CutTime Players’ First Tour a Big
Success
December 1, 2000
CutTime Players successfully completed
a first trip outside
of its Southeast Michigan home. More than
3,400 residents enjoyed classical music
programs during six
evening concerts, eight school workshops
and side-by-side workshop with the local
youth orchestra. Services took place in
and around the Petoskey
area of Michigan including as far away
as Beaver Island between November 13 and
20.
Sponsored by both the Crooked
Tree Arts Center of Petoskey and CutTime
Players sister company CutTime Productions,
audiences seemed to be incredulous at
CTP’s ability to convincingly perform
masterpieces written for a full symphony
orchestra.
The repeated classical program included
Russlan and Ludmilla Overture, the España
Rhapsody, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,
the menuetto movement from Mendelssohn’s
Symphony No. 4, Für Elise and Peter
and the Wolf featuring local narrators
such as Mr. Howard Ellis of East Jordan
whose “mmmeeowwing” and style
were awarded distinguished honors by the
musicians.
The popular Bolling jazz
program was performed once in Petoskey
and considered a big hit. Undoubtedly
given the extensive jazz backgrounds of
CutTime Player substitutions New York
City freelance flutist Marco
Granados and Colorado Symphony principal
clarinetist Bil
Jackson, lots of spark and a vivid
freshness were added to the program.
The players were able to persevere when
the year’s first major snow storm
pushed through early and threatened to
prevent flying both players and percussion
in two shuttle planes out to Beaver Island.
However, the morning of the flight brought
the only good day of weather that week
and the free concert took place in St.
James Catholic Church with two hundred
people attending. Once they heard the
music, children ran up during the opening
work to sit on the floor and closely watch
the players work their magic.
CTP did not confine its music to schools,
churches and auditoriums however. Director
Rick Robinson led half of his troupes
thru an impromptu jazz session during
Open Mike night at the City
Park Grill, the haunt of novelist
Ernest Hemmingway. The unofficial review
indicates they shouldn’t quit their
orchestra jobs but many enjoyed the attempt
by classical musicians to play straight
jazz without music or keyboard. And Rick
opened with the title theme from Schubert’s
Death and the Maiden for unaccompanied
bass.
Besides enjoying the local scenery, shops
and restaurants, and even a Thanksgiving
Day parade, the players report having
fulfilled its mission to bring understanding
of classical music to new audiences. Violinist
Geoff Applegate said, “I feel like
we really made a difference being there.”
Here's a letter
from one fan in Boyne City.
