Trans Siberian Orchestra Rocked The Centre

By: Joe J. Wallace

Band’s Donation to Riley Children’s Hospital started off the evening with warmth

The Trans Siberian Orchestra made a stop in Evansville last night playing their now world renowned “Beethoven’s Last Night” tour with the composing creativity not seen in these parts since the 70’s pinnacle of Evansville as a “must play” place on tours by Queen, Styx, Kiss, and other bands who artfully mixed theatrics with rock and roll music.

The good vibes actually started before the music when four members of the orchestra came on stage with WIKY to announce that $1 of every ticket sold was being donated by the Trans Siberian Orchestra to the Riley Children’ Hospital. Some bands that come to town demand beer, whiskey, and expensive food as part of their contracts. This band came to give and give they did.

Three hours of non-stop teaching, entertaining, and actually making audience members think about life’s conundrums followed. The main story, Beethoven’s last night on earth where the devil (Mephistopheles) tries to trick him out of his music in exchange for his mortal soul has influences from “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” throughout. When the vocalist sang the lines “this is who you are” it certainly conjured up memories of “this is the point of no return”. The continuous display of musical talent, choreography, and synchronized monochromatic lights (lasers) kept the audience, many of whom were back for their 20th or more concerts mentally engaged.

At the conclusion of the show when old Mephistopheles gets tricked by Twist, the playful child of Fate, he goes back to where he came from empty handed. A good show with a happy beginning and a positive ending is about as good as it can get in River City. TSO then returned to do a 40 minute set of songs from their newest release “Night Castle” that left most of us ready for their next trip to Evansville, or Louisville, or any other place within driving distance.

On the way home my wife Karen turned to me and said that she wanted to read a biography of the life of Beethoven. That is testament to the teaching and inspirational power of acts like the Trans Siberian Orchestra that fuse entertainment styles to engage broad audiences.

Enjoy the video below. The stage set-up, the lights, and sounds that came to Evansville last night were identical to what New York City was treated to.