Walking into the Aladdin Theater on Friday night felt like I was 16 again and filing into the Franklin High School auditorium. Making our way down the slanted aisle to find our seat for the big talent show. Just like in High School, I was never involved in the performance arts but enjoyed it just as much. Sometimes felt like I could be up there but I kept more to my drawing pad and discman and usually felt like an outsider. Except for those special days when everybody seemed alike and those with talent necessarily weren't the popular kids. The stage at Franklin, has hosted years of talented teens from all cultures, genres, religions and even an occasional liberal teacher with a guitar. These memories flooded my mind as we sat down to catch the Portland Cello Project's fascinating approach to string accompaniment. The audience consisted of the young and old and the evening had a feeling of community and mutual appreciation for the music. Not everybody in the audience listens to rap or hip-hop but when the swelling of a cello backs up any music, you can't help but be moved.
When The Online Romance lined up like a nervous choir in front of the mics, I wasn't sure what to expect. But I am pretty sure I didn't blink the whole time. It was captivating and beautiful. Their vocals harmonized perfectly with the deep tones of the cello. Each song, whether it was matched to the movements of a dancer or the notes of an opera singer, was arranged perfectly. I have a tendency to look around at shows to see how others are experiencing the music and a few were like conductors moving their hands to the ups and downs of each cello section. The stage was filled with cello players, and surprisingly held up without their own conductor, but played off each other and the occasional count-off to start a song.
The evening went as followed:
Beethoven 7th Symphony Allegretto
Addam’s Family Theme Song (Doug and Dave Singing)
Loch Lomond - Tic
Loch Lomond - Nelson
Ali Ippolito – The Game
Brandenburg Concerto 6Bachianas Brasileiras #1 (for cello octet) — Heitor Villa Lobos
The Online Romance - The Broken Bannister
Hurtbird Travelling
Hurtbird Livin’ on the Side of the Why?
Pucinni — Nessun Dorma (Eric Stern, Vagabond Opera)
Skip von Kuske Take 5
Skip vK Lament
Skip vK Out
Norfolk and Western — Gilded Age
Norfolk and Western – A Voice Through The Wall
Piazzolla – Libertango (with tango dancers)
I am still buzzing and inspired from seeing the Portland Cello Project and hope to find myself at more classical music performances this winter.
| DANCE: |  |
| SING-ALONG: |  |
| CATCHY: |  |
| DOWNLOAD: |  |
| CUTE FACTOR: |  |
| COFFEE SHOP: |  |
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They sold out the Aladdin Theater and are worth waiting for in the cold:
P.S. We were asked to send text messages to the MC's cellphone with album title ideas, mostly with puns on the word "cello". I sent "When life gives you lemons, make cello-ade." My husband said that I should have sent "When life gives you cellos, make cello-ade." He is probably right.
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