My oh my, it has been a rather hefty week! It's been my first proper week of teaching and it was hard-going! In addition, I didn't get home till 12.20am from orchestra on Tuesday and 2am last night from watching the Aurora Orchestra at the Late night prom. WATCH IT here on BBC iPLayer- it was AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMAZING! I've been conducted by this wonderful conductor and it is amazing to see how well he is doing!
Back to last Sunday! My flute trio, Flautista, were invited to play at a Flower Festival in a village near Chelmsford. The theme of the festival was "It's Showtime!" with an emphasis on arrangements that were representing some of the most popular stage shows. I confess, I was intrigued to see how they would achieve this, having experienced some amazing flower arrangements at previous Flaustista performances and at my own church.
Come and have a look at these arrangements with me and enjoy the breathtaking ingenuity in which these artists have intertwined the beauty of creation with additional props to create a show to remember.
At the top here, we have the elegant simplicity of the stage show, Top Hat. I thought the adornment of the white flowers and green foliage really did seem to emulate the outline of that top hat and cane, married with black drapes and the silhouette.
Above, Madame Butterfly, Puccini's most famous opera is presented by these proud spiky displays of pink and green with the Kimono-clad mannequin providing extra reference.
Below, River Dance is cleverly interpreted with these rigid tall towers of flowers cleverly reminding the eye of the line of Irish dancers with perfect posture.
Above, The King and I. How clever is that green foliage and the flowers upon the bust reminding us of the Siamese costumes worn by the King's children and wife and those sprayed gold leaves.
Below, we have Cats. Confession- it is beautiful and very clever though would be hard to recognise without the cats! Maybe those long tendrils of green are paws stretched out.
Sunset Boulevard is obviously focused on the glorious colours of Sunset!
Below- the display in the bell tower is by my friend Pat, who I discovered goes to this church now. It was so nice to see her there!
I wish I could have captured the above display better because it was truly magnificent- The Phantom of the Opera! The boat and lamp which he carries Christine Daae to his underground lair, the white tropical flowers so similar to masks, the red roses of Christine- the musical notes! Brilliant!
Below right- Follies is cleverly focused on feathery pink blooms with feathers to add to the impact.
Below left, Eliza Doolittle's Flower market is clever represented with the different colours in crates and her famous Ascot hat.
Below right- Bizet's Carmen is all Spanish hot colours and clever props.
The Lion King, below left, employs a breathtaking array of huge African blooms and mane-like foliage.
Below right, will you raise the barricade with Les Miserables? The colours of France!
Below right- South Pacific employs a beach and shells as well as tropical floral magnificence.
Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor dream coat below. This is my favourite one! Notice the sheaves of corn on the right!
Below right- Aladdin's lamp from Aladdin is turned into flower form!
There were some others, but my pictures of these weren't very good.
I was amazed and wowed by the incredible artistry and I was very honoured to be able to see these.
What do you think? Do you have a favourite?
xx
How stunning. I like the arrangements where the flowers reflect the theme. Sometimes if the props weren't there, you'd find it hard to identify, as with the Cats one. But clever use of shape and colour makes all the difference. I like the Les Mis one. Reminds me of "Do you hear the people sing". I should so love to attend a Flautista concert. Maybe when I retire to East Anglia...
ReplyDeleteA busy weekend and week for you. Thank you for sharing photos of the flower arrangements at the flower festival in the church where your trio played. I'm sure the music delighted everyone looking around. I can see that the standard of flower arranging was high. Everywhere flowers and decorations and even a palm tree! I like the ones with a dance theme and I can understand why you liked Joseph's dream coat. I hope this weekend is a relaxing one for you.
ReplyDeleteYes, you have been busy and must be glad the weekend is here so you can rest.
ReplyDeleteAll the flower arrangement are very artistic and beautiful but I love simplicity so my favorite arrangement is the three swags of yellow flowers. They are simple and joyful and quiet.
Enjoy the weekend. Hugs, Julia
A start of a new school year is always such a busy time. I started working in a new school as a volunteer.
ReplyDeleteAmazing floral arrangements! I think I like the one inspired by Puccini's Madame Butterfly the most.
Absolutely gorgeous arrangements. I know nothing about flowers but love the structural yellow blooms in the second photo. xxx
ReplyDeletePretty flower festival <3
ReplyDeleteI liked all of them - yes, without props, or your explanation, I would have struggled to guess the stage show with many, but they're all beautiful! Like Ang I like Les Miserables, and the Joseph....one too.
ReplyDeleteThose flower arrangements are absolutely stunning and very imaginative. My favourite would have to be The King and I. xxx
ReplyDeleteI like Aladdin's lamp!
ReplyDeletexx