VPO New Year's Day Concert 2015

[Richard Tarleton]

RO went on to say that the discourtesy was Barenboim's and argued persuasively that the Radestsky doesn't have military overtones.

What issue of The Oldie is that, Alison? I must seek it out. As it was (vide Wiki) written to comemorate the battle of Custoza in 1848, when (along with the battle of Novara shortly afterwards) Radetsky crushed the Italian independence movement for another 10 years, and given that it was first played to a clapping and stamping audience of Austrian officers, difficult to avoid the merest hint of military overtones - how does RO wriggle out of that one?

[Alison]

What issue of The Oldie is that, Alison? I must seek it out. As it was (vide Wiki) written to comemorate the battle of Custoza in 1848, when (along with the battle of Novara shortly afterwards) Radetsky crushed the Italian independence movement for another 10 years, and given that it was first played to a clapping and stamping audience of Austrian officers, difficult to avoid the merest hint of military overtones - how does RO wriggle out of that one?

Almost certain it was March 2014. Interesting subject and just a cursory poolside glance was all I had time for!

[Mary Chambers]

Did anyone hear the interval stuff on R3? A member of the VPO was being asked why there were only four women on the stage today, to which the reply was [and I won't try to transliterate an Austrian accent] "We don't want to change the character of the orchestra too much."

I think there were six women altogether.

[Petrushka]

I wonder who's conducting next year?

Mariss Jansons, Alison.

[Flosshilde]

I found it a bit depressing, because I knew nothing about its origins - had never thought about it, really, and had no idea there were Nazi connections. I agree that it's interesting, though.

I think it's mentioned regularly on the annual 'VPO New Year's Day Concert' thread.

[Prommer]

I think Pretre's concerts were the best since Kleiber's. Think he is still conducting but was not well last year?

GP is 90. CK would have been 85 this year. Oh to have him with us still! And for one last New Year's concert...

[Nick Armstrong]

I think Pretre's concerts were the best since Kleiber's. Think he is still conducting but was not well last year?

GP is 90. CK would have been 85 this year. Oh to have him with us still! And for one last New Year's concert...

Hear hear !!!!

I found the Prêtre concert fascinating to see and hear the other year.

Mehta's much less the swanky showman than he used to be - I like the economy of technique now, still one stylish performer though. Saw 'Perpetuum Mobile' (some super solo playing) but then sort of switched off, can't be doing with travel videos of water wheels etc (still less bloody ballet)

[Petrushka]

I think there were six women altogether.

Yes, I counted six as well. The orchestra member's comment ("we don't want to change the character of the orchestra too much") is a perfectly valid one on its own terms though it just doesn't fit into today's world, unfortunately. In these days when all orchestras sound the same, the VPO still manages to sound like no other. It manages this by handing down the tradition, often from father to son, and where members stay for very long periods. A constant turn around of women members getting pregnant and leaving the orchestra has the potential to dilute that special sound that the VPO has.

Some people get hot under the collar about this issue though I can see both sides of the argument. However, I most definitely want the VPO to retain that unique sound quality however it goes about it.

[Richard Tarleton]

I found the Prêtre concert fascinating to see and hear the other year........ can't be doing with travel videos of water wheels etc (still less bloody ballet)

From what I recall, Cali, Prêtre just sort of stood there with a benign grin on his face? Perhaps that's all that's required. I like the bloody ballet tho' this year's offerings distinctly below par I thought, likewise the costumes. In fact I found it all a bit lacklustre tho' will give the highlights a spin later.

[Nick Armstrong]

From what I recall, Cali, Prêtre just sort of stood there with a benign grin on his face? Perhaps that's all that's required. I like the bloody ballet tho' this year's offerings distinctly below par I thought, likewise the costumes. In fact I found it all a bit lacklustre tho' will give the highlights a spin later.

... yes, that was the fascination with Prêtre! I couldn't work out if he's just a charming old French charlatan or a musical wizard!!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Some people get hot under the collar about this issue though I can see both sides of the argument.

To spare a few sweaty collars, then, Pet - would you care to put the other side of the "argument" (the one that counters all these women ruining the sound of the orchestra with their constant pregnancies, that is)?

[BBMmk2]

Anybody been listening to Rob Cowan on R3 this week and his guest James May! Very broad taste in classical music and certainly has knowledge o the subject! He like me, doesn't like The Strauss family/Viennese music Waltzes very much. Too saccerine for my taste too!

[Roehre]

Why depressing? Interesting, but I don't think it contains much that most of us didn't know already. It's also a reminder that most of the Nazi high command preferred this type of music to Hitler's beloved Wagner.

But Hitler's best loved piece was Léhar's die Lustige Witwe (hence the wir gehen zu Maxim's- theme in DSCH's Leningrad > Bartok's concerto for orchestra)

[Petrushka]

To spare a few sweaty collars, then, Pet - would you care to put the other side of the "argument" (the one that counters all these women ruining the sound of the orchestra with their constant pregnancies, that is)?

That's impossible to do isn't it? At least without putting it to the test? The counter-argument is that not employing women is against European Union laws on employment and the way the world is nowadays.

[Petrushka]

But Hitler's best loved piece was Léhar's die Lustige Witwe (hence the wir gehen zu Maxim's- theme in DSCH's Leningrad > Bartok's concerto for orchestra)

Wandering off topic I thought that the 'Maxim' theme was a DSCH family in-joke relating to his son, Maxim. Perhaps it's a double, or even treble, joke.