LAURIE LEE, REMEMBERED AND REMEMBERING
A nine-part orchestra, gilded harp and flute at its apex; behind, monochrome images of a century previous present rural Gloucestershire, then the plains and forbidding splendours of Spain in its time of struggling. Downstage two lecterns, an previous man and a younger one, provide temporary vivid reminiscence then return to take a seat quiet for music. Both are the identical man, Laurie Lee: his story is of childhood, youth and wonderment via the eyes and soul of a born poet
This is a beauriful factor, promoting out quick however made to tour, so examine the hyperlink rigorously beneath. It has a well- thought-through simplicity, sincere phrases and sincere sentiment served wkth delicacy by musical selections. The Orchestra of the Swan,below David lePage, offers principally in concert events however storytelling is its forte, and on this labour of affection for Laurie Lee’s work and life Judy Reaves and Deirdre Shields provide brief excerpts of the author’s work with the orchestra enjoying between. As if , unpretentiously, every time to create space for meditation on what we have now heard. It asks us to face alongside him all the way in which from rustic infancy , watching near the bottom the teemings of nature, to teenage wanderings with a fiddle and the beliefs and terrors of the Spanish civil conflict.
The audio system are Anton Lesser reminiscent in age, Charlie Hamblett the youg man’s voice. They should not overdramatic however every at occasions briefly turns into some third: a mom or sister, officer or deserter, somebody insome second mounted in reminiscence, items within the jigsaw of his rising up, from a child of the household bundled into his college coat by huge brisk sisters to the teenage wanderer with tent and guitar, falling in love with Spain, combating within the Thirties International Brigade.
We breathe it with him, poet and blundering, hoping, half-understanding volunteer within the struggle in opposition to fascism. To see it in Wilton’s, simply off Cable Street and as soon as the dressing-station for casualties in our personal home struggle, is sobering. And recent from information bulletins advising Britons to flee Lebanon, there was an additional frisson on the passage the place younger Laurie – busking, careless, unaware of the unrest however all of the sudden evacuated as a British topic to security and residential on a Royal Navy destroyer. But in fact he goes again to assist, unskilled at life and conflict, is imprisoned as a spy then launched into hapless soldiering and invalided residence.
It is extraordinary how full Lee’s story and character feels, in such brief moments. But every is amplified by the music between: deepening feeling with out obviousness (although goodness, Mark Ashford’s Spanish guitar solos, falling into rapt silence, unforgettably evoke the land). The orchestral preparations by lePage – from Vaughan Williams to Rossini and Britten – are cautious, becoming each second, stunning use manufactured from the flute specifically. The rendering of the Internationale, a lonely solo gathering each different voice round it, is thrilling. Altogether, it’s a beautiful factor. If you’ll be able to catch it, do.
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