Blog # 52…December 2015
We’re all responding in our own way to the brutal attacks in
Paris on November 13…fear, anger, withdrawal and many other more complex
feelings and ponderings.
Eighty nine people died at the Eagles of Death Metal concert
in the Bataclan. Members of the band
watched helplessly as many in the audience died protecting friends with their
bodies. It made me wonder, as I often do – you probably do too - how I would respond
to a crisis situation. The acts in Paris were calculated to make a statement
about the sin of hedonism, people enjoying themselves on a Friday night. We all
do that right, and it’s important that life goes on and we don’t let ourselves
be manipulated by fear.
Would be understandable if performers let go of “The
show must go on” in favour of their own (and their fans) personal safety. EDOM
has cancelled shows for the foreseeable future and they get a pass since they
were caught in the middle of the heat.
A few days after the horror though, our own performers, Tafelmusik
and Opera Atelier, teamed up to present the opera Armide in the Palace of
Versailles. It was the first public performance there since the attacks, made
even more remarkable by the theme of Lully's opera, written over 300 years
ago - the love between a Christian and a Muslim.
Jeanne Lamon, former Tafelmusik director observed that “Cultural
ambassadorship has taken on a whole new meaning. For many years, I’ve believed
that music can heal in powerful ways…now that takes on new meaning too”.
As I mentioned last month, my neighbours and I (along with
many other groups across the city, and the country) have begun the process of
sponsoring a refugee family. We began
pretty much as strangers to each other and are gradually revealing our talents
and our willingness to donate time and energy…and we’re beginning to examine
our ability to tolerate the ambiguities that a task like this is already
presenting.
This activity and a few others will keep me busy for the
next while so I’m posting this early,
wishing you a warm celebration of whatever holiday you embrace.
