Review: Symphony Nova Scotia—”The Darker Side of the Moon”
Music blogger Megan Couture is back, reviewing Symphony Nova Scotia’s performance of Pink Floyd: The Darker Side of the Moon with the …
Review: The Music of the Beatles
By Lisa Kehler | Apr 4, 2011Tags: beatles, concert, nova scotia symphony, review, Symphony Nova Scotia
So many gifted musicians comprise Symphony Nova Scotia that I can’t imagine them ever getting a negative review. Now, team them up with Jeans n’ Classics and you’ve got another story. I suppose if I would have read my program more closely, I would have seen that there would be a vocal performance; however, nowhere did it indicate that the voice would be more unsuited to sing the Beatles than Jean Meilleur. (The irony of the last name is not lost on me).
With each “hu-ah” and breathy rock note, I felt further disconnected from the shockingly flawless, but oft-times overshadowed performances of the musicians. There is no question that Peter Brennan, founder of Jeans n’ Classics, and arranger of all the orchestral components, is a powerhouse of talent. However I cannot fathom why they would choose a voice, and presence so oddly matched. Meilleur clearly has talent, although perhaps more suited to a Neil Diamond tribute band. The back-up singers (Kathryn Rose and Leah Salomaa) had soulful, silky voices, but again completely lacked stage presence: at one point, Rose was so far slouched over on her chair, I thought she might be asleep.
I really don’t have it out for Meilleur, but I found it hard to look beyond his cringe-worthy banter with the audience. (see: approaching an elderly woman and stating, “I’d like to turn you on”). Painfully hackneyed jokes about why Halifax citizens are called Haligonians and not “Halifaxians” coupled with a complete ignorance of the people and city itself have no place in the company of one of the best symphonies in Canada. Mistakenly attributing the harp performance to a cello (!), and stating that it must be difficult to play the oboe and the clarinet because “one’s so big and one’s so small”, dumbed it down to a shade so dark, it was difficult to see.
But the reason that I, and the rest of the sold-out audience attended the event was to see our beloved orchestra enjoy a playful evening coupling their classically trained skills with Brit pop sensibilities. And they shone. Listening to the piccolo trumpet solo performed by Richard Simoneau in “Penny Lane” was nothing short of sheer joy. But perhaps the highlight of the evening was the incredible composition and execution of the rising notes in “A Day in the Life.” Watching the violins furiously bowing while accompanied by the rumble of the timpani was genius. Once again, Symphony Nova Scotia proved that regardless the score, they are more than up for the challenge. However, when Jeans n’ Classics returns next year for a tribute to Pink Floyd, I pray that the vocalist does not turn the performance into a one-man-show.
An added comment from a non-classical listener/fan: The lead singer was painful in his lack of connection to the audience, merely unimpressive in his vocalizations, and his backup singers were listless and uncoordinated. If there is some sort of long term relationship that results in a net benefit, fine… But do not count this performance as something well done by the ‘pop’ element of the show.
Dear Ms. Kehler,
I am writing to you in response to your review of The Music of the Beatles (April 4, 2011). I want you to know that I have never written to a reviewer before, but due to the many issues you seem to have had with the show and my performance in particular, I felt that a response was necessary.
Let me begin by saying that it was an honour to be playing with such a world class orchestra as SNS, for such genuinely friendly people in such a beautiful city.
As a performer with more than 30 years of experience, I have learned to accept the great reviews along with the not so great reviews. Yours is not the first bad review I’ve had, and likely won’t be the last. Please realize that I completely understand when someone does not like the tone or quality of my voice. That is undeniably subject to personal taste. I understand also that certain reviewers have great difficulty in seeing their beloved orchestra partnered with a ‘rock band’.
What I do not understand about your review is the necessity for such a vitriolic and acrimonious personal assault. I doubt that many of your readers found the comment about my surname as amusing as you clearly did. Your sarcastic comment about my talent “being more suited to a Neil Diamond tribute band” is commonly known as ‘back-handed’ and a tactic that in my experience, most professionals do not generally resort to using.
