We are in Band of Bohemia, a culinary brewhouse. The décor immerses us in an industrial look with earth tones and rough-hewn wood, along with elegant wall coverings. It strikes as a perfect atmosphere for the experiential art project that unfolds-- Beethoven 250 Part One.
This was the fifth presentation by In the Realm of Senses, that is geared to engage all five of the senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Conceived by violinist Jeff Yang, the premise of In the Realm of Senses is that all senses can be engaged through artistic creations, and that those creations, when presented together, can be perceived individually as well as in a blended manner. This event— a celebration of the upcoming year of Beethoven’s 250th birthday-- included performances of two compositions from the composer’s middle period, paired with a six-course meal evocative of his era, wine pairings, an abstract visual animation by Liviu Pasare, and readings from Tolstoy’s The Kreutzer Sonata, a novella inspired by the first musical selection of the program.
A pairing of Beethoven and Tolstoy
Following the serving of a welcome tea, with a rich mushroom flavor, and bowls of pumpkin seeds on the table as appetizers, the evening opened with a performance of Beethoven’s Sonata No. 9 for violin and piano, Opus 46, Kreutzer by Yang, accompanied by David Schrader on fortepiano, a type of piano used in Beethoven’s time. The readings were short, however, and didn’t detract from Yang and Schrader’s performance, nor from the appetizers of Maitake Mushroom and Rice and a Chestnut and Apple Crisp. While this writer is not a wine drinker, other attendees seemed well pleased with the wine selections served in between the sonata’s movements.
In the Realm of Senses created an evening for foodies who love the classics
An intermission following the final movement of the Kreutzer Sonata allowed time to examine the antique instruments of the 1800’s on display. Our feast continued with a carpaccio appetizer paired with the first of the four movements of Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 59, No. 2 Razumovsky played by Yang, violinist Mathias Tacke, violist Sixto Franco, and cellist Nick Photinos. Readings from Tolstoy’s Kreutzer Sonata continued between the quartet’s four movements.
Meanwhile, Pasare’s monochromatic, animation in a contemporary design was projected on a screen in a corner of the room near the bar. This visual add-on was there throughout the evening, easily visible to most in the room, but removed enough so as to not be distracting. There was no apparent literal connection of the design to the music, the period in which it was composed or the Tolstoy text, but its visual complement to the aural presentation of music and text ensured that all senses were touched by this unique music+ offering.
The mood was lively and celebratory. One could feel the mood of the 100+ people in attendance, seated communally at long tables, evolve from sedate during the first half ,to a more festive tone for the second half, which included the serving of the entrees.
The main courses, were likely chosen to immerse us further in the feel of an early 19th Century feast in Beethoven’s Germany. They included braised rabbit, individually plated; and wild boar racks served family style. These were served with pairings of white and red wines. If you too are a meat-eater who prefers poultry to red meat, the chicken like rabbit would likely appearlmore than the wild boar, which had a taste similar to pork, but with a tougher texture.
While the visual aspect of the evening was especially compelling, in this writer’s view, the dramatic readings by Leslie Gray suffered from poor acoustics. Curiously, the acoustics in Band of Bohemia worked well for Yang and Schrader’s delicate performance of the Kreutzer Sonata, but much less adequate for Gray’s readings of the Tolstory novella that inspired the music. One attendee complained audibly about the difficulty in hearing Gray’s narration, prompting Gray to relocate to the center of the room for her readings in the second half.
This one shortcoming did not seriously mar the unique five senses event. Even with cutting edge projection design art, we were transported to the feel of the 19th Century. In the Realm of Senses events will especially appeal to foodies and wine aficionados, with a deep appreciation for music.
RECOMMENDED
Artists:
Jeff Yang: curator, violin
Mathias Tacke: violin
Sixto Franco: viola
Nick Photinos: cello
David Schrader: fortepiano
Liviu Pasare: original art installation
Leslie Gray: narrator
Band of Bohemia: gastronomy
For more information, visit the In The Realm of Senses and the Band of Bohemia websites.
Photos courtesy of In the Realm of Senses
About the Author:
John Olson is an arts carnivore who is particularly a love of music, theatre and film. He studied piano, trombone and string bass into his college years, performing in bands and orchestras in high school and college, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While working as an advertising agency account manager, he began a second career as an arts journalist and is now principal of John Olson Communications, a marketing and public relations business serving arts and entertainment clients.
