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

[brewski]

Just bought tickets for the Spanish National Orchestra and Chorus (reinforced by the Coro de la Comunidad de Madrid) and vocal soloists, under the baton of Fabio Luisi, performing next Sunday 16 November Franz Schmidt's oratorio The Book with Seven Seals at the National Music Auditorium here in Madrid. Very much looking forward to this rare opportunity of experiencing this magnificent oratorio live.

Also, bought some of the few remaining tickets for the run of performances in January next year (mine will be the premiere on the 24th) at the Teatro de la Zarzuela of a double bill with Granados's Goyescas and Falla's El retablo de Maese Pedro. Álvaro Albiach conducts, and the stage director is Francisco López. Teo favourite Spanish operas in one evening, what's not to like? 

Wow, why can't we have anything nice?     

/JOKINGJOKINGJOKING

Seriously, I only know of the Schmidt by reputation, when (IIRC) @Brian mentioned it when Luisi did it in Dallas last year. I see that performance is on YouTube.

And of the two operas, Goyescas gets some attention, but I've never even heard of the Falla.

[ritter]

Wow, why can't we have anything nice?     

/JOKINGJOKINGJOKING

Seriously, I only know of the Schmidt by reputation, when (IIRC) @Brian mentioned it when Luisi did it in Dallas last year. I see the performance is on YouTube.

And of the two operas, Goyescas gets some attention, but I've never even heard of the Falla.

Falla's Master Peter's Puppet Show is IMHO one of the composer's greatest achievements. A commission by the Comtesse de Polignac (née Winaretta Singer), it's based on a passage from Don Quixote. 30 minutes of musical magic!

Some 20 years ago, at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Pierre Boulez and stage director Klaus Michael Grüber offered a triple bill of the Falla piece, followed by Renard, to conclude the evening with Anja Silja in Pierrot lunaire. Boulez, who, as we say in Spain, "no daba puntada sin hilo" (meaning that he would never do anything without a reason) was clearly stating that he considered the Falla work of equal stature —as an expression of early 20th century modernity— as the Stravinsky and Schoenberg works he had been so closely associated with for decades.

Here's a video recording of El retablo, conducted by Charles Dutoit:

[brewski]

Many many thanks, @ritter, for all of this. Will be diving into all soon.

[Brian]

Yes, Luisi brought the Schmidt to Dallas last year! I did not attend. Gigantic oratorios are not usually a sort of repertoire I like (though I have never heard it...maybe I should regret my choice!).

[Cato]

Falla's Master Peter's Puppet Show is IMHO one of the composer's greatest achievements. A commission by the Comtesse de Polignac (née Winaretta Singer), it's based on a passage from Don Quixote. 30 minutes of musical magic!

Some 20 years ago, at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, Pierre Boulez and stage director Klaus Michael Grüber offered a triple bill of the Falla piece, followed by Renard, to conclude the evening with Anja Silja in Pierrot lunaire. Boulez, who, as we say in Spain, "no daba puntada sin hilo" (meaning that he would never do anything without a reason) was clearly stating that he considered the Falla work of equal stature —as an expression of early 20th century modernity— as the Stravinsky and Schoenberg works he had been so closely associated with for decades.

Here's a video recording of El retablo, conducted by Charles Dutoit:

Many thanks for the link!

In a few minutes we will be driving north to hear The Toledo Symphony play Mahler's Symphony #6, Alan Trudel conducting.

Last week we heard an excellent performance of Schoenberg's Verklärte Nacht via The Detroit Symphony: a wealth of excitement!

In June the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra will offer the Mahler Symphony #5.  We will most probably be there!

[Cato]

b]The Toledo Symphony[/b] play Mahler's Symphony #6, Alain Trudel conducting.

The performance was just wonderful!  The only disappointment was that c. 700 of the 1700 seats were filled.

The Peristyle of The Toledo Museum of Art is designed to give the illusion of an ancient Greek theater under a night-time sky.



The orchestra filled the stage, and Conductor Alain Trudel brought out all the lines in the music, keeping all the sections audible, but retaining all the power of the brass in the high points.

The First Movement's repeated section was given a chance to be different, taken slightly faster and with even more "bite" than in its first appearance, and the whole movement had the drive and snap it needs.

The Scherzo was marked by close attention to the sudden changes in Tempo, which became integrated into a whole, rather than sounding merely eccentric.  The ersatz 18-century Menuet nature of the movement was also brought forth.

The right amount of nostalgic, bittersweet longing marked the Andante, one of my favorite movements in any work.  The soloists were most impressive, but then they were impressive in every movement (the Tubist, the 1st chair French Hornist, et al.)

And then the Finale opened with the requisite mystery and gloom, giving way to the struggle for happiness, or to the struggle of attempts at happiness.  The "Hammer" used was something Thor would use in Valhalla!  The percussionist raised it up and hit a large oaken echo generator, which delivered a BOOM resonating throughout the hall.

The standing ovation from the enthusiastic crowd was quite deserved.

Mrs. Cato liked the work overall, although she did not find the Andante compelling.  And she thought the subtitle "Tragic," was misguided.

Anger is what came to her ears, especially in the last movement.   

I cannot find a symphony with the nickname "The Angry," but who knows?  😇

 

[brewski]

On Friday at 9 pm (ET), the Minnesota Orchestra will livestream this concert, with conductor Thomas Søndergård and violinist Benjamin Beilman:

Takemitsu: Night Signal
Szymanowski: Violin Concerto No. 1
Berlioz: Symphonie fantastique

[(poco) Sforzando]

Beatrice Rana at Carnegie Hall tonight - Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky/Pletney, and Debussy.

[brewski]

Beatrice Rana at Carnegie Hall tonight - Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky/Pletney, and Debussy.

Listening online via WQXR.

[Judith]

Well, to start the new season, went to see local orchestra last Saturday

Sinfonia of Leeds

performing

Tippett   Concerto for Double String Orchestra
Bliss  orch  Welby  Viola Concerto
Elgar  Enigma Variations

Soloist  David Aspin
Conductor  David Greed

Wonderful concert and enjoyed it very much.