THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 9, 1995 TAG: 9507080093
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: By MARK MOBLEY, MUSIC CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
IF YOU LIKE Court TV, you would have enjoyed last week's Tidewater Winds concert.
An overflow crowd greeted the summer band last Sunday at the Wells Theater. So a dozen patrons were seated in armchairs in the lobby to watch the performance on television.
For 11 seasons, Virginia Symphony veteran Sidney Berg has led his semiprofessional ensemble of symphony members, military musicians, college and high school students in pops and patriotic fare. Now his Sousa-revival season is five weeks long, with each action-packed week including four free concerts in Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Norfolk.
Last season's Norfolk dates presented no seating problems. The concerts were at the newly refurbished Harrison Opera House, which seats 1,650 - a thousand more than the Wells. When the air conditioning failed at the Wells, the band's usual venue, city of Norfolk officials who oversee both theaters offered Berg use of the Opera House without rental fees.
The band's first concert in the venue was stifling because the air conditioning there failed as well. And Berg later discovered that the rental wasn't quite free, because every use of the facility requires hiring stagehands, security and custodians, plus a surcharge for arranging the date.
``By the time we got done with the free building it was $5,300 for five concerts,'' Berg said. ``Which for that kind of a hall is reasonable, but it wasn't in our budget. I'd love to go back. I tried and tried to get somebody to underwrite the cost of the rental, but with no success.''
The flat rate, before the support personnel are paid, is $1,200 per day, $200 more than the Chrysler zall fee. The Tidewater Winds cannot raise money through ticket sales because the group's performances are supported in large part by grants that stipulate free admission.
``I can't give it to 'em free,'' said Norfolk's director of civic facilities, William H. Luther. ``I cannot afford to open up and cool the opera house for no charge. I do know that we have a reasonable rate on it. And with a $5 million investment in it we have bonds to pay off.''
Luther pointed out that the opera house has attracted users aside from the Virginia Opera, ranging from Bruce Hornsby to the Black Media Professionals of Hampton Roads to wedding parties. ``I feel like we've made quite a bit of use of the facility,'' he said.
The Tidewater Winds have returned to the Wells, which proved to be too small (unless the July 2 holiday program of extra-patriotic music brought in more folks than usual). And the hall was less than comfortable for other reasons.
Tazewell Street, which fronts the Wells, is blocked by Federal Building construction. Patrons could not drive up and drop off passengers at the door. The Wells also has no public elevator to the balcony, just a couple of narrow staircases, which is a concern for any audience but especially one with such a high percentage of senior citizens.
No one seemed especially aggrieved by the inconvenience, though there was a brief bit of confusion when a handicapped-seating area being used for overflow patrons had to be cleared. The band's technical proficiency was variable but the music was consistently spirited and sentimental.
``The TV worked very well,'' Muriel Miller of Norfolk said. ``I think it was a great solution, because we got here a little bit late and they were very gracious.''
Her friend Zelda Silverman of Portsmouth agreed. ``I love things that bring people out, and they take children and look happy.''
At the end of the concert, the band played ``Servicemen on Parade,'' a medley of marches from all five Armed Forces branches. As each familiar tune played, veterans rose from their seats to receive applause and a salute from the conductor.
By the time the band got around to ``Anchors Aweigh,'' it seemed that the entire theater had stood already. But dozens rose with pride, and it was amazing that something so simple could be so moving. The five encores were icing on the cake. MEMO: Send your performance notices to Roy A. Bahls, The Virginian-Pilot and
The Ledger-Star, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510. Fax
446-2963. Include description of event, admission charge, time, date,
location and phone. Deadline is 10 days before publication. Call Mark
Mobley at 446-2783, write to the above address or send electronic mail
to mobley(AT)infi.net.
ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
CHRISTOPHER REDDICK/Staff
Sidney Berg leads the Tidewater Winds in a spirited holiday concert
before a packed house at the Wells Theater.
by CNB