What concerts are you looking forward to? (Part II)

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

I love the Spektral Quartet! They come to NYC now and then, but hearing them more often would be a good reason to be in Chicago.

I still have a bottle of "The Emancipator" beer from their last concert, which was brewed in honor of Arnold Schoenberg, the "emancipator of the dissonance."

[Mirror Image]

It is an arrangement of the Ravel piano Sonatine for the "Debussy trio."

Thanks for clarifying things, Karl.

[Ainsi la nuit]

I'm hearing Mahler's 9th symphony next week, played by the Helsinki Philharmonic under the direction of its chief conductor Susanna Mälkki. It is bound to be one of the highlights of this season for me, as I've never heard it live before. It's one the two Mahler symphonies (the other being the elusive 7th) that took me the longest to grasp. I love it deeply already, but a good live performance is bound to deepen my appreciation of the work even further - and I thoroughly trust Mälkki with Mahler, since I adored her Das Lied von der Erde and especially her 6th, which I heard two nights in a row and left me completely shattered. She's a fantastic artist.

The two big orchestras in Helsinki are also revealing their programmes for the season 18-19 in a few weeks, and I honestly can't wait - it's so exciting!

[Mahlerian]

I'm hearing Mahler's 9th symphony next week, played by the Helsinki Philharmonic under the direction of its chief conductor Susanna Mälkki. It is bound to be one of the highlights of this season for me, as I've never heard it live before. It's one the two Mahler symphonies (the other being the elusive 7th) that took me the longest to grasp. I love it deeply already, but a good live performance is bound to deepen my appreciation of the work even further - and I thoroughly trust Mälkki with Mahler, since I adored her Das Lied von der Erde and especially her 6th, which I heard two nights in a row and left me completely shattered. She's a fantastic artist.

The two big orchestras in Helsinki are also revealing their programmes for the season 18-19 in a few weeks, and I honestly can't wait - it's so exciting!

Sounds like a great concert.  I look forward to your report!

[Brian]

Tonight!!:

Haydn - 83
Prokofiev - Piano Concerto 3
Beethoven - 2

Beatrice Rana
Nicholas McGegan
Dallas Symphony

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I'm hearing Mahler's 9th symphony next week, played by the Helsinki Philharmonic under the direction of its chief conductor Susanna Mälkki. It is bound to be one of the highlights of this season for me, as I've never heard it live before. It's one the two Mahler symphonies (the other being the elusive 7th) that took me the longest to grasp. I love it deeply already, but a good live performance is bound to deepen my appreciation of the work even further - and I thoroughly trust Mälkki with Mahler, since I adored her Das Lied von der Erde and especially her 6th, which I heard two nights in a row and left me completely shattered. She's a fantastic artist.

The two big orchestras in Helsinki are also revealing their programmes for the season 18-19 in a few weeks, and I honestly can't wait - it's so exciting!

I love reading the enthusiasm in all your posts and I look forward to reading your thoughts next week after the concert.

[Wanderer]

Prokofiev - Piano Concerto 3

Beatrice Rana

Nice! This could mean that she'll record it. Her rendition of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 is sensational.

[Brian]

Nice! This could mean that she'll record it. Her rendition of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2 is sensational.

It was an exceptional performance and she took great care to underline bits of the piano writing which echoed or "talked" with the orchestra - in some of the virtuoso runs and cascades of notes, there were many details I had never heard anyone live or on CD give credit to, which give the piece more of a chamber-like feel and a light, outdoors, but still highly virtuosic quality. McGegan being an 18th century specialist he tended to flatten tempos a bit (i.e. the beginning clarinet solo was just as fast as the music following) but the central variations were very well characterized.

I don't know if she will record it - I would like her to!! - because she is touring North America with a number of pieces. The week before, she was doing Brahms 1 in Canada.

Amazingly, this program was also the Dallas premiere performance of Haydn's 83rd!

[André]

Tomorrow:

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet in an all Debussy concert.

[Ken B]

I might — keyword might — be going to hear the National Youth Orchestra do VW 3 this summer.

[André]

Jean Efflam Bavouzet's all-Debussy concert was incredible. Not just the music (sublime of course) but Bavouzet's comments on the pieces, the style, the influences (Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky), Debussy vs Ravel, etc. Bavouzet was generous with his time, giving 3 mini lectures, a good 30 minutes in all. He is an excellent raconteur, establishing an immediate rapport with his audience. This concert was part of a Centenary year tour of all Debussy's solo piano oeuvre that the pianist gives in Montréal, London and Perth (Australia, not Scotland).

Program:

- 3 early pieces (1890)
- 3 Images
- 3 Préludes from the 1st Book
- Préludes, Book II (complete)

Highlight of the evening: Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest, a terrific and terrifying piece, violent and dissonant, the exact opposite of the debussyan stereotype. And the 1st Étude, Pour les cinq doigts, the evening's encore, a spiffing nose-thumbing at Czerny. Bavouzet's talk on the piece was longer than the work itself!

[Draško]

A classic evening, later tonight:

Stravinsky - Fireworks
Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.3
Stravinsky - The Firebird (full ballet 1910)

Alexander Gavrylyuk (piano)
Daniel Raiskin (conducting)
Belgrade Philharmonic

[Ainsi la nuit]

I'm hearing Mahler's 9th symphony next week, played by the Helsinki Philharmonic under the direction of its chief conductor Susanna Mälkki.

