What is to be thought when confronted with Aardman creations Wallace and Gromit, a live orchestra and the suggestion that the cheese-loving hit-with-the-ladies inventor has written a concerto?
Well, when the orchestra is that of such high calibre; the venue is Buxton’s beautiful Opera House; and the show features the delightful man-and-dog duo on screen throughout from ‘backstage’ at the ‘premiere’ of their masterpiece, you can’t think anything but “we’re in for a treat, here!” can you?
With “Maestro" Matthew Sharpe (cellist and opera singer) presenting with such gusto, energy and wit, and the wonderful orchestra sporting outfits representative of various characters from the village in which Wallace and Gromit are based - and other Aardman hits like Shaun the Sheep - including Lady (Campanula) Tottington, Wendolene Ramsbottom, Piella Bakewell, etc, we knew we were off to a grand start, under the baton of Steve Magee, as we witness the presenter getting ready (or awoken) and rushing on-stage to Mozart’s ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. This was not the only classical piece we were to hear, as the night (starting at 6.30 due to the younger members of audience) featured the likes of ‘Clair de Lune’ and a medley of pieces known from ballets including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and even Zadok The Priest (Coronation Anthem), as part of a montage of the animated family favourites’ iconic and hugely successful and entertaining career of films, clocking up some impressive escapes from all kinds of troublesome situations (entitled ‘Cut to the Chase’). These, along with a sequence of Wallace’s luck with the opposite sex, were played on projection above the orchestra, giving nostalgia to the event as well as huge celebration before the presentation...with a few hitches...the eagerly-anticipated “My Piano Concerto in E(e, lad)” for cello and dog/violin.
With arrangements by Carrot Productions’ artistic director Daniel Whibley, we are unable to contain our pleasure at the standard of the musicians in the Picture House orchestra (comprising some of the country’s top musicians, from orchestras including the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, BBC Concert and BBC Scottish, among others.) and the pieces being played, including impressive versions of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and Stevie Wonder’s ‘Don’t You Worry About A Thing’ which do actually fit into the ‘plot’ cleverly. As clever as the genius that is Nick Park, and his colleagues at Aardman studios (Peter Lord and David Sproxton).
After the spectacle, and interval, we had the chance to watch The Wrong Trousers (which Bob Barker helped Nick with) with the orchestra providing the soundtrack live! Each time the famous theme tune played, the whole audience erupted in applause, clapping along as many as four times. Now that’s love and true adoration.
The original concept for a Proms-style performance came ten year ago when the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain decided to play the soundtrack to The Wrong Trousers. In 2012 Musical Marvels had its first outing, then before a live recital alongside their 1989 film A Grand Day Out. With a further wealth of history on the dedicated website (wallaceandgromit.com/history), we have to thank Nick Park, everyone involved with the tour and Aardman creative director Merlin Crossingham for bringing these great national treasures to life and to our screens, not just to Buxton(!). They have seen success on screens of all sizes, as well as holding ambassadorial roles commercially and for charitable causes. We just hope that they will continue to entertain us for many years to come (no matter how painstaking it is to film with them).The tour continues throughout June.
Reviewer - John Kristof
on - 16/5/19
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