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

Started by Siedler, April 20, 2007, 05:34:10 PM

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Lilas Pastia

Thank, I'll have a look. Lille is not that far. Nor are Nancy and Strasbourg for that matter. Same distance, different directions. But I'm busy concocting a London-Amsterdam combo that will probably leave me with no time - and cash :D - for anything else!

bhodges

This Friday, a fascinating selection of 20th and 21st-century holiday music by The Crossing, the choir in Philadelphia.

The Crossing
Donald Nally, conductor
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill
Friday 21 December 2007  8pm

Andrew Gant: What child is this (1995)         
James MacMillan: Tremunt videntes angeli (2002)      
Judith Bingham: The clouded heaven (1998)         
Don Michael Dicie: Star unto glory (2006)          
John Paynter: The Rose (1969)            
Colin Mawby: How far is it to Bethlehem (1996)      
Jake Thackray/arr. Howard Goodall: Remember Bethlehem (2000)         
Kerry Andrew: Hevene Quene (2006)            
Kenneth Leighton: A Christmas Caroll (1954)          
Kenneth Leighton: O leave your sheep (1963)         
Thomas Adès: The Fayrfax Carol (1997)         
John Tavener: A nativity (1985)            
David Shapiro: Et incarnatus est (2007, world premiere)            
Jonathan Varcoe: Lullay lullay little child (1990)      
Jonathan Dove: Welcome, all wonders in one sight! (1999)   
Arr. Carl Ruggles: What child is this (1971)

--Bruce   

pjme

It is an ETcetera/Klara CD, but next Saturday Zefiro Torna and all the singers are in a small village near Antwerp - Bornem, on the banks of the Schelde....this is what Musicweb had to say:

We live at a time when we should be very thankful for the vast wealth of 'early' music now available to us. Barely a generation ago – certainly two – it would have been unlikely that a recording of a substantial portion of the corpus of mediaeval sacred music from Finland would have been thought likely to succeed. It is equally unlikely that anyone would then have assembled the resources and channelled the energy into producing and disseminating such.


Here, though, is a sumptuous and inspiring collection – representative and selective, rather than aggressively comprehensive – of some nearly two dozen pieces ranging in length from one and a half to four and three quarter minutes. The Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et scholasticae veterum episcoporum ('pious songs for church and school by the old bishops') was published in Turku, Finland, in 1582. It actually comprises music from a variety of places and times, though it's safe to make two assumptions: that about half the 75 or so songs which it contains are Finnish... they are not to be found elsewhere, and are stylistically consistent. Secondly, we can determine very quickly not only that the songs are nearly all considerably older than the late sixteenth century, but also that some surely date back as much as 500 years. That many of the titles should be in Latin in Protestant Finland may be explained by the fact that the publication was sponsored by the Catholic sympathiser, King Johan III of Sweden, at that time ruler of Finland.


Evidence that the Piae Cantiones were an attempt to preserve a perhaps threatened local tradition of music hitherto transmitted only (or largely) orally is in the two republications within a few years - one in Finnish in 1616, a second again in Latin nine years after that; and many more before long. Significantly the Piae Cantiones have had a strong influence on contemporary Finnish music... Sibelius' Carminalia as well as modern 'folk' song and other modern arrangements of them, for example.


The majority of these songs are related to Christmas – hence, presumably – the preponderance (almost a third) in the first batch (De Nativitate tr.s1-8) here. Others concern high points of the liturgical year (e.g. Easter – De Passione tr.s9-11), school life (tr.s15-18) and the woes of the human condition (tr.s12-14) as well as the rebirth of nature in spring (tr.s19-22). It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that anyone unfamiliar with Finnish music before the Early Modern period (or for that matter any era of that nation's music) would do best to buy this CD, which is admittedly a little under-generous at less than an hour in length.


The performances are first class: Zefiro Torna performs on period instruments (from the 15th and 16th centuries), including the kannel (Estonian) or kantele (Finnish), a zither, or dulcimer. The particular combinations which we hear throughout the CD lend the music a definite 'antique', decidedly 'folk', aura. This does not detract from the clarity of the singing, though, by the four specialists in the group and by the half dozen young singers from the Antwerp Cathedral Choir. The Flemish Zefiro Torna (which was founded in 1996) draws players who first established themselves in such venerable ensembles as the Huelgas Ensemble, Collegium Vocale Ghent and Capilla Flamenca. The production and implied advocacy of Finnish music with such strong nationalist flavours by Flemish musicians is perhaps unexpected – but nevertheless to be applauded.


One's overall impression is of quiet, self-confident, highly focused music with the harmonics, temporal variation and melodic richness of mediaeval song from other northern European traditions. The original Carmina Burana may come to mind. There is a certain sparseness, tempered by a springy jollity, particularly in the festive pieces. It's the kantele that confers the greatest distinction on the music. It's not an overly 'twangy' instrument, and serves as an effective accompanying instrument for the singers.


