Darmstadt Philharmonic Orchestra With Wolfgang Seeliger

Last weekend I went to see the Darmstadt Philharmonic, conducted by Wolfgang Seeliger, performing Handel’s Firework Music. As Alfred and Margarite shouted me last year, it was my turn to reciprocate the gesture.

Set on the Woog lake like last years concert when they performed Handel’s Water Music, the orchestra was positioned on a large pontoon off shore from the island where everyone was seated. It was a splendid evening considering that for the three evenings prior to the Saturday night we had had some fairly heavy downpours during the night. The weather held up magnificently and the opening prelude was accompanied by a glorious crimson and rose pink sunset in the background. Colours shifting through the red spectrum band as gently and smoothly as the strains of music wafting on the breeze across the unruffled inky blackness of the Woog‘s water. All so very serene and tranquil.

They had a Berlin dance troupe in attendance that specialises in 17th century ballroom choreography. The dancers were all dressed in period costume and they performed a variety of dances to each of the symphonies movements. The orchestra was positioned on either side of the pontoon with the central area being left clear for the dancers.

The Cinderella era would give a better mental perspective of the costuming. The wowdered pigs gobbed in beity....I mean....the powdered wigs bobbed in gaiety. Bum cack, bum cack you’ve slopped your dripper....I mean....come back, come back you’ve dropped your slipper. Symphony music is just so-so serious after all...ahem.

In the last movement they really cut loose with the fireworks which were positioned on the far side of The Woog on the 10m diving board and around its base. The diving tower became a curtain shower of gold and silver whilst the skies over head boomed and cracked amidst the flowering blooms of iridescent psychedelia that fanned out across the whole reserve. As with last year they had many stalls serving food, champagne and beer which we availed ourselves of in civilised moderation. (Aghast, I never thought I would ever utter those two words in the same sentence!) All told it was a very nice evening and the overall performance was outstanding by both musicians and dancers alike.