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22/02/2006 Art Deco music – Coward, Porter and Gershwin
I’d never seen an older audience at a gig. The age of the gathering made the doddery retireds who make up much of the Royal Opera House's audiences seem positively youthful. It looked like a reunion of the class of 1936. Or even 1926. They gathered at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall last night to hear The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra perform a concert of “Art Deco music” – the delightful legacy of talents like Noel Coward, Cole Porter and the Gershwins. Seeing that so few of last night’s partygoers were under the age of 80, I ruminated that this great music is due to disappear. Then it struck me, like a bolt from the blue! No more sneering at poprock stars like Rod Stewart or nu-crooners like Jamie Cullum when they have the effrontery to cover the “easy” repertoire. They’re performing a noble service – they’re taking a great musical legacy to entirely new audiences – Stewart to the children, Cullum to the grandchildren and great grandchildren, of last night’s ageing boppers. OK, I’ll continue to listen to the original readings of the songbook – Sinatra, Ella et al. But, in future, I’ll also welcome contemporary interpretations. Because, without the Stewarts and the Cullums, Art Deco music is, like last night's QEH audience, on its way out.
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