First proper Classical Music event

[dylanesque]

I have been to 3 classical music events before with my wife but at the time I wasn't as much into the scene or had the bug like I do now.
Bridgewater Hall Manchester :Haydn London Symphony and Mahler Symphony 4
Sir Mark Elder conductor
Ailish Tynan soprano
My experience started off rather badly and was all my own fault. I had a map and poor Internet directions for parking and only just found the venue in time. The lift wasn't working and the attendant advised us the show was starting so was ushered on to seats on the ground floor .I needed the loo but too bad and perhaps it distracted a little from Papa Haydn set .
I was familiar slightly with the London Symphony but I found it a little simplistic and devoid of colour . It seemed to me flat . I suppose the Second Movement was fairly good but overall a little uninspired. On a side note my wife sat next to a man who was asleep by the second movement ( perhaps the ' Surprise ' symphony would have woke him up). To me a bad start ,felt like Haydn by numbers but maybe I'm being unkind here.
In the break rushed to the loo bought a program . I foolishly thought I could order a drink at the bar in the Gallery. Not so ,had to go down a level to get my glass unless preordered( what's that about?).
After quickly downing the red it was the main event and Mahlers mighty 4th.The view from the Gallery was much better than the stands.
The first movement was certainly in the tempo I was used to in my Maazel version.
The Conductor although a little wooden and stiff seemed much better than in the Haydn routine .I was intrigued to note how noise and space seem different than in recordings of the movement.
The first violinist was excellent in the second movement and overall this and the mysterious ( mysterious forest?) third movement was the highlights of all the Symphony. The fourth movement I'm used to Kathleen Battle on and the sopranos Alison Tynan seemed a little weak in the mix for my liking. The orchestration behind her was spot on though.
Overall ill give Haydn 6/10 and Mahler 7/10
Conductor 7
Sopranos 6
One thing that struck me during the concert was that I felt I could have done with a volume control to turn the music up! Perhaps I'm to used to my Bose music system playing Mahler loudly on my iPod but I realise amplification is what it is at a live venue.

[Mirror Image]

It sounds like a similar experience I've had except for the drink part. I never have been keen on Mark Elder's conducting and quite frankly I don't quite understand what the attraction has been to his conducting. Like, for example, Elgar has been a composer he has championed, but I don't hear anything remarkable or that hasn't been done better by any conductor. In Mahler, I could imagine him not getting the music right. Mahler needs a more dedicated conductor who knows how to get inside of the music. But this is just my perspective of Elder, I'm sure many others will disagree.

[dylanesque]

It sounds like a similar experience I've had except for the drink part. I never have been keen on Mark Elder's conducting and quite frankly I don't quite understand what the attraction has been to his conducting. Like, for example, Elgar has been a composer he has championed, but I don't hear anything remarkable or that hasn't been done better by any conductor. In Mahler, I could imagine him not getting the music right. Mahler needs a more dedicated conductor who knows how to get inside of the music. But this is just my perspective of Elder, I'm sure many others will disagree.

To be fair he did get Mahler right as I've heard it alot in preparation for concert. You're correct in saying it was nothing extraordinary.

[Karl Henning]

Well, if I sat down to a concert needing the loo, Sir Adrian Boult could be conducting, and I mightn't think the event anything extraordinary ; )

[dylanesque]

Well, if I sat down to a concert needing the loo, Sir Adrian Boult could be conducting, and I mightn't think the event anything extraordinary ; )

Yep spoilt Papa Haydn somewhat

[Geo Dude]

Well, if I sat down to a concert needing the loo, Sir Adrian Boult could be conducting, and I mightn't think the event anything extraordinary ; )

That's the truth if I ever saw it in writing.  I essentially 'missed' an eight minute Schoenberg piece that served the role of an overture at a symphony concert because I arrived late and needed to use the restroom when I sat down; too bad, too, I didn't have an opinion to offer when intermission came and all of the concert-goers were bitching about how they DARED to play atonal music for us.



It's good to see you here dylanesque and I hope you'll stay here for the long haul.  We can be a quirky lot but we're dedicated to music.

[knight66]

It sounds like a similar experience I've had except for the drink part. I never have been keen on Mark Elder's conducting and quite frankly I don't quite understand what the attraction has been to his conducting. Like, for example, Elgar has been a composer he has championed, but I don't hear anything remarkable or that hasn't been done better by any conductor. In Mahler, I could imagine him not getting the music right. Mahler needs a more dedicated conductor who knows how to get inside of the music. But this is just my perspective of Elder, I'm sure many others will disagree.

That's right, i disagree. And let's not forget your claim that there are no living conductors worth collecting.  Elder's Elgar Dream of Gerontius is the best in a generation. Wagner Gotterdammerung was remarkable, just can't take the Brunhilde there. Lovely performance of transcriptions of Debussy preludes. Not an exhaustive list BTW.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,10121.msg254182/topicseen.html#msg254182


Mike

[71 dB]

Elder's Elgar Dream of Gerontius is the best in a generation.

I had a change to get a copy for £6.98 + shipping (used) but I was too slow and blew it. Now it's £12.07 (Amazon.co.uk marketplace).

I own only 2 of Elder's Elgar discs because these Hallé's are just so damn expensive! 

[jochanaan]

To be fair he did get Mahler right as I've heard it alot in preparation for concert. You're correct in saying it was nothing extraordinary.

That's not hard to do if you just follow the score.  But so many conductors think they know better than Mahler when it comes to the details of dynamics and tempo changes! With Haydn, you've got to have both knowledge of Classical style and a sense of fun.