The concert took place today, and I'm happy to report that I enjoyed it very much! I was unfortunately feeling a bit unwell for various reasons, so my concentration levels weren't at their best; however, the stunning work managed to impress me anyway. It really is a strange work! The Rondo-Burleske is one of my favourite Mahler movements overall, it's keeps revealing more and more with each listen. The ending was appropriately shattering, even though I dislike the Bernstein-y impressions of "goodbyes to life" and all that.

I'm afraid I'm not familiar enough with the work to describe the details of Mälkki's interpretation, but I'd say that overall her take was characterized by a sense of clarity and purpose. In that she somewhat reminds me of Boulez, who is of course quite a controversial Mahler conductor - something that I've never really understood, he's one of my very favourites in this repertoire. Anyhow, the live experience deepened my appreciation of the symphony and allowed to me to hear new details in all of the movements - what else could I ask for?

[André]

Next Wednesday, at the Montreal Symphony:

John Storgärds, Hilary Hahn

- Jon Leifs: Geysir 
- Tchaikovsky: concerto
- Uuno Klami: Aurora Borealis
- Sibelius: symphony no 7

I didn't think I'd have a chance to hear Geysir live in my lifetime. Having a nordic music specialist conduct it adds to the prospect ! The concert's theme is « Immensity of Nordic Landscapes » . For I don't know what bad reason, it fails to include a « nordic » violin concerto. ! I'd have settled for the Nielsen or even Sibelius, let alone one of the lesser-known ones (there's so many of them !). Anyhow, 3 good works out of 4 ain't bad.

[Mirror Image]

Next Wednesday, at the Montreal Symphony:

John Storgärds, Hilary Hahn

- Jon Leifs: Geysir 
- Tchaikovsky: concerto
- Uuno Klami: Aurora Borealis
- Sibelius: symphony no 7

I didn't think I'd have a chance to hear Geysir live in my lifetime. Having a nordic music specialist conduct it adds to the prospect ! The concert's theme is « Immensity of Nordic Landscapes » . For I don't know what bad reason, it fails to include a « nordic » violin concerto. ! I'd have settled for the Nielsen or even Sibelius, let alone one of the lesser-known ones (there's so many of them !). Anyhow, 3 good works out of 4 ain't bad.

Yep, the Tchaikovsky VC is certainly out-of-place in that program. The Sibelius would have been the most appropriate given the program's title. The Nielsen less so given that, while it is a fantastic concerto, doesn't really conjure up images of Nordic landscapes for me.

[Mirror Image]

Jean Efflam Bavouzet's all-Debussy concert was incredible. Not just the music (sublime of course) but Bavouzet's comments on the pieces, the style, the influences (Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky), Debussy vs Ravel, etc. Bavouzet was generous with his time, giving 3 mini lectures, a good 30 minutes in all. He is an excellent raconteur, establishing an immediate rapport with his audience. This concert was part of a Centenary year tour of all Debussy's solo piano oeuvre that the pianist gives in Montréal, London and Perth (Australia, not Scotland).

Program:

- 3 early pieces (1890)
- 3 Images
- 3 Préludes from the 1st Book
- Préludes, Book II (complete)

Highlight of the evening: Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest, a terrific and terrifying piece, violent and dissonant, the exact opposite of the debussyan stereotype. And the 1st Étude, Pour les cinq doigts, the evening's encore, a spiffing nose-thumbing at Czerny. Bavouzet's talk on the piece was longer than the work itself!

Sounds like an incredible night! I'd love to have been there!

[André]

It sure was ! Maybe I should have mentioned the titles of the pieces:

- Ballade slave
- Prélude in D Flat
- Danse (tarantelle styrienne)
- 3 Images: Reflets dans l'eau / Hommage à Rameau / Mouvement
- 3 Préludes from Book I: La fille aux cheveux de lin / La cathédrale engloutie / Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest
- 12 Préludes (Book II)

The high point of the evening for me was the closing group of the first part (preludes from Book I).

[André]

Yep, the Tchaikovsky VC is certainly out-of-place in that program. The Sibelius would have been the most appropriate given the program's title. The Nielsen less so given that, while it is a fantastic concerto, doesn't really conjure up images of Nordic landscapes for me.

Verily. I think the concert programmers must have had an eye on audience expectations. 20th century 'nordic' music may be a tough sell, so a crowd pleaser had to be thrown in to attract ticket buyers. I was able to get a seat in a great spot a mere 5 days before the concert date, an indication that it won't be a sellout event.

[Mirror Image]

It sure was ! Maybe I should have mentioned the titles of the pieces:

- Ballade slave
- Prélude in D Flat
- Danse (tarantelle styrienne)
- 3 Images: Reflets dans l'eau / Hommage à Rameau / Mouvement
- 3 Préludes from Book I: La fille aux cheveux de lin / La cathédrale engloutie / Ce qu'a vu le vent d'ouest
- 12 Préludes (Book II)

The high point of the evening for me was the closing group of the first part (preludes from Book I).

[Wipes drool from mouth.]

[Mirror Image]

Verily. I think the concert programmers must have had an eye on audience expectations. 20th century 'nordic' music may be a tough sell, so a crowd pleaser had to be thrown in to attract ticket buyers. I was able to get a seat in a great spot a mere 5 days before the concert date, an indication that it won't be a sellout event.

Certainly something from Grieg could have pleased a lot of people than Tchaikovsky? I'm thinking of excerpts from Peer Gynt or something along these lines.