By Eileen Wingard
SAN DIEGO — In The Great Tchaikowsky, Hershey Felder’s latest piece, which is breaking sales records at the Lyceum Theatre in downtown San Diego, Felder does Tikun Olam, working to repair the world, by sensitizing us to the suffering of the gay Russian composer and casting a light on the persecution of the LGBT community in today’s Russia.
Tchaikowsky’s life was filled with cover-up and depression caused by his “disposition,” and Russian authorities continue to deny that their most famous composer was homosexual. Yet, Felder, courageously, said, at the conclusion, that he will accept an invitation by the Russian government to present his one-man play in Russia one day, because of his devotion to the truth.
With an authentic Russian accent, Felder portrays the musical genius from childhood to his premature death at age 53. Felder also impersonates various other personalities in the composer’s life, Mily Balakirev and the Rubinstein brothers, Nicolai and Anton.
As with his other pieces, Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven, Maestro, Franz Liszt in Musik, and Lincoln: An American Story, Felder intertwines music throughout, often playing pieces while he speaks, to heighten the dramatic impact. At one point, he sang the orchestral part of the piano concerto in a robust, baritone voice, while he played the solo part, then repeated that section, performing both, the orchestral part and the solo part together, no easy fete. Finally, the orchestral part was piped in, while he performed the solo part, with the virtuosity of a seasoned concert artist.
Since most of the works by which we know Tchaikowsky’s music: the ballets, Nutcracker and Swan Lake, the symphonies, the overtures, are orchestral works; the piano renditions, though beautifully rendered, lacked the timbres of the composer’s colorful instrumentation. If only Felder could have been conducting a live orchestra, instead of performing the piano reductions.
However, with visuals of ballerinas with the Nutcracker, fireworks with the 1812 Overture, and other such projections, he managed to convey his dramatic message.
The set was unusually detailed and beautiful, down to the delicate birch trees outside his window.
Through his musical biographies, he has done a great service for the cause of Classical Music, humanizing the composers and familiarizing audiences with their music. May it influence attendance at symphony concerts, recitals and chamber music concerts throughout our community, and bring the gift of great music into the lives of more people.
Bravo to Hershey Felder, now a familiar presence in San Diego. We are privileged to have the premiere of his latest work, The Great Tchaikowsky, in our city.
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Wingard is a freelance writer specializing in coverage of the arts. She may be contacted via eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com