RFH 16.01.16 – Gustavo Dudamel/Simón Bolivar Orchestra

[mahlerei]

I was curious to hear how these charismatic Venezuelans would cope with Messiaen’s weird but rather wonderful Turangalîla-symphonie. They’re pretty good at the blockbusters – Mahler, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Wagner and South American repertoire - but within minutes it was clear this wasn’t going to be a memorable night. For a start the orchestra seemed underpowered and ill at ease, although matters did improve after twenty minutes or so.

The most disconcerting aspect of this performance was the feeling that it had been painstakingly stitched together from a series of discrete panels. True, that does highlight the work’s constrasting elements, but it also created some jarring joins. Not at all the seamless presentation that we usually hear. The playing was quite untidy, too. My real gripe, though, is that the cumulative power of the piece – it’s growing sense of ecstasy - never came through. Also, the SBO have a way of colouring the music they play, and that made for some unexpected sonorities.

Cynthia Millar was superb on the ondes, but I did wonder how pianist Yuja Wang could pedal in those huge, sparkly platforms. As it was she managed very well, even if she did turn the symphony into a rather glitzy concerto. The audience contained the usual groupies, complete with flags, but I sensed the applause spoke more of Londoners’ affection for this band than the quality of the performance.

[makropulos]

I was curious to hear how these charismatic Venezuelans would cope with Messiaen’s weird but rather wonderful Turangalîla-symphonie. They’re pretty good at the blockbusters – Mahler, Mussorgsky, Stravinsky, Wagner and South American repertoire - but within minutes it was clear this wasn’t going to be a memorable night. For a start the orchestra seemed underpowered and ill at ease, although matters did improve after twenty minutes or so.

The most disconcerting aspect of this performance was the feeling that it had been painstakingly stitched together from a series of discrete panels. True, that does highlight the work’s constrasting elements, but it also created some jarring joins. Not at all the seamless presentation that we usually hear. The playing was quite untidy, too. My real gripe, though, is that the cumulative power of the piece – it’s growing sense of ecstasy - never came through. Also, the SBO have a way of colouring the music they play, and that made for some unexpected sonorities.

Cynthia Millar was superb on the ondes, but I did wonder how pianist Yuja Wang could pedal in those huge, sparkly platforms. As it was she managed very well, even if she did turn the symphony into a rather glitzy concerto. The audience contained the usual groupies, complete with flags, but I sensed the applause spoke more of Londoners’ affection for this band than the quality of the performance.

It's very interesting to read your thoughts, and I should say right away that I thoroughly enjoyed this Turangalîla. However, I'd agree about the first 15 minutes or so, with things taking a bit of time to warm up (and some sub-optimal ensemble). But I though the performance as a whole was incredibly effective –vastly more so than the last live performance I heard in the summer –and I found it rather enthralling as a result. I completely agree about Cynthia Millar (marvellous), but Yuja Wang did manage to pedal in her amazing shoes, and I thought she made a pretty good job of the piano part. In other words, I found it was a memorable night –precisely because the one thing I can't really agree with you about is the sense of cumulative power. That is exactly what I did feel (thus easily forgetting some of the tentative playing near the start). It's strange how that gets people differently. The person I went with would probably place himself more or less midway between us in terms of how he reacted to the performance, but I have to say I loved it.

[pureimagination]

Anyone else go to either of the other concerts [15 & 17 Jan]? Reviews I've seen were less than complementary or otherwise rather a mixed bag. Dudamel & the SBOV, after the euphoria of 6 or 7 years ago seem now to disappoint more often than not and certainly divide opinion.

[Barbirollians]

Anyone else go to either of the other concerts [15 & 17 Jan]? Reviews I've seen were less than complementary or otherwise rather a mixed bag. Dudamel & the SBOV, after the euphoria of 6 or 7 years ago seem now to disappoint more often than not and certainly divide opinion.

One also wonders whether tall poppy syndrome can play a part.

[zola]

I posted about the Stravinsky concert on another thread

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?1119-What-was-your-last-concert/page124

[mahlerei]

It's very interesting to read your thoughts, and I should say right away that I thoroughly enjoyed this Turangalîla. However, I'd agree about the first 15 minutes or so, with things taking a bit of time to warm up (and some sub-optimal ensemble). But I though the performance as a whole was incredibly effective –vastly more so than the last live performance I heard in the summer –and I found it rather enthralling as a result. I completely agree about Cynthia Millar (marvellous), but Yuja Wang did manage to pedal in her amazing shoes, and I thought she made a pretty good job of the piano part. In other words, I found it was a memorable night –precisely because the one thing I can't really agree with you about is the sense of cumulative power. That is exactly what I did feel (thus easily forgetting some of the tentative playing near the start). It's strange how that gets people differently. The person I went with would probably place himself more or less midway between us in terms of how he reacted to the performance, but I have to say I loved it.

Makropulos

Was looking forward to your thoughts on this one. Had hoped to attend the pre-concert talk but NetworkSouthEast had other ideas...

Apropos of other points raised in this thread I must confess I began to wonder if some of that old magic had vanished. I remember when the SBYO, as then was, hit the Proms in 2007; now that was a memorable night. Since then I've reviewed a number of their recordings, some much more successful than others. I really don't want to seem unkind, but I fear that, shorn of its Youth tag, the orchestra has morphed into something rather ordinary.

[BBMmk2]

Would the orchestra had reached it's zenith with this work?

[makropulos]

Makropulos

Was looking forward to your thoughts on this one. Had hoped to attend the pre-concert talk but NetworkSouthEast had other ideas...

Apropos of other points raised in this thread I must confess I began to wonder if some of that old magic had vanished. I remember when the SBYO, as then was, hit the Proms in 2007; now that was a memorable night. Since then I've reviewed a number of their recordings, some much more successful than others. I really don't want to seem unkind, but I fear that, shorn of its Youth tag, the orchestra has morphed into something rather ordinary.

All good points (and I'd definitely agree with you about their recordings being a very mixed bag). In terms of the sound, it's more refined, but perhaps they've lost a bit of that wonderful energy and maybe individuality. Once the Messiaen settled down (I suppose from the 3rd movement onwards?), there was real discipline in the playing (for instance, I particularly liked the woodwind in the fourth movement), and Dudamel's pacing of the 5th and 10th movements was exciting - quick, but not so quick that the rhythmic tension was sacrificed. All that combined with a delicate slow movement (apart from that vibraphone player - drowning out the piano and ondes really isn't his job...) helped make it a serious success for me. Sure, it wasn't 2007 levels of amazing high energy - but, for me, it was a very persuasive Turangalîla. The time seemed to fly past (always a good sign, if hardly an objective yardstick!) and I kept being drawn into the fabulous and flamboyant sounds of Cynthia Millar's ondes playing - she was definitely one of the stars of the evening, and this was the best I've ever heard her play Turangalîla.

Incidentally, there was one grimly amusing distraction during the performance: I don't know if you could see Yuja Wang's page turner? He missed several turns, and turned two pages at once on a couple of other occasions... A nightmare for any soloist, and I thought she coped remarkably well with that.

[mahlerei]

makropulos

The page turner was only partially visible from where I was sitting, so I didn't see the fumbles. Oddly enough I too thought the time passed very quickly...