Led Zeppelin weighed down by the symphony
On Thursday, the Victoria Hall was more than full to hear the performance of the Orchester de la Suisse romande.
Led Zeppelin by the Orchester de la Suisse romande, Thursday 23 February at Victoria Hall, as part of the 13e festival Antigel.
GEORGES CABRERA
Thursday, February 23, 8:30 p.m. Antigel has been running non-stop for nearly three weeks. It seems that it is a box, that the evenings are complete. A word is missing in the French language to express the deep, almost ecstatic satisfaction of the organizers.
Thursday, February 23, under the golds of Victoria Hall. Like every evening, the directors of the festival, Thuy-San Dinh and Eric Linder, congratulate each other. Everything we do is awesome, thanks to you, audience to us. This is, in essence, the message that the winter event sends to festival-goers, partners and the media. This must be the new marketing. Eye to eye, to life, to death. No cheating, ever. Besides, tonight at the “Victo”, it’s myth that we serve. From the myth!
Is it the same audience that will go to the Arena to listen to the Johnny Symphonic Tour or “The Lion King” at the Théâtre du Léman?
Besides, it works very well. The Victoria Hall is more than full. Some of the public did not find seats. It’s a curious feeling to find yourself there, among the crowd of spectators, excited by the proposal of the festival. Are they the same people who will go to the Arena to listen to the Johnny Symphonic Tour or “The Lion King” at the Théâtre du Léman?
But Led Zeppelin is a “myth”, it is written on the program. And the Orchester de la Suisse romande, a prestigious institution, nothing to complain about. Leader? Bastien Stil, never seen here. We’ll see. As for Jaz Coleman, who signs the arrangements, the leader of the group Killing Joke is apparently extremely gifted.
regressive pleasure
Touching moment, the evening is dedicated to two women recently disappeared. Geneva’s Monique Boget, former mayor of Meyrin, “without whom Antigel would never have been possible”, as well as Heleen Treichler, a figure on the local rock scene.
And music! It doesn’t show in the pictures, but the OSR plays Led Zeppelin. “Kashmir” first, a huge hit of hard rock. Ugh ugh, zim zim. It reminds me of the London Symphony Orchestra in 1985 performing ‘Total Eclipse of The Heart’. Teenage excitement, grieving parents. Definitely, a regressive pleasure, a much more runny evocation of the epic character of film music.
Antigel at Victoria Hall, Thursday February 23, the Orchester de la Suisse romande plays Led Zeppelin, arranged by Jaz Coleman.
GEORGES CABRERA
The audience applauds and whistles. It’s already taken from the classic ritual, from the elitist distinction. After three overlapping themes as one goes to dada on a tank, the music becomes lighter. It’s the ballad, “The Battle of Evermore” then “Stairway to Heaven”, on the harp. Like Bernstein on Broadway, like the “Moldau” of Smetana, the register pumps the neoclassical thoroughly into the desks. Sadness, greatness! Or decadence.
Oh no! Not the bell!
Let’s take that as a joke. Like this bell that tinkles cheerfully to ring the final hallali. By comparison, the slow, pianissimo variations on the ‘Whole Lotta Love’ riff come across as ravishingly fine. Except that the audience can no longer nod. And the conductor can finally do a little something with the orchestra.
The person responsible for this great uproar joined the platform to salute. It’s funny to see him surrounded by violins, with his long hair, his rough face, his voracious smile. But without the dark make-up he wears with Killing Joke, without the incandescent matter of electrified rock, Jaz Coleman was content with a parody.
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