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

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

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bhodges

Thanks for that report!  I wish I'd been able to get to that concert, since it's a very good program.  The Ligeti is amazing in person, isn't it! 

I'm hearing the Mahler 8 when they do it here at Carnegie on May 6, and can't wait. 

--Bruce

Shrunk

This is going to be big opera weekend for me!  I've already mentioned the HIP performance of Idomeneo I'll be seeing Sunday.  Then, just a few days ago, my brother called to let me know he had an extra ticket for Eugene Onegin at the Canadian Opera Company on Saturday.  :D

bhodges

Those look great!  (I browsed the Onegin photos.)  Do report back...

--Bruce

MDL

I've just walked down to the Southbank Centre and bought tickets for:

October 16: Messiaen: La Transfiguration (Kent Nagano/Philharmonia)
October 21: Xenakis: Pithoprakta / Messiaen: Chronochromie / Ligeti:Atmospheres / Benjamin:Sudden Time (Benjamin/Philharmonia)
November 8: Stockhausen concert. They're not playing any of my favourites, but it should be interesting. Anyway, Gruppen, Trans and Inori are all coming to town between the Proms and early next year, so whoo-hoo!  ;D


Solitary Wanderer

Off to see the Kiev Ballet perform The Sleeping Beauty accompanied by the APO today.

Should be fantastic  :)
'I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth.' ~ Emily Bronte

bhodges

This concert on Tuesday:

Juilliard String Quartet
Charles Neidich, clarinet

Carter: Clarinet Quintet (2007, world premiere)
Carter: Riconoscenza per Goffredo Petrassi for solo violin (1984)
Carter: Figment for solo cello (1994)
Carter: Gra for solo clarinet (1993)
Carter: Rhapsodic Musings for solo violin (2001)
Carter: Figment IV for solo viola (2007)
Carter: Clarinet Quintet (2007) - repeat performance

--Bruce

Shrunk

Quote from: Shrunk on April 24, 2008, 09:07:28 AM
This is going to be big opera weekend for me!  I've already mentioned the HIP performance of Idomeneo I'll be seeing Sunday.  Then, just a few days ago, my brother called to let me know he had an extra ticket for Eugene Onegin at the Canadian Opera Company on Saturday.  :D

So here's the report on my operatic weekend.

Eugene Onegin.  This was actually my first time at Toronto's new Four Seasons Centre.  The opera house has been much criticized on architectural grounds for its bland exterior, justifiably I would add.  However, having now seen a performance there, it is obvious that the money was put where it counts: the auditorium itself.  It posesses great acoustics and sightlines, with the balconies rising at an almost perpendicular pitch to that no seat is far from the action.  My kids' violin teacher, who plays in the COC orchestra, says that the orchestra pit is unusually comfortable for the musicians, as well.  So it's good to see that the company had its priorities in order when designing the concert hall.  It may not be Sydney or the Walt Disney Concert Hall, but it's a perfect place to watch opera.

The production itself was a success, as well.  The staging is quite innovative, as can be seen in the photo gallery above.  The set resembles a German Expressionist film, with oversized doors and walls going off at odd angles and the floor being steeply pitched to one side and towards the front, creating weird perspective effects as the performers move about it.  The opera is staged as a dream or flashback, with Onegin wandering the stage or standing on the lip as an unseen observer thru much of it.  The cast was uniformly strong, with Brett Polegato a particular standout in the title role.  In addition to the requisite voice, he is also an excellent actor, important here as much of the time he is called upon to display emotion thru physical action without a part to sing.

Idomeneo.  This was really something special.  Opera Atelier specializes in baroque and renaissance opera but, like many others in the HIP scene, have been making increasing incursions into the classical repertoire. Most of the attention for this production has been focussed on Measha Brueggergosman, Canada's soprano of the moment, who rarely performs opera and was here playing Elettra.  She didn't disappoint, especially in the final mad scene, but neither did she overshadow or dominate the performance.  Particularly striking was "male soprano" Michael Maniaci as Idamante, usually played as a trouser role.  A male soprano is not the same thing as a counter tenor; whereas the latter typically sings in falsetto, Maniaci's voice never "broke" during adolescence, leaving him with a true natural soprano voice.  It really is quite a unique voice, without the "edge" that most counter tenors have, yet still quite distinct from a female soprano.  As usual, Opera Atelier lavishes attention on all aspects of the production, from the sets and costumes, to the acting style and choreography, to recreate a period performance as much as possible.  You can read some more detailed reviews on the links below:

http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Music/article/419017

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080428.watelier28/BNStory/Entertainment/home

http://www.torontosun.com/Entertainment/Theatre/2008/04/28/5406546-sun.html

Anyway, if anyone is going to be in Toronto I'd highly recommend seeing either (or both) of these shows.

ChamberNut

WSO's season finale - Friday May 2nd

Tan Dun - Concerto for water instruments

Mahler - Symphony No. 5 in C sharp minor

:)

Also, the season finale for the 2008/2009 WSO season will also be Mahler, number 6.

