Philharmonic performance before? What did you think? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
