Notes of Grandeur,
Hearts of Sorrow:
Remembering
PATRICK FLYNN
By Robert E. Martin
Apart from his professional & personal gifts, which allowed him to elicit
exciting performances in an enormous range of repertory, Patrick possessed a
charisma, style, and exuberance that were infectious, especially towards the
Saginaw Arts Community that needed these important qualities at a critical
juncture of its evolution.
In addition to infusing fresh life into the SBO, Flynn served as Music Director
of California's Riverside County Philharmonic and guest conducted annually for
Symphony Silicon Valley, The Holland Sinfonia and the Finnish National Opera.
A statuesque and proud Englishman, Patrick's passion for his art was equally
matched by his enthusiasm for truly understanding the nuances of the community
where he performed.
I distinctly recall the first phone conversation that I had with Patrick. Eager
to learn as much as he could about the musical heritage of mid-Michigan, we met
at Fralia's on Hancock Street, and while he ate a lunch that he brightly
announced "rivaled anything in California', we managed to spend a good two-hours
discussing the many levels of local community talent that populated the Saginaw
Valley.
And what struck me the most was his determination to cultivate it.
Later that Spring, I invited Patrick to attend our annual Review Music Awards
Ceremony as a guest presenter - an invitation that he readily accepted.
That year Michael Brush and Julie Mulady were performing with Brush Street,
featuring a guest performance by young saxophonist Morgan MacMillon, and after
the set Patrick came racing backstage to express his total awe at the caliber of
talent he had just witnessed. "I must get them to perform with the
Orchestra," Patrick commented. And true to form, he did - transcending
musical idioms by staging a landmark collaboration with these artists that
kicked off the next Fall season.
Patrick inherently understood the success was only as high as the goals one set;
and the magic came from the fact that musically, anything was possible. Last
year he commented to me, "I'm not interested in cultivating an audience that
only goes to the symphony. I'm interested in cultivating people that like music.
These are people that like Radiohead as much as they enjoy Beethoven." And
therein resides the legacy of Patrick Flynn - quality, whether it was a matter
of style or substance - knew no boundaries.
He also once commented, "One thing I like about America is there are very few
rules except be good at what you do." This sentiment also struck a strong
chord with me and revealed, I think, the innate nature of the man to 'mix it
up'. "Sometimes new music sounds completely out of date and music written
200 years ago sounds completely modern." Again, this is a sentiment that I think
speaks volumes about the man, whom in many ways, was ageless.
I was slated to interview Patrick about the new symphony season two days after
his passing. Now I am sitting here writing a remembrance. That all whom are
involved with the Saginaw Bay Orchestra and appreciate what Patrick Flynn
contributed not only to the SBO, but our community as a whole, have deigned to
dedicate the current season in his honor is a fitting tribute to artist that
never sided with the notion of 'limitations'.
Patrick's final gift to our community is the current season he assembled for the
orchestra - Music Beyond Your Imagination, which kicks off on Saturday, October
11th with A Night at the Opera Part II. Suzanne Mallare Acton, Assistant Music
Director of the Detroit Opera Theatre will serve as guest conductor, which is
equally fitting insofar as Acton was Patrick's choice to conduct A Night at The
Opera during the 2007 season. Joined by the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan,
this performance will feature Stacey Tappan and showcase a smorgasbord of opera
hits one would never expect to hear in one evening.