Live in Concert 20.03.14 Philharmonia/Maazel - Strauss

[Flay]

I could not listen to most of it last night but I tuned in just about as the quiet was settling (Ausklang). I was spellbound by its slowness which fitted with a feeling of exhaustion, achievement and happy memories of an incredible day's hiking, and anticipating the head hitting the pillow (with that final glissando).

But had I heard the rest at such a slow pace I suspect I would have been irritable by this time.

[Zucchini]

The Guardian critic found plenty to admire and enjoy:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/21/philharmonia-maazel-review-strong-strings-strauss

(I'm highly allergic to Strauss & prefer football so didn't listen)

[Flay]

The Guardian critic found plenty to admire and enjoy

<<Maazel's measured and methodical conducting >>

But no mention of the organ in that review??

[teamsaint]

its not the most comprehensive review ever. I'm sure he was constrained by word count, but that being so, quite a bit of his space seems to have been used on peripheral stuff.

Always good to learn from old Pros, so i have jotted down " A rich complexity of tonal colourings" for future use, in my little book.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

The Guardian critic found plenty to admire and enjoy:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/21/philharmonia-maazel-review-strong-strings-strauss

I know there have been occasions when critics haven't bothered to turn up to the concert. I can't help wondering whether....

[PJPJ]

Here's Colin Anderson's review. I thought the performances gripping at home - must have been quite an occasion in the RFH, certainly judging by the enthusiastic reception.

[Petrushka]

Unable o listen last night, I recorded this concert on to my hard drive and plan to give it a hearing on Sunday night. Maazel certainly divides opinion just as he did when he conducted the VPO in the Bruckner 8 at last year's Proms. I found that much more impressive than most on here so am looking forward to hearing this Strauss concert. Colin Anderson's review has certainly whetted my appetite!

[Alison]

I will listen again. Tired as I was last night, I am not expecting to enjoy it very much.

[cloughie]

I will listen again. Tired as I was last night, I am not expecting to enjoy it very much.

I think you've already decided - I've got say I've listened to more of the Symphony and I like it!

[edashtav]

Here's Colin Anderson's review. I thought the performances gripping at home - must have been quite an occasion in the RFH, certainly judging by the enthusiastic reception.

That's a fascinating, helpful and illuminating review with which I can concur to a great extent. I'm 100% behind CA in querying the concert's order.Also Spracht demands to set the scene and not conclude it. The absence of "risers" on stage was well picked up by Colin, also. Richard Strauss does depend on blending his lines and the sections of the orchestra, and LM is a master at balancing group against group to yield a warmer, more homogenised sound. To put it crudely,"Life remains in the old dog." Timings are irrevelant "in the moment". LM revealed a panoply of detail that a faster pace would have obscured. Not full marks, but the BEST Strauss playing that I've encountered during the present anniversary season.

[teamsaint]

That's a fascinating, helpful and illuminating review with which I can concur to a great extent. I'm 100% behind CA in querying the concert's order.Also Spracht demands to set the scene and not conclude it. The absence of "risers" on stage was well picked up by Colin, also. Richard Strauss does depend on blending his lines and the sections of the orchestra, and LM is a master at balancing group against group to yield a warmer, more homogenised sound. To put it crudely,"Life remains in the old dog." Timings are irrevelant "in the moment". LM revealed a panoply of detail that a faster pace would have obscured. Not full marks, but the BEST Strauss playing that I've encountered during the present anniversary season.

Ed, I wouldn't argue with your comments about timings" in the moment". However in the hall , for me, it did feel at times that a little more momentum was needed. I didn't time it, but I would have guessed at just under an hour. The fact that it was almost 67 kind of makes your point, as it didn't feel THAT long.

I really don't understand the ordering of the schedule. I managed to move from a particularly poor seat at the side to a much better one in the rear stalls at half time. Wish it had been the symphony i had seen from there!
I can't completely agree with Anderson's review. There was much fine playing, and so much to enjoy, but I just didn't get the total exhilaration that he seems to have. But then, the organ loomed a good deal larger in my appreciation than it seems to have in his, so it's in the eye of the beholder I guess.

edit: Although on reflection, I had a brilliant view of the organist, which perhaps explains something of my perceptions of the performance.

[Alison]

Just think Cloughie how you'd carpet Bernie Haitink for going that slow !!

[edashtav]

Just think Cloughie how you'd carpet Bernie Haitink for going that slow !!

A well made point , Alison. Slowness is of no matter if you're "lovin' it" but, if you're out of kilter with the interpretation... one's mind turns to cutting comments.

I enjoyed last night, so ...

[BBMmk2]

A very good friend of mine, who is a well respected composer, said to me that he felt there was a lack of ebb and flow to Maazel's concert.

[pastoralguy]

A very good friend of mine, who is a well respected composer, said to me that he felt there was a lack of ebb and flow to Maazel's concert.

Very well put, BBM.