bond: Four sylphs with classical taste<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Contemporary classical music is apparently all the rage here.
\nAlbum sales are high, and ticket concerts are sold out despite
\nthe relatively high price.<\/p>\n
Last September, 1,400 people packed the sold-out performance
\nby Thai-Chinese violinist Vanessa Mae regardless of the ticket
\nfee which was set at Rp 750,000 (US$75).<\/p>\n
In another sold-out concert on Wednesday, U.K.-based string
\nquartet bond (the lower-case is to distinguish it with 007
\ncopyright lawyers) performed before 3,700 dedicated spectators
\nwho paid up to Rp 350,000 for a ticket.<\/p>\n
Does the attraction come merely from the music, which is said
\nto be breaking the language barriers and no longer frighten kids?
\nOr is it because of the pretty faces, funky attires and sensuous
\nstage acts?<\/p>\n
While they admitted they might not be as successful without
\nthe sex appeal, 26 year-old Haylie Ecker from bond said that it
\nis all about great music.<\/p>\n
"We play contemporary, commercial music. Images are definitely
\nimportant but so is the music," the quartet's lead violinist told
\nthe media conference.<\/p>\n
"We're just being true to ourselves. We play uplifting music
\nthat doesn't really fit with tuxedo and ball gown. In terms of
\nfashion, we wear what's fun for us. If it's sexy, good."<\/p>\n
In the concert, however, bond proved that they were more than
\nthe "classical Spice Girls", as they kick off with an attractive,
\ncommunicative and entertaining performance.<\/p>\n
The group members are Australian Ecker and Tania Davis, and
\nBritish Eos and Gay-Yee Westerhoff.<\/p>\n
Learning to play violins (it's the cello for 28 year-old
\nWesterhoff), since early childhood, they have astounded tutors
\nwith their talents.<\/p>\n
After holding music degrees in their respective countries, the
\nbond girls paved their career by playing with the likes of Sting,
\nBryan Adams, Barry Manillow and Mark Knopfler.<\/p>\n
As soon as they were introduced to each other by promoter Mel
\nBush, the girls began to share their vision: there will be no
\nstiff bow ties or flowing black dresses, and neither will the
\nperformers be sat down in front of reams of sheet music.<\/p>\n
Their debut album Born was released in 2000, presenting
\noriginal compositions by the foursome, which are a mixture of
\nclassical with catchy contemporary sound like pop, latin and hip
\nhop.<\/p>\n
The album has topped classical music charts around the world,
\nselling more than one million copies to date, with a third of
\nthem sold in Asia.<\/p>\n
But similar to Mae, bond received criticism from some die-hard
\ntraditionalists.<\/p>\n
Last year, the album was banned from the classical album
\ncharts for "being too populist". They have also caused another
\nrumpus recently when they headlined the Classical Brit Awards.
\nTheir appearance at the Royal Albert Hall led to the resignation
\nof Matthew Cosgrove, a Classical Brits committee member as he
\nfailed to stop the band's appearance.<\/p>\n
"We thought it's (the ban) just strange. After two weeks in
\nthe charts, they suddenly decided that we're not classical
\nenough. We're more classical than some other songs that had been
\non the chart, like Pavarotti and friends and also Titanic's theme
\nsong. As for the Brit award, let them carry on. Because more
\npeople have supported us now," said Eos, 26.<\/p>\n
That include the audience, mostly young people, although
\nparents and older people were evident, who packed the Jakarta
\nConvention Center (JCC)<\/p>\n
All of them cheered, shouted and applauded the girls as bond
\nopened their performance with Quixote, an upbeat number from
\nBorn.<\/p>\n
"Jakarta ceria (cheerful)!" screamed Ecker, who then
\nintroduced her band mates and referred to them as chicks.<\/p>\n
The girls, however, toning down their sexy attire, in respect
\nto Asian custom. However, the costume still exposed Ecker's and
\nWesterhoff's midriffs and the slim long legs of Davis and Eos.<\/p>\n
Accompanied by five back-up musicians, the ladies moved
\nenergetically, playing a series of numbers from Born. The
\nhaunting Oceanic, the mellow Bella Donna and the latin-infected
\nLiber Tango.<\/p>\n
In Bella, they switched to acoustic instruments, doing an
\noccasional pizzicato.<\/p>\n
"The next number is not our usual thing, but we like it,"
\nDavis said before the girls presented Hymn, the soundtrack of
\nPsycho.<\/p>\n
After that, Led Zeppelin's masterpiece Kashmir was also
\nplayed. Thank Go, they did not ruin it.<\/p>\n
The beat rises again with Crazy Horses, complete with horse'
\nneigh and the girls shook their hips.<\/p>\n
They also played homage to the 007 whose last name has been
\nmistakenly thought as inspiration for the quartet ("bond actually
\ncame from the bond of friendship").<\/p>\n
"This is for you who likes your drink to be shaken, not
\nstirred," Davis said, before playing the movie's theme song.<\/p>\n
As all of the audience stuck to their seats, Ecker then walked
\ndown the stage, walking through the audience, asking them to
\nstand up and dance.<\/p>\n
She also picked a man, who then danced irregularly, and a
\nyoung girl who immediately hugged her.<\/p>\n
The show ended with the hit number called Victory which
\nbrought a standing ovation.<\/p>\n
While bond, also dubbed "Vanessa-Mae times four" and are said
\nthat their virtuosity has yet to match Mae, the girls know how to
\ngive an entertaining performance, better than their predecessor.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bond-four-sylphs-with-classical-taste-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}