Last week, I had the opportunity to see ‘The Galileo Project: Music of the Spheres’ by Canada’s own, Tafelmusik which is one of the best baroque orchestras in the world.  I know I’m a little late in posting my review of it but I just have to share this experience with everyone.

While I was in Toronto in 2005, I saw this group perform a couple of times; once, as part of an opera and the second time, in a straight concert.  I also have one of their many CD’s, ‘Baroque Adventure: The Quest for Arundo Donax’ which I highly recommend.  (Okay, it’s technically for kids but it’s just the cutest story!  And let’s not forget that the music is amazing!)  Started in 1979, Tafelmusik has become not only a means to preserve baroque music and it’s instruments  but classical music fan favourite and it’s not hard to see (or rather, hear) why.

So, needless to say that when I heard that Tafelmusik was coming to Saskatoon, I was ecstatic.  They were coming to do their ‘Galileo Project’ show which first debuted in 2009.  Yes, we had to wait until the end of the run to see it (this show was to be the second last that they would do) but at least it was, by now, perfected; that’s what I kept telling myself.  Seriously though, as much as I make fun of the state of the arts in this city, I can’t ignore the fact that people here are hungry for music.  Well, hungry for anything really.  There seems to always be something going on; two or three big events often end up on one night every weekend.  On this night, there were two other big concerts in town and all three were almost, if not completely sold out.  Not too shabby for a small city in the middle of nowhere!

But I’m getting off track now.  ‘The Galileo Project’ was a meld of music and history, combining music from the period with narration of astronomy related themes including notes from Galileo Galilei.  A large circular screen was set up behind the stage showing astronomical images such as the sun and moon.  A beautiful blend of music, theatre, history, and imagery designed to transport us, even if only temporarily, through time.  And also a reminder of our roots.

Another program that I saw this week  briefly discussed the fact that we were losing our night skies.  And while (too) many people see this as a sign of progress, the gentleman being interviewed pointed out that much of human history revolved around the skies.  Our ancestors not only told stories about it but could tell time and location via star positions.  Modern history’s journey back into the sciences after the Dark and Middle Ages was through astronomy.  And let’s not forget about modern times.  We have astronomy and physics to thank for a lot of technology.  (Remember that the next time you use GPS!)

I can’t say that this show was perfect.  Having taken a history class in university revolving around science during this period, I had a few beefs about how Galileo was handled but I usually do when his name pops up.  But it certainly didn’t take away from the majesty of the performance.

This would be the point where I would urge others to go see this show but it was a one night gig here and, as I mentioned earlier, the second last performance ever.  I know that there were selling DVD’s but, if you don’t mind, I would like to get on my soap box for a minute.  We have an internationally renowned baroque orchestra in this country who occationally puts on extremely theatrical performances and…we have no national outlet to show them off to the rest of the country?  Countless performers are showcased in the US on PBS but our own public broadcaster, CBC, can’t highlight a group like this to the rest of the country?  Oh, but I forgot!  The arts in this country are just a ‘hobby’ or an ‘elitist’ activity that should be ignored.  I think the full house that night would say otherwise!

I would like to say one more quick thing though.  I have always loved Third Avenue United Church as a concert venue.  I had the opportunity to see a number of shows there and almost had the chance to the sing the Hallelujah Chorus there (alas, a snow storm had other plans though but the rehearsals were electrifying to say the least.)  It’s acoustics are lovely and the building is beautiful.  Yes, I don’t think much of religion and churches that preach hate and violence (the way the scriptures from organized religions do) but I’m fully aware of the fact that most of the amazing things that humans have done or crated came either from war or religion.  The architecture of old churches being one of those marvels.  So, I hope it no longer seems weird for me to demand that this church be saved.  From the sound of it, there is still much debate as to what to do.  Because of my feelings on religion, I don’t really care too much about what happens to the congregation (other than having the hope that they will see sense and realize that their faith is misplaced), but the building must be saved.  As I said earlier, this city loves it’s culture and we would not only be loosing some city history if the building is demolished but we’d be losing a venue for the arts in this city and that is inexcusable.  The announcer, a member of the Third Avenue Centre which is a group committed to saving the building, reminded us that night of a quote from a famous Saskatoonian, Joni Mitchell.  “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.”