The Art Of Time Ensemble

Growing up, The Beatles was never part of my childhood. Despite having the car always tuned to the radio station playing songs before the year 2000, every time their songs come up, my father always changed the station or a conversation would drown the song merely as background. I do not think it is intentional but it just so happened and they too were not a phenomenon in Malaysia. Therefore, coming to see the performance, I could not feel a special connection as how many in the audience felt, but, what I did find was the feeling of reminiscing.

The Art of Time Ensemble performed the Beetle’s SGT. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album. Having no reference to previous or future albums, this album had a blend of colorful, eccentric, and warm tune to it. Though, according to one of the guitarist during the recording of the album, he felt SGT. Pepper was a tune different than one that The
Beatles usually did. The performers who sung them, Steven Page, Wesley Stace, Andy Maze, and Craig Northey did a brilliant job performing, for the ambience created was definitely one not in this current era of music. They were all having fun performing, leading to a cheerful atmosphere. The solos were especially encapsulating for it felt more personal and it was during those times, I felt moved. This might be an unpopular opinion for most people who listened to them, would have, I suppose, prefer them as a group.

The Ensemble comprised of the orchestra, and surprisingly, the singers did not overshadow them.
I felt that their presence too was very strong and noticeable in the performance. The singers actually made it a point to applaud the orchestra, gesturing acknowledgement and even giving the stage to them. I personally was very entertained by it, for there was a jazzy flare to their pieces which I thought was unique. The collaboration between the singers and the orchestra, definitely complemented each other and created the right tune.

An aspect of the performance which made it very warm was the interaction between the performers and the audience. The singers would converse amongst each other on stage and drop a Beatle’s joke in reference to the group. Now, again, I am reiterating that I am not familiar with their songs but I could not help but laugh at some of the jokes for it seemed they were so genuine. The performance this ensemble brought on stage was no just limited to its musical act, but the performance as a whole, from the atmosphere to the tunes, just made it feel
warm.

Many in the audience celebrated and cheered during the performance. They were clearly moved by it as a standing ovation was followed afterwards. This effect is seen to be more consistent in other performances too according to Lithium Magazine. However, I could not feel the same for the Beatles was not a group created during my time. Nonetheless, watching the ensemble perform that night made me age 30 years, and this somehow made me reminisce of the past together with all the other audience. Overall, I have to admit I did not find the performance very entertaining for it was not my musical genre, but it was still a nice experience having able to see them. It would be interesting to venture more into their music as George Harrison, a fellow Beatles member said there are other better tracks that the group produced not in SGT. Pepper.