Special guest Storm Large singing Kurt Weill’s ‘Seven Deadly Sins’

PORTLAND – Guest artist Storm Large, of Pink Martini fame, joins the Portland Symphony Orchestra for the Beethoven’s Seventh concerts, where she will sing Weill’s “Seven Deadly Sins.” The concerts take place at Merrill Auditorium on Sunday, April 19 at 2:30 p.m. and Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30 p.m.

After growing up in Germany, composer Kurt Weill fled his country in 1933 and eventually made his way to America, where he wrote a string of Broadway hits. “The Seven Deadly Sins” tells the story of two sisters who make their way from the Mississippi bayou to the big city to strike it big in the entertainment industry. The piece leads the girls on a journey through each of the seven deadly sins, accompanied by music ranging from waltzes and foxtrots to a deconstructed barbershop quartet. All the while, the female vocalist is accompanied by a male quartet acting as commentators on the story.

Initially a punk rock singer in Portland, Oregon, guest artist Storm Large became a vocalist with “little orchestra” Pink Martini, a band known for its ability to cross genres and delight audiences with classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop favorites. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2013 with the Detroit Symphony, singing “Seven Deadly Sins.”

Since its founding members came together in 1977, the six-man ensemble Hudson Shad has most likely racked up more performances as The Family in “The Seven Deadly Sins” than any other group in history. This marks the group’s first performance in Maine and their fifth with Storm Large. Previous appearances as The Family include those at Carnegie Hall and at Italy’s Macerata Festival.

The classical concert features Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony. This symphony has inspired an extensive range of meanings from a variety of listeners, who have identified elements of a political revolution, a Bacchic orgy, a rustic wedding, and even a story of Moorish knights within the work. Regardless of the interpretation, it’s clear that the element at play here is rhythm, and it challenges the listeners’ focus on the melody.

This is the third in the PSO’s Beethoven series, which will present all nine of Beethoven’s symphonies over three seasons as part of the 90th anniversary celebration. The series continues with three more Beethoven concerts in the 2015-16 season, which can be viewed online at portlandsymphony.org.

Tickets to the concert range from $25 – $75 and are available through PortTIX at (207) 842-0800 or www.porttix.com. Phone and internet orders are subject to per-ticket handling fees. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the box office at 20 Myrtle St., Monday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. 

Copy the Story Link