Celebration - Kansas City Symphony Alliance

We asked two members of the Kansas CitySymphony Chorus about what it’s like to performAlexander Nevsky. Our thanks to Paul Buechter,and Joe Bonello, both tenors, for their thoughts.KCSA: Alexander Nevsky can be verylighthearted at times, and extremely dark othertimes. How do you go about changing yourmindset to deal with the different and sometimeseven jarring changes, such as occurs in theBattle on the Ice?Paul Buechter: I think the change from dark tolightheartedness helps to convey the message asintended. This is a propaganda movie to warnthe people of the Nazi war machine. Moviedraws many parallels. The lightheartedness ofthe love story reminds them they are fightingfor mother Russia. And the female love interestrepresents Mother Russia.Joe Bonello: We essentially have to be twodifferent choirs. One is the peasants of Russiasinging about our hero, Alexander Nevsky. Andthe other is the rigid, marching of the invadingarmy that brings its war cry to the scene of theBattle on the Ice.KCSA: Alexander Nevsky was originallywritten as movie music. Have you ever seen themovie which goes with the music? Do you get asense of what the action is on the screen as youperform Alexander Nevsky?Paul: Yes, I have seen the movie. Yes, theaction matches the movie and highlights thedrama and mood. An excellent example of amovie score.Joe: Yes, I’ve seen the movie. In fact, thefirst time the Symphony performed thispiece the film was projected over the stageand the orchestra and chorus provided a livesoundtrack. It was really cool! So having thatexperience, I understand what is going onduring the film and how to project that in themusic.KCSA: What is your favorite part of AlexanderNevsky? What is it about Alexander Nevsky thatappeals to you and why?Paul: Hard to pick a favorite part! The filmtechnique draws my attention. The photographyis wonderful. I am sure movie technology wasnot equal to what was in Hollywood at the timeso the fact that the photography and edits are sogood is amazing.Joe: Alexander Nevsky is a Soviet propagandafilm. Just like we had John Wayne and RonaldReagan fighting the “Japs,” this film is meant isstir up the Russian people against an invadingarmy that they knew was going to come. TheNazis are COMING, so get ready. While weused Hollywood to rile up the people against thebombers of Pearl Harbor, the Soviets used 700years of Russian history to call the people to riseup against the Nazis. The Soviet message wasclear, just as Alexander Nevsky raised a peasantarmy to repel the invaders of Nogorod, we, asa people, need to rise up and repel the Naziinvasion that is sure to come.KCSA: As part of the concert, you are alsoperforming Brahms’ Rhapsody for Alto, MaleChorus, and Orchestra. As you rehearse, doyou approach this piece differently because youare working with a soloist, or do you approach itas you would any other piece? Do you have anyfavorite part of the piece; why?Paul: When we perform with a soloist I take theapproach that we are like the accompaniment.The solo is the star.Joe: We have to approach the piece a littledifferently because we are accompanying thesoloist. We do get our moment to shine, butmostly we are in a kind of duet with her. Myfavorite part is our first entrance. The way theline rises is so typically Brahms, and the way helets the tenors sing over the top is just gorgeous.KCSA: This will be your last series ofperformances in the Lyric Theatre. Anythoughts as you anticipate your move to theKauffman Center for the Performing Arts?Any regrets or is the appeal of the KauffmanCenter so great that you are only lookingKansas City Symphony Alliance Newsletter May, 2011 Page 3