Review: World premiere Polar at Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Given the past few weeks' arctic conditions you could be mistaken in thinking this a weather report should I tell you to expect swirling blizzards upon vast blankets of crisp white snow surrounded by towering blocks of ice.

Thankfully, there was very little chill in the air as Polar visited the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall in its World Premiere matinee performance.

Polar is a unique concert experience during which breathtaking footage of the Arctic and Antarctic is accompanied by carefully chosen orchestral pieces, each handpicked by conductor John Harle who took the helm guiding the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra through each exquisite movement.

Bach, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Mendelssohn and Purcell were all included in the familiar mix along with several new compositions written by John Harle himself specifically for the Polar sequences which would open and close the show.

Each carefully scored piece was performed while stunning HD footage of polar bears, beluga whales, humpback whales, narwhals, albatrosses and very playful penguins was screened on a 32ft wide screen behind the RLPO.

Although 10 second gaps between each segment at times made the 75-minute experience frustratingly disjointed, without doubt, each sequence moved the audience in a variety of ways. From amusement at clumsy penguins to an audible 'ahhhhh' as tiny polar bear cubs bobbed along the snow, to quiet awe at the moon and chillingly foreign landscapes we are never likely to be priviledged (or brave) enough to witness first hand. Emotions were stirred most effectively by imposing mountains of ice and phenomena such as Aurora Borealis (The Northern Lights), this film footage in particular perfectly captured the magical natural beauty planet Earth holds.

Unbounded credit must go to the film-makers Doug Allan, Sue Flood, Nigel Marven, Tor Even Mathison and Mark Terry whose enthusiasm for the project pervades every second of footage.

It felt an honour to be privy to such a wonderful concert, with the talents of composers past and present utilised in providing a narrative to the outstanding natural beauty of the remote Polar Regions. A so often talked about part of our world, one which we are constantly reminded humanity is likely to destroy, Polar physically shows us the reason it must be saved.

Click Rating: 8/10

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