Bruckner's Abbey

[(poco) Sforzando]

The other way would be a one-day marathon of all nine. Start at 10AM, finish around midnight. Presumably with a relay of orchestras/conductors. >.>

Oy, vey. And what are you charging for tickets? How long are your intermissions? Are there breaks for meals? How are you going to manage the logistics of shifting conductors and orchestras 8-9 times in a day? Not to mention, do you really expect any audience could survive a 14-hour stretch?

(I went through a 7-hour marathon of four Shakespeare history plays a few months ago. They were all cut from their full 3-hour length, but even so, it was as much as I can could manage on one day.)

[Jo498]

I am not disputing that this may not be an ideal way to experience a Bruckner cycle. But a visiting conductor and orchestra can hardly spread it over several months. It could also be argued that it would not get any cheaper for visitors when spread over months but doing it in 10 days gives Brucknerians from further away a chance to take a vacation, travel to NYC and go for the full Bruckner experience...

[(poco) Sforzando]

I am not disputing that this may not be an ideal way to experience a Bruckner cycle. But a visiting conductor and orchestra can hardly spread it over several months. It could also be argued that it would not get any cheaper for visitors when spread over months but doing it in 10 days gives Brucknerians from further away a chance to take a vacation, travel to NYC and go for the full Bruckner experience...

Then use multiple conductors and multiple orchestras. And have you checked out the rate for NYC hotels lately?

[Jo498]

So are people only staying on business in NYC? I'd guess there are SOME people who can afford to go there as tourists, though. It's been almost 20 years that I've been there and I stayed in a Youth Hostel but as I recall there were plenty of tourists around and not all were staying in Youth Hostels. Of course, concerts and hotels in NYC are comparably expensive! But with a cycle spread over months it is obviously far less feasible for a non-local Brucknerian to attend because he would have far more travel expenses.

[(poco) Sforzando]

So are people only staying on business in NYC? I'd guess there are SOME people who can afford to go there as tourists, though. It's been almost 20 years that I've been there and I stayed in a Youth Hostel but as I recall there were plenty of tourists around and not all were staying in Youth Hostels. Of course, concerts and hotels in NYC are comparably expensive! But with a cycle spread over months it is obviously far less feasible for a non-local Brucknerian to attend because he would have far more travel expenses.

Not worth quarreling over. Those who want to come, will come.

[Brian]

The other way would be a one-day marathon of all nine. Start at 10AM, finish around midnight. Presumably with a relay of orchestras/conductors. >.>

I think Daverz has done this. There is a group of folks in California who get together once a year and spend all day in somebody's house, listening to rare/obscure recordings of all 11 Bruckner symphonies, with food and beer.

[bhodges]

I think Daverz has done this. There is a group of folks in California who get together once a year and spend all day in somebody's house, listening to rare/obscure recordings of all 11 Bruckner symphonies, with food and beer.

Yes, the "Brucknerthon"! Several friends have been, and I hope to get out there and experience it myself, some day. I've seen a few of the lists of recordings scheduled in the past, and there have been some fascinating ones (e.g., rare airchecks).

--Bruce

[Sergeant Rock]

I think Daverz has done this. There is a group of folks in California who get together once a year and spend all day in somebody's house, listening to rare/obscure recordings of all 11 Bruckner symphonies, with food and beer.

The West Coast Brucknerthon.

Sarge

[Brian]

2015 Brucknerthon playlist with this intriguing P.S.: "Be sure to brush up on your Bruckner trivia before the event, as the winner of the annual Bruckner quiz will walk away with a special prize. "

[Sergeant Rock]

Yes, the "Brucknerthon"! Several friends have been, and I hope to get out there and experience it myself, some day. I've seen a few of the lists of recordings scheduled in the past, and there have been some fascinating ones (e.g., rare airchecks).

--Bruce

According to Berky's site, there will be one on the east coast this year.

http://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/features/westcoastbrucknert/

Sarge

[bhodges]

According to Berky's site, there will be one on the east coast this year.

http://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/features/westcoastbrucknert/

Sarge

Thank you! Didn't know about this, and will investigate.

--Bruce

[(poco) Sforzando]

According to Berky's site, there will be one on the east coast this year.

http://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/features/westcoastbrucknert/

Sarge

But there have already been several on the East Coast! We have missed out.

http://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/features/the2014eastcoastbr/pastbrucknertatonp/
http://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/features/the2014eastcoastbr/
http://www.abruckner.com/editorsnote/features/the2014eastcoastbr/brucknerathonliste/

For 2014: "Music begins at 8AM and concludes at 10:45PM One hour for lunch and dinner."