Other percussive instruments are not usually overdone. They too compliment and support the rather delicate tracing of what is a very tuneful collection of pieces. Although their use (and the fade out) in O Scholares discite does jar just a little and there is some modern-sounding syncopation in Sum in aliena provincia. You may not like the bells in In vernali tempore; they sound just a little false, almost intrusive. The slight breathiness of the recorder and its ever so marginal over-closeness in recording contribute in a way to a sense that this is spontaneous and very genuine music making; most definitely not purely demonstrative or reluctantly catalogued so as to be merely a set of examples. It's worth listening to and getting to know in its own right.


Some of the songs (Personent hodie and Tempus adest floridum, for instance) will be recognized immediately. These incarnations delight for their tinges of freshness. Although Piae Cantiones is Finland's only collection of its type, it does reflect wider European traditions; yet Zefiro Torna and the others have successfully emphasised the uniquely Finnish properties of the music... crystalline transparency and thin tonalities; a clarity of timbre that is still evident in modern Baltic unaccompanied choral works; a momentum which rarely stops for effect, but rather is created without fuss in the bracingly brittle blend of melody and words. Although one senses the scholastic origins of this combination, the music is never perfunctory or dry. Rather, its liveliness is internal and does not rely on excessive arranging. It really is Sibelius' pure spring water again.


The recording is a good one and the booklet nicely illustrated with the text to all the songs in Latin/Finnish and English. Piae Cantiones would make a slightly different Christmas present as well as meet nicely the needs of anyone curious to experience Finnish music from the 500 year period in question.


Mark Sealey




 


pjme

Quote from: Lilas Pastia on December 17, 2007, 04:41:02 PM
I know. Here's what I have found:

- Amsterdam Concertgebouw: June 6, Myung-Whun Chung - Messiaen and Bruckner (sy no. 6)

- Rotterdam Philharmonic: Also on June 6, Andrew Davis: Bach Passacaglia en fuga in c -Mozart Tweede fluitconcert (Emmanul Pahud, flute) - Takemitsu I Hear the Water Dreaming - Tippett Vierde symfonie (4th symphony)

- Liège Philharmonic: on tour in China  :P

- SWR Cologne : the Concertgebouw on tour, with Messiaen and Schubert songs orchestrated by Webern.

- Luxembourg: nothing during my dates.

Methink another visit to Amsterdam will figure on the agenda :D


Hi Lilas, I live in Antwerp - so don't forget our orchestra.
Brussels: the renamed Brussels' Philharmonic ( former VRO/Flemish Radio Orchestra),Orchestra of La Monnaie, Antwerp Opera Orchestra and the Flemish Symphony Orchestra - check the Bruges Concertgebouw and "Flagey" in Brussels ( a huge Art Deco building - the former seat of National Radio. It still houses the famous studio 4 ,loved by  many musicians....very good programming.

Peter

bhodges

Speaking of the Concertgebouw, they're returning to New York in February for three concerts with Mariss Jansons, and I'm planning to be at all of them:

Monday, February 4 at 8:00 p.m.
CLAUDE DEBUSSY La mer
HECTOR BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

Tuesday, February 5 at 8:00 p.m.
Yefim Bronfman, Piano
OTTO KETTING De aankomst ("The Arrival")
SERGEI PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73

Wednesday, February 6 at 8:00 p.m.
RICHARD STRAUSS Don Juan, Op. 20
GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor

--Bruce

Lilas Pastia

#405
Quote from: pjme on December 20, 2007, 01:15:25 PM
Hi Lilas, I live in Antwerp - so don't forget our orchestra.
Brussels: the renamed Brussels' Philharmonic ( former VRO/Flemish Radio Orchestra),Orchestra of La Monnaie, Antwerp Opera Orchestra and the Flemish Symphony Orchestra - check the Bruges Concertgebouw and "Flagey" in Brussels ( a huge Art Deco building - the former seat of National Radio. It still houses the famous studio 4 ,loved by  many musicians....very good programming.

Peter

Hello, Peter! I love Antwerpen :D. I visited the city almost 25 years ago (my mother-in-law was born there). I found it extremely interesting. Unfortunately the cathedral was under repair and I couldn't visit. I missed all these Rubens paintings  :P.

I was impressed by the Schelde and the city's docks, with its amazing forest of cranes and endless rows of cargo containers.

I checked the Royal Flanders Philharmonic, but I couldn't find concerts, and couldn't even figure out where their home base is? I had thought it would be in Antwerpen, but I can't be certain. In any case, I'm open to suggestions, so if you find something worth attending between May 29 and June 12, let me know! ;)

André

Bruce
: please report, I want to know what this orchestra sounds like out of the Concertgebouw!  ;)

pjme

Hi André, welcome in Antwerp!

