Sauce dominates in promising One Ocean recipe at Holland Festival

Ultimately, we all come from water. After all, our very earliest ancestors crawled out of the sea on fins that would go on to develop into legs in the mud. Legs that we would then go on to grow into coal shovels, aeroplane wings and mobile phone holders. So that the sea still binds us together is a nice theme of the project One Ocean, which had its world premiere at the Amsterdam Muziekgebouw on Sunday 15 June. 

One Ocean comes from the bowels of the ensemble Small Island, Big Song, This brainchild of Taiwanese theatre maker BaoBao Chen and Australian filmmaker and music producer Tim Cole (who, as evidenced by the 'fetching applause' afterwards, also brought a real child into the world together) unites artists from 16 island states in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. What all these states have in common is rising sea levels. 

Eloquent alarm bell

Unlike the Netherlands, which may last another century with a few dike reinforcements and sand replenishments, these states are almost all doomed. We have taken the climate to such extremes in the last century that what we consider a somewhat warm summer here leads to famine in a place like Madagascar. Where we here add a sluice in case of disturbing high tides, the poorer districts of the Maldives are already disappearing into the sea. 

Every reason for artists from countries such as Taiwan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea and Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to ring a alarm bell. An eloquent alarm bell, though, because the music they make is brimming with energy and vitality. Small Island, Big Song comes in with a whole range of traditional string, wind and percussion instruments, each of which has led to particular traditions of its own. After all: islands are islands, and separate things happen there. 

For a long time, the ocean kept their worlds apart. Worlds that are now connected with a budget flight of a few hours. 

Recognisable chords

That can lead to flattening. Unfortunately, this became a little noticeable in Amsterdam's Muziekgebouw. Ironically, the traditional sounds, ancient rhythms and beautiful voices were joined by some very recognisable, Western chord progressions. The sauce, which should bring each individual dish to fruition, began to dominate. Perhaps good for a life on the streamers, but less so for a concert for demanding audiences.

Eventually, this produced some associations with The White Lotus for me. That series that perfectly unmasks intercontinental tourism as a continuation of colonial rule is supposed to make people aware of the devastating effect of tourism, but instead delivers record visits to the overpriced resorts that serve as its location.

Cocktails 

This festive, here and there joyously swinging concert by Small Island, Big Song, despite a few detuned guitars, kind of lived up to that image. Didn't we all feel like forgetting about things for a while, and getting on a plane for a few days of cocktails on a pearly white beach, where the locals have carefully cleaned up all the plastic waste beforehand? 

The few moments, when the video wall behind the performers referenced slavery, climate change and other calamities; the few serious songs where the singers raised a sad look to the audience, but unfortunately remained unintelligible in their calls: they only highlighted the splits we have all fallen into. 

Sustainable and sharp?

It is wonderful when we get to know more about each other. We need to connect with each other more often and more deeply. So can we find a way to do that without destroying the planet and each other's worlds? You can, of course, do that with a concert like this: let art tour, we stay here. Saves a lot of CO2. 

But could it be a little sharper, a little more pointed, with more different flavours and unfamiliar spices? And more emphasis on what we can learn from each other and from that ocean that connects us all?