In your review, you made mention of several ‘errors’ that I supposedly made during the performance. Allow me to set you straight. In reference to your comment “(see: approaching an elderly woman and stating, “I’d like to turn you on”), well, it’s hard to understand a professional taking a perfectly innocent comment completely out of context and turning it into a sordid sexual innuendo. Not to mention that the line is actually “I’d love to turn you on”. (Don’t worry. Lots of people make that mistake) and as you know very well, I was speaking about how times have changed as to what is considered a socially acceptable song lyric, referring of course, to the Beatles song, “A Day In The Life”. The woman (possibly middle-aged, but certainly not elderly) to whom I addressed my comment seemed very engaged with the performance and I do not believe that she felt that I was attempting to seduce her.
This was my first time performing in Halifax and as I mentioned it was an honour to be playing with such a fabulous orchestra and to such a responsive audience. My “painfully hackneyed jokes” about Haligonians were not said as stupid stage banter, but in fact derived from genuine curiosity. “Why are you Haligonians and not Halifaxians?” I have found that a personal approach helps an audience who oft times are classical subscribers, to relax and enjoy what may be their first experience at a ‘pop/rock’ symphonic concert.
You can take satisfaction in knowing that I did indeed make the mistake of saying Cello when I should have said Harp. Do you honestly think that I do not know the difference? It doesn’t matter if you do or don’t, but shame on you for resorting to childish nitpicking. I am sorry that you didn’t find my oboe/bassoon comment amusing, but to say that it “dumbed it down to a shade so dark, it was difficult to see”… Wow. All I can say is that I am really glad that you don’t “have it out for me”.
Despite the fact that your review can only be seen as both misrepresentative and malicious, I am looking forward to coming back to Halifax and will be once again honoured to play with the world class SNS. I hope that you will enjoy the music of Pink Floyd but this time, do read your program and keep in mind that neither I nor the Jeans ‘n Classics band are attempting to ‘clone’ Pink Floyd.
I can only imagine that you were too busy thinking up demeaning personal insults to notice that the audience convincingly showed their appreciation of (all three) performances with standing ovations and repeated calls for encores.
I urge you, Ms. Kehler to attempt to understand the spirit in which these shows are intended. You may be surprised and find yourself joining the rest of the audience and having a great time. Perhaps recognizing that personal dislikes do not make for an honest or impartial review, you can set aside snide comments and help introduce symphony goers as well as non symphony goers to a rock music idiom which in turn helps to support a more than worthy arts organization – Symphony Nova Scotia.
Most sincerely,
Jean Louis Meilleur
I want to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The reason I took my mother and daughter was that we all love the Beatles. I didn’t go because SNS was performing. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of the audience was there for the Beatles not ” that I, and the rest of the sold-out audience attended the event was to see our beloved orchestra ” I tend not to be overly critical regarding movies or artistic/ musical performances therefore enjoying things in their whole. By the way the elderly lady was definitely not elderly. My mother went up to her in the intermission to remark that she certainly looked like she was having a great time as she couldn’t tell who was moving more!
Dear Mr. Meilleur,
Thank you for taking the time to read my review of the performance, as well as sharing your thoughts. We always welcome reader feedback, or in this case, performer feedback.
I feel that you raised several valid points in your thoughtful response, however would like to take a moment to clarify a few things so you might rest easier.
It appears that you are deeply hurt by my review, and have in return taken to questioning my professionalism. Mr. Meilleur, a reviewer’s job is to offer their opinion on what it is that they are viewing, and this is what I did. I was not alone in my questioning of your suitability for the role (see: Stephen Pederson’s review for the Chronicle Herald).
I also feel that perhaps you think I was having trouble with the idea of a rock band playing with my ‘beloved orchestra’. I clearly addressed this as not being the case. I gave huge kudos to the arrangements written by your colleague, as well as the actual execution of the music, from both the band and the symphony.
I also gave you props for your voice, which is polished and professional: but in my opinion just not suited for singing the Beatles. What I had the biggest issue with in terms of the performance was the manner, and attitude with which you addressed the audience.
As you are returning to play with the Symphony Nova Scotia again next year, I look forward to reviewing the show.