Family movie night can be a bit challenging at my house. My little boy and I love “Guy Films.” These I loosely define as any story that includes large military battles, especially ones where the fate of the universe depends upon the success of a small band of heroes. Our current favorite is the Star Wars classic Return of the Jedi. My wife and daughter, on the other hand, enjoy what my aging, bachelor friends call “Chick Flicks.” These are movies about love, friendship, romance, and other touchy-feely sorts of topics – something along the lines of the 80’s hit Pretty Woman. As you might imagine, deciding on the evening’s feature film sometimes requires more negotiations than the signing of a UN peace treaty. Luckily for us, this weekend’s Honolulu Symphony season finale offers a diverse program of popular stories that the whole family can enjoy.
Glinka’s Ruslan and Ludmilla is an opera based on a poem of the same name by Alexander Pushkin. The work reads like a fairy tale about the power of true love complete with knights, evil sorcerers, magicians, and battles with mythical creatures. The Ruslan and Ludmilla Overture to be performed this weekend is a quick and light-hearted piece that showcases the virtuosity of the Honolulu Symphony violins
Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet is a musical re-telling of Shakespeare’s quintessential love story. It is the tale of a lovesick boy and a starry-eyed young girl who fall in love in spite of the on-going feud between their noble families. In setting this story to music, Prokofiev blends sumptuous, tender melodies and moving passages to create a masterpiece of orchestral radiance. Prokofiev originally composed the piece as a complete ballet. The Honolulu Symphony will perform hits from a latter version the composer arranged for concert performances.
In his 1812 Overture, Tchaikovsky tells the real-life story of the Battle of Borodino. At the time, Napoleon had invaded Russia with over 700,000 French soldiers. Vastly outgunned and overpowered, the Russian army took a final desperate stand against the French on September 7, 1812 at Borodino, a city 75 miles west of Moscow. Even by modern standards, the battle was one of staggering proportions. It is estimated that 100,000 lives were lost in that single day. Tchaikovsky’s score is best known for its use of actual artillery cannons and ringing chimes at the climax of the piece.
Loaded with action, fantasy, and romance, the Honolulu Symphony season finale has a little something for everyone to enjoy. I hope that you will consider making a family trip to the Blaisdell Concert Hall this weekend. My family will most certainly be there and we look forward to sharing an evening of great stories and beautiful music.
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