Excellance is in the details
by Lou Martin-Gerhards on 2021-12-20National Arts Centre / Centre national des Arts - OttawaRating: 3 out of 5I enjoyed the performance very much, my litmus test is the tingle you feel when you are moved by the music and I was not disappointed in the music.
My thoughts are more around the presentation. When you attend a performance at the National Art Centre (NAC) you expect that everything would be a cut above the rest. I think the initial mood of the audience is set when the curtain rises and the visual stage appears. It took me a while to get past the two forlorn little tress, one on each side of the stage. The tree lights were sparse, and the tree skirts were sad indeed. The "dollar store" bows stuck on the band's platform were askew and missed the attempt at a festive presentation. My spirit was not lifted at the sight of the stage and I think that I may have not been alone as it appeared to me that Mr. Shaw was hard pressed to warm-up the audience.
Mr. Shaw's performance was good, and I think would have been very good had their been less "canned" music, its sound overpowered hearing his guitar and enjoying his voice to the fullest.
The Tenors, their stance as soon as the walked on stage, changed the tone for me.
My sincere thanks for an enjoyable evening, and perhaps the next time it will be a spectacular evening with a bit of attention to the detail.
Sincerely
Lou