Help me choose a concert please

[Bruckner is God]

I will be in London thursday the 5th of June and there are two concerts at the same time that day which both apeal to me very much. I find it very hard to decide which one to go to.
The first one is by the Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Christoph von Dohanyi and with soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek. The program is Four last songs by R. Strauss and Bruckner's ninth symphony.
The second concert is at the Barbican where Bernard Haitink is conducting the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. The program is Schumann's Manfred overture, Berg's Violin Concerto with violinist Isabelle Faust and Beethovens Pastorale symphony.
Which of these two concerts would you choose?

[trung224]

  Both are interesting but personally I like the Dohnanyi's concert more. Haitink is great conductor but apart from the Berg's Violin Concerto, I don't find  Beethoven and Schumann suit with his conducting style now.

[Sergeant Rock]

Your username is a pretty good indication which concert you should see 

But seriously, it's a difficult decision. I can see why you are torn between the two.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

That's a fine dilemma whose horns you're on!

[The new erato]

I don't believe in God. But I believe in Bruckner.

[Bruckner is God]

It's a tough decision. They are both among my favourite conductors, and both are quite old, so they are in the category where I feel I should grab every opportunity to see them.  I am actually leaning slightly towards the Haitink. Just because I feel he conducts fewer concerts than Dohanyi these days.
Hmmm. I think I still need to think about it.

[mc ukrneal]

Can't go wrong either way. The Barbican is not my favorite hall, and that could be a consideration for you.

[EigenUser]

I vote for the Schumann and Beethoven! The Berg would be nice to see performed, too, though I'm not crazy about the piece.

[TheGSMoeller]

My vote goes to Strauss.

[Karl Henning]

I vote for the Schumann and Beethoven! The Berg would be nice to see performed, too, though I'm not crazy about the piece.

Although, witnessing a live performance could change that!

[EigenUser]

Although, witnessing a live performance could change that!

Yes, which is why I'd like to see it performed live. For me, even music that I wouldn't normally listen to would be interesting to see live.

[North Star]

My vote goes for the Berg VC with Isabelle Faust and Dohnanyi in Bruckner 9th..

[Cato]

I am biased toward Dohnanyi because of his time in Cleveland: I heard him conduct a Mahler Ninth that was perfect some years ago. 

And of course...it's a Bruckner Concert!  THE NINTH!!!  Come on!   

End of debate!  Q.E.D.

[Karl Henning]

Cato is right.  If I had to choose (and we heard Isabella Faust play for the Berg Kammerkonzert here in Boston a few years back, so I appreciate the difficulty of the choice), I should have to go with Dohnányi & Bruckner, too  0:)

[North Star]

And of course...it's a Bruckner Concert!  THE NINTH!!!  Come on!   

End of debate!  Q.E.D.

But... what if the OP doesn't like Bruckner?  0:)

[Bruckner is God]

Ok, you have managed to persuade me. I am too much of a Bruckmer geek to pass on a performance with Dohnanyi and the 9th.  As much as i love Haitink I have never been a big fan of the pastorale symphony. Had it been almost any other Beethoven symphony I might have chosen otherwise.

[Cato]

But... what if the OP doesn't like Bruckner?  0:)

To paraphrase an (annoying) song from the past:

"All we are aaaaaaskiiiing,
Is give Bruckner a chaaaance!"

[Ken B]

Four last songs by R. Strauss, Bruckner's ninth symphony and Berg's Violin Concerto.

Why is this difficult?

[jochanaan]

Ok, you have managed to persuade me. I am too much of a Bruckmer geek to pass on a performance with Dohnanyi and the 9th.  As much as i love Haitink I have never been a big fan of the pastorale symphony. Had it been almost any other Beethoven symphony I might have chosen otherwise.

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