Fifty years ago on Wednesday (last night) Philippe Petit made history walking on a highwire between the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center. It was illegal, of course, but it made headlines around the world.
Last night, exactly five decades later, Petit — a few days short of his 75th birthday– commemorated his magical moment. This time it was inside, at New York’s majestic, soaring Cathedral of St. John the Divine, where he produced an evening called “Towering” that left the audience breathless.
Petit’s long time friend, the musician Sting, provided the music, accompanying the great artist with two songs, “Fragile,” and “Fields of Gold,” with a classical ensemble. At the end of the evening, Sting returned with a gorgeous new song from a musical work in progress about Petit called “Let the Great World Spin.”
There were other performers, as well, all of whom were greeted with cheers by an audience that included Sting’s wife, Trudie Styler, plus the legendary singer Judy Collins, actors Griffin Dunne and Tony Danza, plus author Susan Cheever, and everyone’s favorite rapper, Shaggy.
After a selection of musicians and dancers opened the show, Petit himself climbed several dozen feet in the capacious cathedral, took a balance bar, and began his first walk back and forth along the wire. The first walk was done slowly and with precision, and I think the audience was satisfied he still had his game on.
But then came subsequent walks in which Petit abandoned any apprehension, walking sprightly and sometimes sitting down in the center of the suspended wire. A couple of times, he lay down on his back as if he were on chaise longue and kicked one leg with abandon. He was mesmerizing, to say the least.
As for this fellow, Sting, he certainly has a career in front of him. Considering that he is always on tour, the famed rock star’s voice proved to be as supple as Petit’s athletics. They’re a good match. And Sting’s acoustic guitar, made up of strings not unlike the one Petit crosses, provided a poetic juxtaposition, although not quite as dangerous. So did the choice of one song in which he sings, “How fragile we are.” Indeed.
After he’d dazzled the crowd, Petit spoke of his 1974 walk. He said he had some confessions to make. The principal one was that he had not practiced for six years before pulling off the Twin Towers feat. He admitted he’d only arrived in the US six months before the event.
Petit also corrected the record regarding his best friend, Jean-Louis Blondeau. He said that Blondeau did shoot the arrow between the towers — mapping out the path — and was responsible for holding one end of the wire when others had given up. The admission may be late, but it’s here.
It was a sublime night, and will be performed again tonight (Thursday) for those lucky enough to score a ticket.
