Soulful symphony: Annual musical event is salve for flood-weary Memphis

Photo by Kyle Kurlick // Buy this photo

"It's a miracle evening," said The Bar-Kays lead singer Larry Dodson, who performed with the band in an arrangement that put a soulful spin on the traditional "1812 Overture."

The Sunset Symphony brought Memphis in May back to the river Saturday night with a program so thoroughly Memphis that even the "1812 Overture" had soul.

The overture has been performed at nearly every Sunset Symphony since it started 35 years ago, but this one, arranged by Sam Shoup, injected a bargeful of hot buttered soul into Tchaikovsky's composition.

Photo by Kyle Kurlick

With flood waters gone from Tom Lee Park, the Sunset Symphony was off to a good start on Saturday. Lisa Kubick of Cordova (center) dances with her son (right) Evan Kubick while waiting for the music to start.

Photo by Kyle Kurlick

As crowds gathered at Tom Lee Park, dancers from the group Totally Africa entertained with choreographed dances to various styles of music.

Shoup had been doing several charts for guest performers The Bar-Kays to do with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra in a tribute to Stax. "When they asked me to arrange the 1812, those soulful arrangements were already in my head -- as if they weren't already."

He said the 1812 opening is a hymn, so he gave it a gospel treatment, and the bombastic ending got the most exciting soul shadings he could conjure.

How did the crowd like it? Put it this way: It could be a new tradition.

Having The Bar-Kays playing with the MSO brings two Memphis institutions together.

"I'm trying to be cool about it," said Bar-Kays veteran James Alexander, "but this is monumental!"

"It's a miracle evening," said singer Larry Dodson. "This program is something we're taking all over the country and the world, a tribute to Isaac Hayes and Otis Redding."

It was a milestone event for Stilian Kirov, associate conductor of the MSO who was leading his first Sunset Symphony.

"It's exciting to merge two different musical worlds, soul and classical," he said. "Honestly, I think this is the future path where we'll see more composers writing classical works based on American music. This will bring a new renaissance."

The Sunset Symphony event started around 3 p.m. with people coming in in solid numbers to Tom Lee Park, which had been flooded by the Mississippi River just days ago.

The Riverfront Development Corp. did most of the cleanup when the water receded, and MIM was able to move in Wednesday to set up. The park looked good and for once the rain that fell earlier in the week was a friend, rinsing away dust.

City Councilman Myron Lowery said he never misses the Sunset Symphony. "It's a signature of Memphis that's identified with the city, where we come together to relax and have a citywide picnic."

Diane Hampton, executive vice president for MIM, was pleased with the size of the crowd and said, "People were ready to celebrate the end of this month. It was tough, and we all have a renewed respect for the river, but everybody pulled together. Memphis is the city that could."

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