Talk about unleashing a flood of memories. The final performance of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas season brought a surge of them the other night with more than a dozen themes from hit movies.
Remember the themes from The Pink Panther, Rocky, Love Story and "Tara's Theme" from Gone With the Wind? Those were but a few melodies resonating through hearts and minds in a packed Walton Arts Center.
Each piece came rushing back under the animated direction of conductor Paul Haas, the New York native and father of two whose impish heart admittedly has sunk deep roots in Fayetteville since he began wielding the baton several seasons ago.
I'd say his sentiments are returned by residents who appreciate what this conductor/music director and his collection of remarkably talented musicians have brought to such a remarkable symphonic experience to the Ozarks.
One high point for me was the multiple prize-winning Australian concert pianist Edward Neeman who, in an inspired and entertaining segment, spent a half hour with symphony background applying unique rhapsodies to three silent films: The Beloved Rogue, Blood and Sand and The Gold Rush. Neeman's performance was underwritten by Tom and Karen Kapella; she is the symphony's former executive director who was replaced this season by Matthew Herren.
The smiling faces seated around me, including Ed and Phyllis (married 54 years), told just how much the audience was enjoying Neeman's compelling piano presentation.
Leave it to Haas to always have a surprise or two for those applauding beyond the glare of stage lights. Since surprising patrons a few years back by having the symphony play the Razorback fight song (went Internet viral), surprises have become the trademark for this lanky, smiling maestro.
There were other themes from box-office hits we adults all easily recognized. Remember the theme from Psycho (performed on a low budget using only strings)? How about the music from Mission Impossible and James Bond films?
Many in the theater weren't familiar with the lilting, haunting melody of composer Ennio Morricone's "Gabriel's Oboe" theme from The Mission. That piece was, well, the word transcendent leaps readily to mind.
The youthful Haas strolled off the stage after the symphony's final notes, only to return to standing ovations and conduct the evening's final offering, the theme from Batman, which was rousing enough to send everyone filing out with smiles and nods of approval. Standing ovations and justifiable bows from the stage have become part of every performance at the symphony I've experienced.
The orchestra will play for the July 4th spectacular at the Northwest Arkansas AMP. Other than that, suppose I'll have to wait until early in November when the six-event season begins anew. Ya know, I'm still humming that Pink Panther theme.
Farewell to the poet
The memorial service for the internationally celebrated poet Miller Williams, who lived among us in Fayetteville and contributed to bettering our lives in so many ways, was held at the city library last weekend.
Miller and his "beer-drinker's soul" reached into our souls through the words he shared in his poetry published in more than 30 books.
This son of a firebrand Methodist minister and his sweet, supportive and always-loving wife, Jordan, are prime examples of what humans are capable of when we choose to follow our higher-functioning selves.
His creativity and talent will always stand as a gift to our heritage as a community, state and nation as President Bill Clinton's Second Inaugural Poet. And his daughter, Lucinda, carries on her father's tradition of reaching into us with words that matter.
I'll always cherish those evening cocktails from years back in his comfy and intimate back den, discussing the latest events and all the "show-and tell" he'd accumulated to share for those special times. Mainly I'll just miss knowing he's still alive and active among us. Thank you, Miller, for all the footprints you left behind.
FEMA to decide
Count me among those who will be interested to learn what the Federal Emergency Management Agency decides on whether proponents of rebuilding the leaky dam at Lake Bentonville have justified the environmental impact and true need for such a project.
The evidence I've seen says the dam sits on hazardous karst limestone and is worse than a poor risk to do anything but tear the monstrosity down.
If the feds don't OK what the community has proposed, the federal funding will be thrown into question and finally, perhaps city officials who are pushing to save this unrealistic, little and unnecessary reservoir (rather than setting scenic Little Sugar Creek free again to flow through the community and be enjoyed by many) will accept reality and allow that clear, scenic stream to be restored and beautified.
Still employed
A recent column mistakenly said Washington County Road Department employee George Braswell--whose ongoing civil rights lawsuit alleges harassment by supervisors for blowing the whistle on inadequate bridge-building practices while supporting the current county judge's opposition in the last election--is no longer with that department. In fact, Braswell still works for the department.
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Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at [email protected].
Editorial on 05/02/2015