Imaginary conducting debut

[Alison]

Let's say you've been conducting amateur or low class orchestras
all your life when a chief executive of a top London band 'discovers' you
at a local event.

He/she offers you two dates in the orchestra's main season. As you've wasted
quite a few years you are anxious to make a big impression.

What would be your chosen programmes supposing you were given a free
rein ?? XxX

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

What a great idea. Playing relatively safe with works I know extremely well -

Concert 1
Mozart: Marriage of Figaro Overture
Beethoven: Piano Concerto no. 5
Strauss: Eine Alpensinfonie (yes, really - I'd love to conduct this)

Concert 2
Elgar: Introduction and Allegro
Khatchaturian: Suite from "Spartacus"
Vaughan Williams: A Sea Symphony

[Chris Newman]

Concert 1

Wagner: Die Meistersinger
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5
Messiaen: Turangelila Symphony

Concert 2

Smetana: Ma Vlast
Dvorak: Cello Concerto
Janacek: Sinfonietta

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

CN, would you like me to be the imaginary soloist in the "Emperor"?

[Petrushka]

What a wonderful fantasy! It is destined to remain a fantasy, alas.

Concert 1

Harrison Birtwistle: The Triumph of Time
Beethoven: Symphony No 9

(OK, I've pinched this programme from a Rattle/CBSO Prom but it's such a good one I play it every New Year's Eve now).

Concert 2

Bach: Motet - Jesu, Meine Freude
Mahler: Symphony No 2

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

If such an opportunity arose, would you take it? I know I would.

[bluestateprommer]

OK, I'll bite. INPO:

Program 1:
Poulenc: Les biches (complete)
Ravel: Daphnis et Chloe (complete)

Program 2:
Rossini: Overture to Semiramide
Britten: Piano Concerto
Vaughan Williams: Job

[Petrushka]

If such an opportunity arose, would you take it? I know I would.

Yes, but I'd probably make such a right idiot of myself they wouldn't give me a third date! Come on, Alison, let's have your choices!

[Bryn]

I'd keep it simple:

Cage: Atlas Eclipticalis
Cardew: The Great Learing, Paragraph 1.

[subcontrabass]

Concert 1:

Beethoven: Egmont Overture
Bizet: L'Arlesienne Suite No 2
Schubert: Symphony No 9

Concert 2:

Mozart: The Impressario (complete)
Rossini: Stabat Mater (with professional choir, preferably the Chorus from an opera company)

(using most, if not all, the same soloists in both works).

[gradus]

Where would the cameras be placed? I would want the viewing audience - naturally it would be televised - to see me at my inspirational and heroic best and do I get a choice of knitting needle?
Given all that I would go for:
Prelude to Tristan
Rachmaninov 3rd pf conc (soloist must be biddable -I do the grandstanding)
Eroica

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Where would the cameras be placed? I would want the viewing audience - naturally it would be televised -

No TV or video cameras would be allowed at my two concerts, but a recording would be allowed on the proviso that I would have absolute rights to its fate.

[MrGongGong]

I'd keep it simple:

Cage: Atlas Eclipticalis
Cardew: The Great Learing, Paragraph 1.

I think thats far to hard for most orchestras but gets my vote !!!


how about Atmospheres as an encore ?

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Alison, I wish you hadn't started this. I've been looking through the scores of these works in anticipation of the imaginary performances. Tomorrow it's going to hit me and I'll realise it's never going to happen.

[Alison]

Concert 1

Bax: Russian Suite
Mozart: Piano Concerto K503
Beethoven: Symphony 5

Concert 2

Wagner: Siegfried Idyll
Bruckner: Symphony 8