CBSO-Nelsons June 18th

[Hornspieler]

Did anyone hear last night's "Live in Performance" on Radio 3?

I heard most of it, but on an inferior set of headphones.
I shall listen again on the iPlayer before commenting on the performance.

HS

[teamsaint]

There are a few comments about the Abrahamsen on a thread on Here and Now.

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?10162-Hans-Abrahamsen-let-me-tell-you-from-Berlin

[mercia]

I missed the first part. The interval Motette was fantastic, BBC Singers of course. What an amazing piece. I find the Domestic a rather boring work until that fugue begins. The narrative doesn't seem to help me appreciate it any more. I wonder how Strauss himself rated it against his other works. As far as I am able to judge it was very well played, the audience certainly thought so. Looking forward to an authoritative review of the proceedings.

[Hornspieler]

"Gentlemen, zee ensemble ees not togezzer"

The famous words spoken to the members of the LSO by the great conductor Hans Richter on his first visit to England in June 1904.

Sadly, I must say the same of the CBSO winds in those crucial opening chords (returning for another try in the middle and at the end of the MNSD overture)

Yes, it is difficult for everyone to come in at the same time and, never having watched Maestro Nelsons conduct, I have no idea how easy it is to interpret his down beat.
But the sloppy playing did not end there. The ophcliede (no tuba player could make that ghastly sound) was painfully sharp in his few little exposed passages and the strings seemed to be scrambling to be first past the post.

So. It is standard repertoire and as such probably had to give way to a new work and a difficult "Symphony" (probably not in any orchestra's standard repertoire) so I can forgive, but not forget. Scheduling a well known Wagner overture would, in my opinion, be a wiser and more appropriate choice.

The Hans Abrahamsen work was impressive - as was Barbara Hannigan, but not, I'm afraid, to my taste, so I must leave it to others to state their views.

Now the Symphony Domestica. Not Strauss' greatest opus and has become rather overshadowed by his tone poems, operas and, of course the Alpine Symphony; but I thought it was excellently played with particular mention of the guest principal trumpet and some very fine horn playing.

The audience certainly found the concert worth attending for its advertised programme and it surprises me that there has been little or no comment from our fellow Radio 3 listeners.

A breath of fresh air amidst a plethora of chamber music and recitals at this time of the year.

Hornspieler

[Hornspieler]

Well, at least the audience turned up.

Shame on you all.

HS

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Well, at least the audience turned up.

Shame on you all.

HS

And your thoughts on the performance of Moses und Aron, HS ... ?

[amateur51]

Well, at least the audience turned up.

Shame on you all.

HS

With greatest respect HS, do leave such comments to your relationship with your children

[Hornspieler]

And your thoughts on the performance of Moses und Aron, HS ... ?

Sorry, Fernie, but there are two reasons why I am unable to comment.
1) I have not seen it performed and I never listen to any opera if I cannot relate what I hear with the visual impact of seeing it performed live in a theatre; on a stage, with the performers wearing costumes and the "set" representative of the location and period of the story.

2) My interest in the music of Arnold Schoenberg begins and ends with his Verklarte Nacht. Beyond that, I am afraid I have neither the interest nor understanding of what he and his contempories were trying to acheive by way of musical composition.

My loss' I'm sure, but I make no apology for my views.

HS

[Pabmusic]

The famous words spoken to the members of the LSO by the great conductor Hans Richter on his first visit to England in June 1904...

Are you quite sure? Only, Richter had conducted the Halle since 1899 and lived in Cheshire. And he gave the first performances of the Enigma in London in 1899, and Gerontius in Birmingham in 1900.

[Bryn]

Are you quite sure? Only, Richter had conducted the Halle since 1899 and lived in Cheshire. And he gave the first performances of the Enigma in London in 1899, and Gerontius in Birmingham in 1900.

Perhaps the Mr Midshipman was referring to Richter's first visit of that particular year.

[Pabmusic]

Perhaps the Mr Midshipman was referring to Richter's first visit of that particular year.

Ah, yes (except he lived here). It's hardly important, but...

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

2) My interest in the music of Arnold Schoenberg begins and ends with his Verklarte Nacht. Beyond that, I am afraid I have neither the interest nor understanding of what he and his contempories were trying to acheive by way of musical composition.

My loss' I'm sure, but I make no apology for my views.

HS

No "apology" needed for this, HS - but certainly one for berating your fellow Forumistas in #5. An ex-professional Musician has cause for greater "shame" at missing the Schönberg than the rest of us have for missing Strauss' Domestic.

[Hornspieler]

Perhaps the Mr Midshipman was referring to Richter's first visit of that particular year.

That is probably correct. (See my reply to Pabmusic's post #9).

HS

[Hornspieler]

Originally Posted by Hornspieler
The famous words spoken to the members of the LSO by the great conductor Hans Richter on his first visit to England in June 1904

...
Are you quite sure? Only, Richter had conducted the Halle since 1899 and lived in Cheshire. And he gave the first performances of the Enigma in London in 1899, and Gerontius in Birmingham in 1900.

Thank you for that info, Pabs.

The story was told to me in about 1950 by my teacher, Aubrey Brain, whose father, Arthur, was 4th horn in the LSO at the time of Dr Richter's first visit.

Here is the full account:

H R "Genlemens, zee ensemble ees not togezzer. Votch me!"

...to which the orchestra replied in unison: "Vee Votch! Vee Votch!"

Apparently the concert was a resounding success.

HS

[Opsimath]

Thank you for that info, Pabs.

The story was told to me in about 1950 by my teacher, Aubrey Brain, whose father, Arthur, was 4th horn in the LSO at the time of Dr Richter's first visit.

Here is the full account:

H R "Genlemens, zee ensemble ees not togezzer. Votch me!"

...to which the orchestra replied in unison: "Vee Votch! Vee Votch!"

Apparently the concert was a resounding success.

HS

Wasn't Aubrey Brain's father called Alfred?