EIF Berlioz Requiem 18/9/15

[Flosshilde]

Hmm, definitely pulling back on the brass & drums. The broadcast, that is, not the performance - the Usher Hall shook with the brass playing from the sides & centre of the Circle & four (or was it six?) sets of timpani spread across the stage. The EIF Chorus were magnificent.

[grandchant]

That sounds wonderful; I wish I could have gone to it. Always a bit disappointed that Berlioz put the bands around the orchestra rather than around the audience. I can see the practicalities of keeping it all together.

[VodkaDilc]

That sounds wonderful; I wish I could have gone to it. Always a bit disappointed that Berlioz put the bands around the orchestra rather than around the audience. I can see the practicalities of keeping it all together.

The bands were around the audience. One behind the orchestra, just in front of the organ, two on either side of the Circle and one behind the audience, in the Circle - and when that one entered on top of the other three, it was absolutely deafening. Fireworks coincided with the quietest bits, inevitably, but, as I recall, the concert finished just before the 9pm flypast.

[Flosshilde]

Oh yes, I'd forgotten the one in front of the organ. I think there was at least one off-stage band as well? It's difficult to bring all that across on the radio, but I'm pretty sure the effect in the Hall was more powerful than on the radio.

[VodkaDilc]

As directed by Berlioz, there were four off-stage bands, including the one on stage at this event, if you see what I mean. The other three were as indicated in my previous message. Groups 1-3 were of trumpets and trombones, with added tubas in group 4.

[Flosshilde]

YEs; I really meant outside the hall, so the sound was muted.

[VodkaDilc]

YEs; I really meant outside the hall, so the sound was muted.

Like the ladies at the end of The Planets? I wasn't aware of anything like that.

[Richard J.]

& four (or was it six?) sets of timpani spread across the stage.

Only 4? A chamber performance, then? :-)

Actually the timpani were properly prominent on my radio this evening, though Berlioz did specify 10 players on 16 timpani.

[Historian]

Yes, but in 'La Damnation de Faust' he asks for eight harps in the finale. You can't always get what you want, as somebody else said.