You'll be surprised : after 25 years the city will look different to you. The cathedral has had indeed a major ( and ever continuing..) restauration. The architects did a great job, especially inside: all clutter has been removed ,discreet and effective lighting gives the building an airy feel.
Only recently the Opera had a complete make-over ( it was closed for almost 2 years). Now we're waiting for the new ( car free zone) square that will be built in front of it.

I will check "De Philharmonie" in Antwerp ,Bruges' Concertgebouw, Flagey and Bozar in Brussels.

Best wishes, Peter

bhodges

Quote from: Lilas Pastia on December 20, 2007, 05:54:36 PM
André

Bruce
: please report, I want to know what this orchestra sounds like out of the Concertgebouw!  ;)

Hi André!  I'll probably be writing up all three concerts, so happy to send you the links.  They actually come to New York about every other year, and I usually go hear them no matter what they're playing.  They came with Blomstedt a few years ago (whom I admire as a conductor) but the programming was on the dull side, especially given the orchestra's history with contemporary music (and lots of Dutch composers) and also compared to what other orchestras are doing, such as Rattle and Berlin's three recent concerts with Lindberg, Adès and Kurtág.

I've heard the Concertgebouw Orchestra in both Avery Fisher Hall (surprisingly, not so bad) and Carnegie, where they really sound great.  The Fisher concerts were with Chailly, when he was doing his concerts of Brahms paired with Schoenberg, very stimulating.  A favorite memory from Carnegie was with Haitink in the Mahler Fifth.  After probably six or seven curtain calls, Haitink finally grabbed the score and waved it in the air, as if to say, "Here is the real star of the evening," and of course who could not agree...the crowd loved it.

--Bruce

pjme

André, The Royal Flanders Philharmonic (De Filharmonie) has its home base in Antwerp : at the "Singel" ( Conservatory + 2 concerthalls)and at the Queen Elisabeth Hall. The latter is in bad shape ,but has an excellent location : next to central station ( another great renovation! a huge 19th century dome on top of a futuristic base....5 or 6 storeys deep.It is on the Amsterdam - Paris line)

http://www.defilharmonie.be/orkest ( Jaap van Zweden and Phillippe Herreweghe chief conductors)

Since Belgium is so small, most orchestras tour extensively and play in many cities. Bruges boasts a new Concertgebouw , the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels has been re -named Bozar , Ghent has worked hard to improve the acoustics of "De Bijloke".
The Flagey - building in Brussels was almost torn down...private investors saved it and now it is again an Art Deco gem of the highest order. Even the large concertorgan in Studio 4 is supposed to work again .....???

http://www.debijloke.be/

http://www.concertgebouw.be/

http://www.flagey.be/flagey.htm

http://www.bozar.be/

http://www.desingel.be/

Bozar in Brussels remains ( Salle Henri Leboeuf )the largest & most famous concerthall in the country. It is the main seat of the Belgian National Orchestra ( Walter Weller ).

http://www.lamonnaie.be/demunt-1.0/index.jsp ( Kazushi Ono / Marc Wigglesworth cond.)

http://www.symfonieorkest.be/ The "Symfonie orkest van Vlaanderen" ( the Flemish SO), has its seat in Bruges. Etienne Siebens is conductor. They had to struggle to survive,but seem to do well....


MishaK

Quote from: bhodges on December 20, 2007, 02:06:49 PM
Speaking of the Concertgebouw, they're returning to New York in February for three concerts with Mariss Jansons, and I'm planning to be at all of them:

Monday, February 4 at 8:00 p.m.
CLAUDE DEBUSSY La mer
HECTOR BERLIOZ Symphonie fantastique, Op. 14

Tuesday, February 5 at 8:00 p.m.
Yefim Bronfman, Piano
OTTO KETTING De aankomst ("The Arrival")
SERGEI PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
JOHANNES BRAHMS Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73

Wednesday, February 6 at 8:00 p.m.
RICHARD STRAUSS Don Juan, Op. 20
GUSTAV MAHLER Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp Minor

--Bruce

Oh, my! Jansons doing the fantastique should be amazing. Same with the Brahms. Not sure why they need to do Mahler 5 again, though.

