The City of the Arts

Well, it turns out that the hometown is struggling with it's identity again, or so says the Triad Business Journal (here). There's evidently thinking that somehow the Krispy Kreme capital of the world lost it's status as the "City of the Arts" somewhere along the way. Given that I've seen more public art in downtown Greensboro recently, I'd be tempted to agree.

However, while agreeing with that statement, my mind is already contradicting itself. It appears to me - and to many others, I believe - that the Winston-Salem Symphony is doing things right and ergo, the arts are still very much alive here. Two years ago, after the former conductor left after monopolizing the job for too many years, they hired a new, younger conductor. It was perhaps the best decision the Board of Directors of the Symphony could ever make. Bob Moody seems to have worked with the Board and the staff to infuse the symphony with new life. (You can read more about Bob here.)

Case in point: There's never been a successful pops season in Winston-Salem, but this year, that's changed. The most recent pops concert was entitled, "A Salute to the Music of John Williams." Yep, that's John Williams, the American composer who is still very much alive and is very active in composing, especially for motion pictures. (He was honored with Kennedy Center Honors several years ago.)

On the program:

• Olympic Fanfare and Theme (1984 L.A. Olympics; it's the music you hear for the Olympics on NBC)
• Highlights from Jurassic Park
• "Somewhere in my Memory" from Home Alone
• Theme from Schindler's List
• "Hymn to the Fallen" from Saving Private Ryan
• Theme from Superman
• Theme from Jaws
• "Raiders March" from Raiders of the Lost Ark
• "Angela's Prayer" from Angela's Ashes
• Music from various Harry Potter movies
• "Dry Your Tears, Afrika!" from Amistad
• The Suite from Star Wars

Regardless of the music performed, which was by all accounts very professional and very well done, perhaps the thing that makes this concert so amazing (and I don't use the term lightly) was the added value. Bob took time to introduce each piece to the audience, right from the conductor's stand. He gave a little background on each of the pieces and you could tell he's passionate about what he's doing.

The Winston-Salem Symphony Chorale and the Winston-Salem Children's Chorus also participated in the concert, which just added to the richness of the experience.

But that's not it. There's more. At the end of the "Theme from Superman," Bob turned around and in classic Clark Kent style, ripped his button-up shirt open to reveal the Superman logo emblazoned on his chest. For the Harry Potter selections, he conducted with a replica of Harry's magic wand. During Jaws, a cut out shark's fin was passed through the chorus bleachers, closely followed by a spotlight, eliciting a fairly decent batch of laughter from the audience. And last, but not least, Bob was engaged in a light saber fight with a Jedi knight during the Star Wars selections. If nothing else, this group of talented individuals is the best group of buzz marketers in Winston.

Hats off - it was a wonderful show. I can't stop talking about it and I just hope that the Greensboro Symphony show that I will see at the end of February is just as good.