It took a thirty-seven piece band, orchestra and choir to do it, but finally I have emerged from my jet-lag cloud landing with a thud back into Sydney-time.
Made up of two beautiful Bulgarian singers, a fifteen piece all male choir from Serbia, a string orchestra of twelve and a six-piece brass band - this was, of course, Goran Bregovic's Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals at the Sydney Opera House.
It is pretty hard to get lazy Sydney-siders off their seats and dancing in the aisles, but eventually as the Balkan beats increased it got too much for many and soon the Concert Hall was throbbing.
Goran Bregovic has a strange relationship with people from the countries of ex-Yugoslavia. (Ex-Yugoslavia being Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro). A Bosnian himself with a Serbian mother and Croatian father, his music is steeped in that idea of Yugoslavia - the united southern slavs - a world which was once united, a world of his youth, a world that has ruptured and turned in on itself, a world that doesn't exist anymore ... except maybe in the minds of those that left years ago.
For audiences around the world and for migrants from the Balkan region who now live in countries like Australia it taps into a huge sense of nostalgia. Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals is quite a good title for what the music of Goran Bregovic represents. These ancient songs, often with Gypsy roots, are like anthems for the families, villages and nations of Yugoslavia.
A Serbian friend of mine once told me that all the songs of Yugoslavia are either about love or drinking - or both. And where else better than a good Balkan wedding or funeral do you find a proliferation of love and drinking?
But Bregovic is not so popular back home. He is victim to what one may call the tall-poppy syndrome. You see, it's all because he left. He left his home and now lives in Paris.
To many I have spoken with, he stole music from the real genius of Balkan gypsy soul, Saban Bajramovic who died earlier this year. Or as The Independent obituary noted, Saban was "infamously distrustful of the entertainment business – which no doubt often ripped him off". But more importantly, Saban stayed in Serbia.
But all that argy bargy really doesn't matter when it comes down to a concert with Goran Bregovic at the Sydney Opera House. This is quite simply a delight for the ears, the body and the soul. If this type of music doesn't get you clapping, smiling and cheering then you must check your pulse urgently.
But it is not only the big tune favourites that delight the audience, it is the quieter and more spiritual hymn-like songs that unexpectedly floor you. With the ethereal sounds of the two Bulgarian singers (whose names don't seem to be printed anywhere) accompanying some stunning orchestral arrangements, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was absolutely beautiful.
Bregovic, despite what some in his home think of him, is a genius at arrangements. He shifts seamlessly from the big, bold and brash brass sounds to the angelic folk songs without the slightest hesitation. But gradually the sounds increase over the course of the concert like mercury - and like a good Balkan wedding without any denouement. The encore alone is simply the best I have ever experienced at a concert.
This is not to be missed. He plays again at the Opera House tomorrow night and again at the Melbourne Arts Festival on Monday.
Goran Bregovic has a strange relationship with people from the countries of ex-Yugoslavia. (Ex-Yugoslavia being Slovenia, Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro). A Bosnian himself with a Serbian mother and Croatian father, his music is steeped in that idea of Yugoslavia - the united southern slavs - a world which was once united, a world of his youth, a world that has ruptured and turned in on itself, a world that doesn't exist anymore ... except maybe in the minds of those that left years ago.
For audiences around the world and for migrants from the Balkan region who now live in countries like Australia it taps into a huge sense of nostalgia. Tales and Songs from Weddings and Funerals is quite a good title for what the music of Goran Bregovic represents. These ancient songs, often with Gypsy roots, are like anthems for the families, villages and nations of Yugoslavia.
A Serbian friend of mine once told me that all the songs of Yugoslavia are either about love or drinking - or both. And where else better than a good Balkan wedding or funeral do you find a proliferation of love and drinking?
But Bregovic is not so popular back home. He is victim to what one may call the tall-poppy syndrome. You see, it's all because he left. He left his home and now lives in Paris.
To many I have spoken with, he stole music from the real genius of Balkan gypsy soul, Saban Bajramovic who died earlier this year. Or as The Independent obituary noted, Saban was "infamously distrustful of the entertainment business – which no doubt often ripped him off". But more importantly, Saban stayed in Serbia.
But all that argy bargy really doesn't matter when it comes down to a concert with Goran Bregovic at the Sydney Opera House. This is quite simply a delight for the ears, the body and the soul. If this type of music doesn't get you clapping, smiling and cheering then you must check your pulse urgently.
But it is not only the big tune favourites that delight the audience, it is the quieter and more spiritual hymn-like songs that unexpectedly floor you. With the ethereal sounds of the two Bulgarian singers (whose names don't seem to be printed anywhere) accompanying some stunning orchestral arrangements, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. It was absolutely beautiful.
Bregovic, despite what some in his home think of him, is a genius at arrangements. He shifts seamlessly from the big, bold and brash brass sounds to the angelic folk songs without the slightest hesitation. But gradually the sounds increase over the course of the concert like mercury - and like a good Balkan wedding without any denouement. The encore alone is simply the best I have ever experienced at a concert.
This is not to be missed. He plays again at the Opera House tomorrow night and again at the Melbourne Arts Festival on Monday.
1 comments:
I have to agree with you SAJ – this was the most exhilarating night I’ve had at the Opera House for years, possibly ever. I saw the second show last night.
As a theatre person like yourself, I normally end up in Drama Theatre, Playhouse or Studio, but it was a joy to head back into that marvellous cathedral-like auditorium with those remarkable acoustics for the first time in I can’t remember how long.
Bregovic is a phenomenon. This concert was a majestic celebration of life – even the dirges were life-affirming because what they expressed was the enormity of loss – the inevitable tragedy when a lack, a vacuum replaces a human being.
The musicians are all extraordinary. Sydneysiders – book your flights to Melbourne for your last chance. This is theatre. This is what we don’t get enough of in Sydney.
I’ve heard about his mixed reception / reputation in the Balkans, but as people who mostly shouldn’t really care where he lives now, just get your @sses along, you won’t be sorry.
Post a Comment