Radio 3 in Concert, 19 April

[Stanley Stewart]

A most refreshing concert tonight, rec on Saturday,16 April at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, with unexpected consequences! BBC Philharmonic/ Juanjo Men, with huge vocal forces, CBSO Youth Chorus and Halle Youth Chorus all getting rapt attention and a deserved ovation for their vigour in Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms. However, it was the opening item, Bernstein's Symphonic Dances, (West Side Story), the BBC Phil taking me instantly down memory lane by suddenly jogging my memory that it was almost 58 years ago, in 1958, that I travelled to Manchester for the try-out of the American production before it opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End. An auspicious moment in several decades of theatregoing. I really was touched to the quick as memories of a new era and a signal of a renaissance in the theatre in the 60s really began here. Heightened my appreciation of the whole of tonight's
performance.!

[DracoM]

Fantastic perf of the West Side Story Dance suite.
Percs and Tymps deserve VCs,

[Flosshilde]

And if you'd been listening during the afternoon you would have heard the Dances performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Interesting scheduling.

[ardcarp]

Good to hear two choirs of youngsters singing 2oth C masterpieces.

[Pulcinella]

And if you'd been listening during the afternoon you would have heard the Dances performed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. Interesting scheduling.

And they featured in the BBCNOW evening concert on R3 last Friday (15 April) too. Even more interesting scheduling.

[Pulcinella]

Guess what's next in tonight's concert?

Bernstein: Symphonic dances from West Side Story!

[teamsaint]

Guess what's next in tonight's concert?

Bernstein: Symphonic dances from West Side Story!

It is going to happen sometimes, but it really does happen a lot too often.

Try Schoeck's 2nd SQ , op 37,( on Youtube) for something different ,is my advice.