DATE: Sunday, May 4, 1997                   TAG: 9705030050

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY CRAIG SHAPIRO, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   55 lines

FIRST 10 DAYS OF FEST BRING UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS

SCIENTISTS SAY one thing. Clerics, something else.

But in the open-ended debate over what came first - Big Bang or Genesis - it's the Virginia Waterfront International Arts Festival that just might have the last word.

Ten days into its maiden run, it is proving to be a marvel of evolution. With every performance, the festival puts on a new face, takes a new direction.

Forget theory, this is practice.

Opening ceremonies at Nauticus drew Main Street movers, NATO brass (sporting more scrambled eggs than a breakfast bar) and Flora, the pachyderm star of Circus Flora. That night, the Hanover Band, the period-instrument orchestra from England, played at Hampton University's cozy Ogden Hall. The intimacy of the performance was the antithesis of the party across the water.

Downtown Norfolk the evening of April 25 was bumper-to-bumper, with folks bound for Scope for the International Military Tattoo; Chrysler Hall for STOMP; the Wells Theatre for ``Always . . . Patsy Cline,'' and the Harrison Opera House for ``Oklahoma!'' Shoot, the Tides in town, too.

Busloads of grade-school students were enthralled by the first performance in the Lunchtime Chamber Music Series, Monday at the Contemporary Art Center of Virginia. That night at the Harrison, Minimalist godfather Steve Reich and his ensemble captivated an audience of aficionados and musicians, including composer Adolphus Hailstork, clarinetist F. Gerard Errante, guitarist Sam Dorsey and members of the Virginia Symphony.

Under the baton of Dennis Russell Davies, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra concluded its 12th tour of North America Tuesday at the Wells Theatre. Works by Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky, and contemporary composers Lou Harrison and Giya Kancheli, were enthusiastically received by the nearly full house.

The Mark Morris Dance Group positively electrified the Harrison Opera House Wednesday night. Ditto for Garth Fagan Dance last Sunday at Norfolk State's L. Douglas Wilder Performing Arts Center.

More? The seamless interplay between jazzmen Jae Sinnett, Cyrus Chestnut and Steve Kirby. The audience clapping along - clapping along - to ``Oklahoma!'' Former Marines standing for ``The Marines' Hymn'' during the tattoo.

In putting the festival together, director Robert W. Cross was determined to keep it from being perceived as exclusive by having something for everyone. He was determined to involve Hampton Roads' arts groups and draw audiences from outside the region.

When he stepped up to the plate, did he know that he was going to hit one out of the park?

And there's still eight days to go. ILLUSTRATION: FILE PHOTO

Tickler of ivories and funny bones, Victor Borge closes out the

festival next Sunday at the GTE Virginia Beach Amphitheater. KEYWORDS: THE VIRGINIA WATERFRONT INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL

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