But I submit that this statement is deceptive! One clicks the link and finds 55 minutes each for lunch and dinner. And one is given variously 6, 3, 5, 2, 4, 7, and 8-minute breaks between symphonies. Talk about being over-scheduled.

Well, if it's not the first then I will not show up. I'm waiting for Todd to host a Beethoven Pianosonatathon, where each sonata - possibly each sonata movement - is performed by a different pianist. I volunteer to play the first movement from op. 49/1 live.

[Sergeant Rock]

But there have already been several on the East Coast! We have missed out.

Yep. The page I found was really old apparently. Confusing though because the links at the side are for recent newsletters.

Sarge

[Brian]

Well, if it's not the first then I will not show up. I'm waiting for Todd to host a Beethoven Pianosonatathon, where each sonata - possibly each sonata movement - is performed by a different pianist. I volunteer to play the first movement from op. 49/1 live.

No joking here: I would definitely fly to Portland attend this.

[(poco) Sforzando]

No joking here: I would definitely fly to Portland attend this.

In that case I volunteer to play the fugue from the Hammerklavier. Now you'll be sorry.

[Brian]

https://www.youtube.com/v/JCpnk5OuzUE

[Pat B]

Well, if it's not the first then I will not show up. I'm waiting for Todd to host a Beethoven Pianosonatathon, where each sonata - possibly each sonata movement - is performed by a different pianist. I volunteer to play the first movement from op. 49/1 live.

If Todd is hosting, it is liable to be a Beethoven Piano Sonata Cyclathon.

[(poco) Sforzando]

If Todd is hosting, it is liable to be a Beethoven Piano Sonata Cyclathon.

Allowing one day for both numbers from op. 49, that could be a month-long affair for all those months with 31.

[MishaK]

Guys, I just want to add to this latest discussion on Barenboim's upcoming Carnegie cycle two things:

1. Barenboim live, doing repertoire that he loves dearly is in a different category entirely than his recorded output. If all you know are his recordings, don't be dissuaded. There is a completely different electricity to his live performances. And Bruckner's symphonies and Mozart's piano concertos are his 'babies'. He loves these works dearly and it shows. Some of my finest concertgoing moments involved basically any time I had the pleasure of hearing Barenboim conduct a Mozart piano concerto from the keyboard, as well as the mini-Bruckner cycle (Nos. 4, 7 and 9) he did with the CSO in Berlin on tour circa 2003.

2. Barenboim doing a full cycle is almost becoming a tagline for a recurring joke. But there is a special atmosphere at these things. I went to his complete Beethoven cycle (symphonies and piano concertos) at Carnegie, also with Staatskapelle Berlin, in the 2000/2001 season. There was a special sort of connection that developed between the audience and the orchestra over the course of the cycle. Many attendees went to the whole cycle or at least several concerts from what I could tell.

I'm gonna have to come to NY for some of these. Not sure how that will work out yet.

[(poco) Sforzando]

Guys, I just want to add to this latest discussion on Barenboim's upcoming Carnegie cycle two things:

1. Barenboim live, doing repertoire that he loves dearly is in a different category entirely than his recorded output. If all you know are his recordings, don't be dissuaded. There is a completely different electricity to his live performances. And Bruckner's symphonies and Mozart's piano concertos are his 'babies'. He loves these works dearly and it shows. Some of my finest concertgoing moments involved basically any time I had the pleasure of hearing Barenboim conduct a Mozart piano concerto from the keyboard, as well as the mini-Bruckner cycle (Nos. 4, 7 and 9) he did with the CSO in Berlin on tour circa 2003.

2. Barenboim doing a full cycle is almost becoming a tagline for a recurring joke. But there is a special atmosphere at these things. I went to his complete Beethoven cycle (symphonies and piano concertos) at Carnegie, also with Staatskapelle Berlin, in the 2000/2001 season. There was a special sort of connection that developed between the audience and the orchestra over the course of the cycle. Many attendees went to the whole cycle or at least several concerts from what I could tell.

I'm gonna have to come to NY for some of these. Not sure how that will work out yet.

Thank you for this, MishaK. I definitely want to hear a few of these. But probably not all, even though NY is just a 90-minute train ride for me. But given the likely expense, and the fact that I don't find all the symphonies of equal interest, I don't plan to come to all. With all the interest, however, maybe some of us can meet face-to-face if so desired!