ChamberNut

Sunday, May 4th

Winnipeg Chamber Music Society

Haydn - Piano Trio in D major, Hob XV:7

Piazzolla - L'histoire du Tango for saxophone and piano

Schumann - Piano Quintet in E flat major, Op. 44   (one of my favorite Schumman works  :))


stingo


bhodges

Tonight, the second concert of Look & Listen, with Mark Stewart, the Daedalus String Quartet, Electric Kompany and Ethel.

Pre-concert music:
Stockhausen: Gesang der Jünglinge

Mark Stewart: Music for Plumbing and Other Non-traditional and Neglected Instruments
Carl Christian Bettendorf: II y a l'Ocean
Kristin Hevner: Vignettes
Stravinsky: Three Pieces for String Quartet
Mark Stewart: On the Origin of the Species
Nick Didkovsky: Human Dog
Mark Stewart: Stop, Look & Listen--Speedy Feety

--Bruce

Novi

Quote from: stingo on April 30, 2008, 07:03:54 PM
May 3rd, M8. 'nuff said. :)

Hey, not good 'nuff >:( ;). Who? Where? :)

Hope you enjoy it, at least more than I did my one and only live performance. I had rotten seats and couldn't hear a thing and had a canoodling couple next to me to boot.
Durch alle Töne tönet
Im bunten Erdentraum
Ein leiser Ton gezogen
Für den der heimlich lauschet.

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: Shrunk on April 28, 2008, 08:39:05 AM
Particularly striking was "male soprano" Michael Maniaci as Idamante, usually played as a trouser role.  A male soprano is not the same thing as a counter tenor; whereas the latter typically sings in falsetto, Maniaci's voice never "broke" during adolescence, leaving him with a true natural soprano voice.  It really is quite a unique voice, without the "edge" that most counter tenors have, yet still quite distinct from a female soprano.

That's interesting. I hadn't heard of this singer. What's even more interesting though is the fact he's having some problems getting roles:

http://www.operatoday.com/content/2005/04/an_interview_wi_4.php

One would think he'd be ideal for those roles that were written for castrato.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

stingo

The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Christine Brewer, soprano
Michaela Kaune, soprano
Marisol Montalvo, soprano
Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano
Charlotte Hellekant, mezzo-soprano
Vinson Cole, tenor
Franco Pomponi, baritone
James Morris, bass
The Philadelphia Singers Chorale,  David Hayes, music director
Westminster Symphonic Choir,  Joe Miller, music director
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia,  Alan Harler, music director
The American Boychoir,  Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, music director

MAHLER  Symphony No. 8 ("Symphony of a Thousand")

M8, live. Wow. A little slower than I would've liked but not distractingly so. The female soloists were uniformly excellent, and the male soloists were good, but inaudible sometimes when singing with the chorus. Still, what a thrill to actually be there. As good as recordings are, there's nothing like hearing it live. They were recording for a possible CD release, which I will buy if/when it does come out.

Monsieur Croche

I'm going to this concert on May 17th:

Ari Rasilainen, conductor
Daniel Hope, violin

PROKOFIEV - Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 25 'Classical'
MENDELSSOHN - Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
SIBELIUS - Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39

DavidRoss

Next Sunday the Brahms piano quintet and 2nd SQ -- The Alexander String Quartet with Lara Downes. 
"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: Monsieur Croche on May 04, 2008, 07:16:16 AM
I'm going to this concert on May 17th:

Ari Rasilainen, conductor
Daniel Hope, violin

PROKOFIEV - Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 25 'Classical'
MENDELSSOHN - Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
SIBELIUS - Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 39

That's really interesting. Rasilainen is the conductor of my local orchestra, the Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pflaz (more commonly known as the DSPRP, and locally as Die Friggin' Pfälzers). Your're Indonesían, right? What orchestra is he conducting?

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

Shrunk


SonicMan46

Last night, a local event in Winston-Salem (North Carolina, USA), my home town - 30th anniversary of the Piedmont Chamber Singers, a local group doing vocal works from all periods - my wife was a member in the late '70s-early '80s - the highlight for me was the presence of William Bolcom, the composer - some premier presentations of his works (written w/ conjunction of the North Carolina poet laureate) - this is not a great choral group, but seeing Bolcom was great (actually was sitting just across the aisle from me) & the last performances included alumni on the stage (including my wife, of course) - not a bad evening -  :D

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: stingo on May 04, 2008, 06:15:59 AM
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Christoph Eschenbach, conductor
Christine Brewer, soprano
Michaela Kaune, soprano
Marisol Montalvo, soprano
Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano
Charlotte Hellekant, mezzo-soprano
Vinson Cole, tenor
Franco Pomponi, baritone
James Morris, bass
The Philadelphia Singers Chorale,  David Hayes, music director
Westminster Symphonic Choir,  Joe Miller, music director
Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia,  Alan Harler, music director
The American Boychoir,  Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, music director

MAHLER  Symphony No. 8 ("Symphony of a Thousand")

M8, live. Wow. A little slower than I would've liked but not distractingly so. The female soloists were uniformly excellent, and the male soloists were good, but inaudible sometimes when singing with the chorus. Still, what a thrill to actually be there. As good as recordings are, there's nothing like hearing it live. They were recording for a possible CD release, which I will buy if/when it does come out.

Mahler 8 live is always an occasion. Glad you enjoyed it, Stingo. The slower tempos wouldn't have bothered me...I prefer it that way.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"