Written by Madeline Thomas
I’ve decided to become a symphony person. Unlike the pre-existing population of symphony people in Seattle, any opportunity to dress a bit more *swanky* than usual will be taken full advantage of.
My first trip to Benaroya Hall was not the experience I had expected, but in retrospect, maybe my expectations were loosely realistic at best. The audience at the Brahms V. Radiohead performance donned typical daywear—I was not surprised, Seattle is a casual city, but I still disappointed. As the usher took my comrade and me to our seats, the bright, “I can see everyone” lighting put me off instantly. Do symphonies usually occur in full lighting? Seasoned symphony attendees please let me know.
Why was I wearing Doc Martens and a silk dress on a Wednesday, anyways? A momentous occasion. A Radiohead inspired composition. Ok Computer (1997) and Johannes Brahms’ First Symphony (1882) were synthesized and performed by an orchestra and three classically trained vocalists. Classical music snobs, don’t be so quick to turn your nose up! Each of the individual pieces of work were respected. The nuances of all four movements of Brahms were observed and allowed to co-exist within a new realm of execution. As for Radiohead’s third studio album, compared to the work of Pink Floyd when released in the fresh digital age, Thom Yorke’s vocals cannot be replicated, though the three vocalists chosen by the symphony certainly attempted to do so.
My distaste for classical vocals—or any theatrical vocal performance for that matter—prevented me from enjoying the singing. I felt the vocalists were distracting, and their “larger than life” stage presence was frankly too large for the stage as well. Half of the show was spent craning my neck in attempt to look over the oscillating blob of lace and red lipstick that was the female vocalist. She had a way of moving to the music that was just slightly off-kilter, and try as I might, every glance I shot at the cellists included at least half a frame of her lace dress swishing in and out of focus.
The music, however, was spectacular. Only halfway into a number could I begin to make out familiar sounds. Before vocals bled into the music, I was able to discern which song from Ok Computer was included in the piece. Eight songs from the album were performed, all in full, though only a seasoned listener would have been able to point out the stop and start of each song. Radiohead’s discography is vast. Ok Computer, and all of Yorke’s masterpieces, but this album specifically, carries a message well-tailored to the era of society in which the music was released. The album is restless, and effortlessly cool. But beyond the electronic sound, the lyrics prevail as the most impressive aspect of the ’97 release.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3RRrLE5IOQ
There is some irony to a commentary on the times, specifically an analysis of mass-production and the digitizing of those production means, being performed as a companion to a revered composition. When I think of attending a symphony, or the kind of people who attend and enjoy orchestral music, I think of privilege, wealth, and luxury—all three things Yorke would have been grinding his teeth against during the post Microsoft age (and probably still is, despite being absurdly wealthy thanks to his musical career).
If you’re interested in the painstaking details of Ok Computeras a listening experience andits societal impact, both on the music industry and consumers, check out this article—be sure to pay rapt attention to the musical influences drawn from Yorke’s production as well as the music the author feels most likely influenced Yorke in his creative process.
My inability to separate music from political movements aside, the symphony performance was spectacular. Conductor Steve Hackman seems to be the “cool conductor” on the symphony scene right now. Is there a symphony scene? He has composed fusion programs of his own, including Beethoven V. Coldplay, Copland V. Bon Iver, Tchaikovsky V. Drake, and Bartók V. Björk. Next time he decides to mash up modern pop with German classical, I’ll be sitting front row.
MADELINE THOMAS | everything is better in the dark | KXSU Music Reporter