Lilas Pastia

Quote from: pjme on December 21, 2007, 07:31:31 AM
André, The Royal Flanders Philharmonic (De Filharmonie) has its home base in Antwerp : at the "Singel" ( Conservatory + 2 concerthalls)and at the Queen Elisabeth Hall. The latter is in bad shape ,but has an excellent location : next to central station ( another great renovation! a huge 19th century dome on top of a futuristic base....5 or 6 storeys deep.It is on the Amsterdam - Paris line)

http://www.defilharmonie.be/orkest ( Jaap van Zweden and Phillippe Herreweghe chief conductors)

Since Belgium is so small, most orchestras tour extensively and play in many cities. Bruges boasts a new Concertgebouw , the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels has been re -named Bozar , Ghent has worked hard to improve the acoustics of "De Bijloke".
The Flagey - building in Brussels was almost torn down...private investors saved it and now it is again an Art Deco gem of the highest order. Even the large concertorgan in Studio 4 is supposed to work again .....???

http://www.debijloke.be/

http://www.concertgebouw.be/

http://www.flagey.be/flagey.htm

http://www.bozar.be/

http://www.desingel.be/

Bozar in Brussels remains ( Salle Henri Leboeuf )the largest & most famous concerthall in the country. It is the main seat of the Belgian National Orchestra ( Walter Weller ).

http://www.lamonnaie.be/demunt-1.0/index.jsp ( Kazushi Ono / Marc Wigglesworth cond.)

http://www.symfonieorkest.be/ The "Symfonie orkest van Vlaanderen" ( the Flemish SO), has its seat in Bruges. Etienne Siebens is conductor. They had to struggle to survive,but seem to do well....



Peter, I'll be checking all these liks this weekend!

Siedler

BPO is coming to Finland but the tickets seems to be sold-out already.  :'(

ChamberNut

Saturday Jan. 19th
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Borodin - Prince Igor Overture
Chin Ya Kin - Ecstasy
Richard Strauss - Horn Concerto # 2
P.I. Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 2 "Little Russian"

Sunday Jan. 20th
Winnipeg Chamber Music Society

Prokofiev - Violin Sonata in C major, Op. 56
Mendelssohn - String Quartet in A minor, Op. 13
Beethoven - Piano Trio No. 5 in D major, Op. 70/1 "Ghost"

Thursday Jan. 24th
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

Mozart - Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Rossini - Overture to The Italian Girl in Algiers
Beethoven - Symphony No. 4

:)






Morigan

Tonight at the NAC:

Ludovic Morlot, chef d'orchestre
Midori, violon

RAVEL Ma Mère l'Oye : Suite
TCHAÏKOVSKI Concerto pour violon
RAVEL Pavane pour une infante defunte
CHOSTAKOVITCH Symphonie no 9

I can't wait!!!

MishaK

Quote from: Morigan on January 09, 2008, 10:00:13 AM
Tonight at the NAC:

Ludovic Morlot, chef d'orchestre
Midori, violon

RAVEL Ma Mère l'Oye : Suite
TCHAÏKOVSKI Concerto pour violon
RAVEL Pavane pour une infante defunte
CHOSTAKOVITCH Symphonie no 9

I can't wait!!!

What's the "NAC"? I heard Morlot a few weeks ago in Chicago and was quite impressed. He did an outstanding Rosenkavalier Suite with the CSO.

Morigan

Canada's National Arts Centre... it's nothing spectacular but we have big names quite often and a very good orchestra led by Pinchas Zukerman.

MishaK

Quote from: Morigan on January 09, 2008, 10:07:59 AM
Canada's National Arts Centre... it's nothing spectacular but we have big names quite often and a very good orchestra led by Pinchas Zukerman.

What is the orchestra on the program?

bhodges

Quote from: O Mensch on January 09, 2008, 10:03:22 AM
What's the "NAC"? I heard Morlot a few weeks ago in Chicago and was quite impressed. He did an outstanding Rosenkavalier Suite with the CSO.

I heard him in 2006 with the New York Philharmonic, in a program of Carter, Schumann and Brahms that he conducted at the last minute, replacing Christoph von Dohnányi who was ill.  Considering that Morlot stepped in at the eleventh hour, and kept the program the same, he was very impressive.  

--Bruce

Morigan

Thank you for your replies :)

Well, I have never heard of this conductor before, but I'm enthralled, mainly because it will be my first ever live performance of the Tchaikovsky VC!

O Mensch: the orchestra on this programme is the Centre's own orchestra, simply called the "NAC Orchestra" or "NACO"

It's going to make up for the fact that I missed Frederica von Stade's recital yesterday... and how much does this cost me? 10 bucks :) Being a student has never been more fun.

bassio

I did not know that you had a concert thread around here. Nice.  :)

I am looking forward to a concert next friday. A Piano Recital by a pianist called Tamas Vesmas.  :D Romanian. Anyone heard of him? He has some recordings on Amazon.

By the way, can I ask you guys to submit any upcoming concerts to http://www.allaboutclassical.com/concertcalendar
[Disclaimer: It is my website by the way.]
I apologize. I am embarrassed and I hate to be naggy. But the calendar is almost empty and I will be hurt to see it wasted. It seemed to me (at one moment in time and space) that a centralized classical music concert calendar to check out will be a great idea.  :-\
So if you are not busy for a few secs and you want to give the idea a push then it will be great. :)