On March 22, the daily rush of Odessa’s popular fish market Privoz was suddenly interrupted by – or rather treated to – a live performance by the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra and the Odessa Opera Theater, led by Western-born musician and conductor Hobart Earle.
Earle,
54, who was born in Venezuela and educated in the U.K. and the U.S., has been
living in Odessa since 1991 and conducted the Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra for
23 years.
The
concert in Privoz began quietly with and with a single cello player standing between
the market rows at 10:30 a.m. Soon, some 90 musicians joined in, playing a five-minute
long concert comprised of an array of instruments big and small. They stood in
the aisles as well as behind the meat counters as onlookers watched in
amazement.
The
general idea of the performance, according to Earle, was to protest against the
current political conflicts and to support the unity of Ukraine, its peace and
brotherhood.
Both
customers and employees of Privoz market gave the orchestra a standing ovation
at the end of its performance.
“The
idea (to play at the market) came up during a coffee break between rehearsals,”
Earle told the Kyiv Post.
The
project was the first cooperation between Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra and Odessa Opera Theater
in many years, according to Earle. The team that played in Privoz market included 30 instrumentalists
from Odessa Philharmonic Orchestra and 60 musicians from Odessa Opera Theater. Earle
was ready to bring in more musicians, but the market could only fit so many.
“There
was no need to choose a piece of music: Beethoven’s 9th symphony and Schiller’s
“Ode to Joy” are humankind’s hymns for freedom, peace and brotherhood – just
like Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is for love,” Earle said.
The
location for performance was chosen for a reason.
“The
fish market is a symbolic location for the people of Odessa,” Earle said.
