A cooking show sharing the stage with a live concert may seem a mismatch, and such a combination could probably only occur on a television variety show. Nevertheless, renowned local cellist Chang Chen-chieh, who has been called the king of creative ideas, will join hands with gourmet reviewer Liang Yu-hsiang to present two concerts titled “East-West Cuisine Concert — Beef Noodles PK Spaghetti” at the National Concert Hall next Tuesday and Thursday. Chang is determined to shake up the concert hall, famous for its seriousness, and liberate audiences from their inhibitions.
Initially, the National Theater and Concert Hall (NTCH) prohibited any acts of cooking on the stage of the National Concert Hall to prevent the pipe organs in the hall from being affected by steam generated from boilers. Nevertheless, after a five-hour-long technical coordination meeting, Pro-Art Camerata — the organizers of the event — said Tuesday that the two sides had reached a satisfactory agreement. Moreover, the organizers said the meeting gave rise to an “ingenious trick.” The concert will be held as scheduled and deliver plates of steaming food as planned. As to what the “ingenious trick” was, the organizers have kept people guessing and only those who attend the concerts will know the answer.
This delicious musical contest will be divided into two groups. One is the pasta group of classical musicians led by Chang and including National Symphony Orchestra concertmasters Wu Ting-yu and Li I-ching, double bassist Chou Chun-shiang, pianist Hsieh Wan-ling, and soprano Lo Ming-fang along with the chamber orchestra Pro-Art Camerata. The other is the beef noodle group led by Liang along with a traditional Chinese ensemble Chai Found Music Workshop and baritone Lin Cheng-hsun. The former will perform a program of Western classical music, full of power and grandeur, while the latter will hit back by playing several Asian songs.
Photo courtesy of Pro-Art Camerata
照片由弦外之音團提供
The group representing the West will perform Johann Strauss II and Josef Strauss’s Pizzicato Polka to describe al dente pasta and Giuseppe Verdi’s “Libiamo ne’lieti calici” (Drinking Song) from La traviata to introduce the perfect pairing of red wine and pasta. It will also play Gioachino Antonio Rossini’s String Sonatas No. 1 and No. 5, Duet for Cello and Double Bass in D Major and arias from the comic opera The Barber of Seville. The group representing the East will play and sing several Asian songs mimicking the rhythms of chopping green onions and tell the history of beef noodles in Taiwan.
Since returning to Taiwan in 1989 to devote himself to teaching, Chang has tried hard to find funny and interesting ways to promote classical music and explain its profundity in simple language. His seemingly inexhaustible ingenuity and willingness to play various roles for entertaining effect without considering his self-image has probably attracted many people who do not normally attend classical music concerts to go to the concert hall. Next week’s two musical feasts will certainly bring happiness to audiences yet again. Tickets are available through NTCH ticketing.
(LIN YA-TI, TAIPEI TIMES)
美食烹飪表演與現場樂團演奏看似兩個不搭嘎的組合,若真要同台獻藝,大概也只有在台灣綜藝節目上才可能出現。不過,有創意點子王之稱且活耀於國內樂壇的知名大提琴家張正傑,這次與美食作家梁幼祥合作,將於下週二與週四挑戰台北國家音樂廳極限,推出兩場「料理東西軍音樂會-牛肉麵PK義大利麵」。張正傑這回決定要顛覆嚴肅的音樂廳、解放觀眾的壓抑。
Photo courtesy of Pro-Art Camerata
照片由弦外之音團提供
原先兩廳院以「避免水蒸氣影響管風琴等設備」為由,做出不准台上料理禁令,幸虧在長達五小時的技術協調會後,主辦單位弦外之音團週二透露,目前雙方已經圓滿和諧達成共識,更因此次協調會生出了「絕妙奇招」,音樂會如期舉行,依然熱騰騰上菜。但是到底是怎麼個「絕妙奇招」?主辦單位賣了個關子,請民眾親臨音樂會現場見真章。
這場好吃的音樂擂台賽,兵分兩路人馬,一是由張正傑領軍代表西方義大利麵的古典音樂家,包括國家交響樂團兩位首席吳庭毓與李宜錦、低音提琴家周春祥、鋼琴家謝婉玲與女高音羅明芳,以及弦外之音室內樂集;另一是由梁幼祥領軍代表東方的牛肉麵的國樂團「采風樂坊」與男中音林政勳。前者將演出西方古典音樂名曲,氣勢十足;後者也不甘示弱,以多首東方歌曲,跟西方嗆聲。
西方代表將演出小約翰‧史特勞斯與約瑟夫‧史特勞斯的《撥弦波卡》形容彈牙的義大利麵,朱塞佩‧威爾第歌劇《茶花女》中的「飲酒歌」介紹紅酒與義大利麵間的絕妙搭配,還有喬奇諾‧安東尼奧‧羅西尼的《弦樂奏鳴曲第一號與第五號》、《大提琴低音提琴二重奏》與喜歌劇《塞爾維亞理髮師》的詠嘆調。東方代表則以多首東方歌曲,配合樂曲節奏切蔥,並將台灣牛肉麵的發展史在音樂聲中娓娓道來。
Photo courtesy of Pro-Art Camerata
照片由弦外之音團提供
自一九八九年回國任教以來,張正傑致力於以幽默風趣、深入淺出的方式推廣古典音樂,其看似用不完的創意,與不惜犧牲形象的演出,相信吸引許多原本不聽古典音樂的民眾,也想親自到音樂廳一探究竟。下週的東西音樂美食饗宴,想必能為觀眾帶來許多歡樂。購票請洽兩廳院售票系統。
(台北時報記者林亞蒂)
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